This is a reminder that Mary Lara and Ed Anderson do a lot of stuff in the community that is often invisible. But this time David spotted them! Congratulations and thank you, Ed and Mary!
Summary reprinted from the FUSD newsletter
Photo Album
DeMiguel Elementary School Launches Inaugural “Space Week”
DeMiguel Elementary School proudly launched its first “Space Week”
from May 6-10, inviting K-5 students and staff to embark on an exciting space exploration journey.
To kick off Space Week, all students had the opportunity to tour the Walker Observatory. Under the expert guidance of Mary Lara, a former DeMiguel teacher and current Walker Observatory director, Michelle Weidinger, a 5th-grade teacher at DeMiguel, and Ed Anderson, an astronomer from Northern Arizona University (NAU), students peered through telescopes and witnessed the sun flares.
Lara has been instrumental in the observatory’s activities. She led the tours during Space Week, with Weidinger facilitating the telescope viewing. Lara’s dedication and passion for astronomy have been a driving force behind this initiative.
Walker Observatory houses a 14” Newtonian reflector telescope, originally willed by Kenneth Walker, an educator and amateur astronomer from Holbrook, Arizona. In 2001, the dome and telescope were moved from their original location to DeMiguel Elementary School, with the observatory foundation constructed entirely with donations and volunteer labor. The observatory has recently undergone a refurbishment project to ensure its usability for future generations.
Thanks to Lara’s dedication to astronomy education, the DeMiguel community has experienced a significant impact. The week-long Space Week event has not only enriched the students’ knowledge of space but also ignited their curiosity and passion for astronomy. This event has paved the way for a bright future for the young explorers at DeMiguel Elementary School, ensuring a continued interest in space exploration.