FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Over 1,000 7th Graders Head to Adventureland On Tuesday For Technology Day

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, October 12, 2007 — Approximately 1,300 seventh-grade students from 35 Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre will be participating in Technology Day at Adventureland amusement park in Farmingdale.

 From 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., students will have a chance to explore each of the rides and get first hand knowledge of how they work.  Each student will have a series of worksheets covering various topics and concepts including gears, pulleys, RPMs, and safety features.  Teachers will work with students on various activities that will enable students to use mathematical reasoning and critical thinking skills to come up with solutions for each activity.

In 1994, New York State published the MST (Math, Science and Technology) Standards for elementary, intermediate and commencement levels of education.  Students are asked to view technology as an application of life, not just in the form of computers alone.  Engineering design is one of the seven key ideas of the Technology Standards and will be the focus of the student’s experiences at Adventureland.  Adventureland is located at 2245 Route 110 in Farmingdale.

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About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
Celebrating its Golden Jubilee, the Diocese of Rockville Centre (www.drvc.org) was formed in 1957 and covers 1,198 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million Catholics (total population in both counties is approximately 2.8 million). There are 134 parishes in 115 towns. Last year over 18,000 baptisms, 18,000 confirmations, 19,000 first communions and 4,000 marriages took place in the diocese. There are approximately 22,000 students in Catholic elementary schools; 13,000 in secondary schools and 3,300 in higher institutions. There are 69 Catholic elementary and high schools and one Catholic college in the diocese. There are also 120,189 total students in religious education. Catholic Health Services of Long Island consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, a community-based home for those with special needs and a hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than 59,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged on Long Island.