40 MARCH 2020 (above) Mr. Banister’s fifth grade class. (below) Mark Phillips explains what happens inside the rocket. By Pam R. Selthun Mark Phillips, known as the Hopi Rocket Man, has been inspiring fifth grade students at Hopi Elementary School for 18 years. Phillips started building and launching rockets when he was in fifth grade. “I have always loved building models and solving puzzles,” he said, “and building rockets was even more fun because a rocket can do more than sit on a shelf.” He explained that it came naturally to him to want to nurture that interest for others who might have the same curiosity. Phillips has two degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford and began his career as a computer design engineer in Silicon Valley. He went on to get an MBA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and got hooked on management consulting. “I think most of the students think I am a retired rocket engineer from NASA,” he said. The rocket program started at Hopi in 2001 when Phillips’ eldest daughter, Emily, was in fifth grade. He was invited to come to her school as part of the “Share Your Parent’s Hobby” day. “Emily wanted to launch rockets,” he said. The fifth grade teachers invited him to a meeting to discuss the safety issues involved and how the launch would take place. One of the teachers, Mrs. Hand, suggested that all of the fifth grade classes should get the chance to launch rockets. “Mrs. Hand taught the space sciences unit,” said Phillips, “so she and I teamed up to start the Hopi Rocket Program.” Phillips said he became the Hopi Rocket Man when Mrs. Hand gave him a hat with “Rocket Man” embroidered on the front, and he has worn it at every launch since then. “The Hopi Rocket program has taken on a life of its own,” Phillips said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with many fantastic fifth grade teachers over the years.” He introduces the students to the science of rockets and flight and describes how they’ll build their own from modified kits and create a cushion for a quail egg that each will carry as a payload. “The goal is to make the rocket fly as high as possible and return the raw quail egg back to Earth, unbroken. Since all the rockets are the same, and they all use the same engine, the maximum altitude reached by the rocket really comes down to how well it’s built, how well the egg is cushioned, how light the rocket is, and a little bit of luck,” Phillips said. Students work in teams of four, with two flight engineers who build the rocket and two mission specialists who figure out which materials to use to cushion the egg. Phillips said he meets with all the teachers the day before the launch to go over safety precautions and show them how to pack the parachutes. Launch day usually happens in January. Teams meet up at Arcadia High. Phillips packs the engine and igniter in each team’s rocket and places it on the launch stand. Then it’s time for the countdown and students shout: “3, 2, 1, lift-off!” The rockets usually land on the field and each team races to see whether or not their egg survived. The rockets usually go 250- 400 feet high. “Many of the teams name their egg, or astronaut, so when it is smashed, it’s a sad moment,” he said. “We always end up talking about that ‘horrible rotten egg smell’ from the rocket when it lands, and they discover it has nothing to do with the egg.” After the launch, Phillips helps each class calculate the highest point of all the rockets and records their observations about the launch, including what happened to their egg. Each class enjoys their time with the Hopi Rocket Man and eagerly awaits his return. For more: hopirockets.com. Ready, set, launch with Hopi By Cody Kennedy This year’s Hopi Variety Show was one for the books, according to the students, teachers and Arcadia community. The theme was Hopi, Let’s Go to The Movies. All of the acts were all based on films, such as Trolls and Mission Impossible . There were dances, skits, vocal solos and a piano solo. The show took place in late February at Arcadia High School. Seven-year-old Stellie Frederickson has participated for three years now. Her act involved dancing and jumping on trampolines to songs from Trolls . “I love the Variety Show. I’m always nervous to perform in front of everyone, but once we are all on stage, we have so much fun. I love knowing I’ve done my best,” she said. Nine-year-old Titus Ning said, “My favorite part about the Variety Show is that I get to dance. I really love my 3rd grade Three Amigos act, and I liked my 1st grade Hamilton act, too.” “The kids worked several mornings a week practicing a show opener and short skits that introduce each act,” said Emily Blais, who helps coordinate the show. “This year, we had a record breaking number of acts.” Almost 400 kids performed at the show. “I feel so lucky to be an emcee this year. The Variety Show has come a long way since my mom was an emcee and the show was on the tiny stage at the old Hopi. Now, it’s way more exciting, plus we get some pretty cool costumes,” 10-year-old Jane Ord said. “I’ve been looking forward to my 5th grade Variety Show for a long time. My favorite memory this year has been making new friends. I think all of those really early mornings together helped us become a lot like family,” 11-year-old Adam Blais said. Hopi Variety Show 2020 This year’s emcees: (back from left) Cody Faires, Max Nunez, Scarlett Cardon, Satchel Lipton and Brody Crowder. (middle from left) Shea Levine, Jane Ord, Francesca Mena and Emerson Bier. (front from left) Adam Blais, Bree Flader and Brady McMahon. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY BLAIS 30th Street & Indian School Road 602.957.8402 Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Your Neighborhood Car Wash Visit us at LindstromAutoWash.com for the “Deal of the Month!” Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 03/31/20. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 03/31/20. Not valid with any other offers. 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