The School Club Roundup Oct 2008 Results  Contacts With the International Space Station!
See how we did in the Elem. Division   Listen to the October 23, 2008 ISS Contact with Richard Garriet

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      History of the Cowanesque Valley School Amateur Radio Club

     The CVSARC was formed in November of 1994 at the Westfield Area Elementary School in Westfield, PA.  The purpose of the club is to help members learn about the hobby af Amateur Radio, learn the fundamentals of good operating procedures, and to take part in radio activities that will advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community.  A fifth grade teacher, Mr. Bruce Weaver, is the club advisor.  He holds an extra class Amateur Radio license.  In March of 1995, the club became an American Radio Relay League Affiliated Club.  There are now over 40 members from grades five through twelve.  Ten of the members have become licensed since the club was formed.

     In February of 1997 the CVSARC received their own FCC issued club station call, KB3BRT.  Their station is located in Mr. Weaver's fifth grade classroom.  They now have access to all the popular HF ham bands 160 through 10 meters, 6 Meters, 2 meters FM and Packet, as well as 70 CM.  They also have satellite capabilities.  The club has made several contacts through the RS-12/13 amateur radio satellite.  In May of 1998, they also achieved a successful exchange of messages with astronaut Andy Thomas aboard the Russian Space Station MIR via their packet radio station.

     A favorite annual activity of the club is participation in the "School Club Roundup" sponsored by the ARRL and a New York City school organization.  The purpose of the week long activity is for schools, clubs, and other interested individuals to see how many schools they can contact.  After exchanging some basic information such as call signs, signal reports, and locations, they get to know a little about each other's school and area.  Although it is not intended to be a contest, points are awarded for the number of contacts made, as well as the number of schools. states, DX (foreign countries), and types of contacts (cw, voice, packet, etc.).  In 1996 and 1998 our club finished FIRST in the elementary division. In 1995 and 1997 we came in second.  In 1999 we managed a third place finish.  In 2000 we missed two days of the SCR week due to bad weather.  We finished  in fourth.  In 2001 our club had 149 contacts and over 33,300 points.  It was our highest total to that point.  We came in second.
     In 2002 our club had 150 contacts.  Our total score was 40,950, our all time high.  We contacted 44 other schools.  Over 60 Westfield students from kindergarten through seventh grade participated. We again placed second in the Elementary Division.  We were beaten out by our Western PA rivals, North Clarion Elementary School (W3NCS), by under 4,000 points.  Our totals were down in 2003, but we held on to second place with 23,160 points.  That was about one fourth of the first place finisher
     In 2004 conditions in our part of the country didn't seem too good.  We finished 3rd, but had 52 students grades K-6 participate.  North Clarion Elementary managed a great score of 53,332 and took over first place again.
     We are very proud of our record over the last few years, but more importantly we had a great time and met a lot of great hams all over the world.

     In October 1996, the CVSARC conducted a "Special Event Station" in conjunction with the school's "Endangered Species Stamp Celebration" to honor Mrs. Sylvia Wood and her third grade classes for their successful manatee stamp campaign.  The club contacted 59 stations in 18 states and 2 foreign countries during the day, from the club station in Mr. Weaver's classroom.  Each station was sent a special QSL (contact confirmation) card that included an Endangered Species Stamp with a unique cancel from a temporary Post Office at the school.  Also participating in the school's special event was a radio club in Crystal River, Florida - the home of the manatees.

    On Wednesday, May 9, 2001, Mr. Weaver's fifth grade class had a "close encounter of the exciting kind" with the International Space Station.  When they came in from the playground after noon recess, Susan Helms, one of the ISS crew members, was calling CQ with the Space Station's NA1SS call sign.  Mr. Weaver gave the CVSARC call sign, KB3BRT,  a couple of times and on the third attempt, Susan came back to KB3BRT.  It was a brief, but exciting contact! Susan Helms Contact

    On May 1, 2002, KB3BRT made a successful random contact with ISS.  Mr. Weaver's Fifth Grade Class spoke with the South African computer software entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.  The fifth grade students gave Mark a big hello.  Thanks to Miles, WF1F, we were able to piece together both sides of our QSO with NA1SS.
 Mark Shuttleworth Contact

Mr. Weaver retired from teaching in 2005, but he is still the advisor of the school radio club.  Mrs. Harer is the faculty advisor of the club.

There are now two School Club Roundups in the school year.  An October Roundup has been added.  In October 2008, the radio club made a successful contact with Richard Garriott on the International Space Station.  Richard Garriott Contact
 

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The last regular meetings

February 2, 2009- Fourteen members of the CVSARC met after school to make final place for the February School Club Roundup.  They practiced calling CQs on the air and reviewed operating procedures.

March 16, 2009- Seven fourth graders attended a meeting for prospective CVSARC members.  They learned to spell their names phonetically and discussed proper operating procedures.  They each took a turn calling CQ on the air.

The next regular meeting of the CVSARC will be for Fifth and Sixth Graders in October 2009.
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     For the 2009-2010 School Year The CVSARC plans to  participate in the  Annual Fall School Club Roundup in October and the February School Club Roundup.  Be a part of it all.  Watch for notice of the next meeting of the year.

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  KB3BRT (CVSARC)
2008 Fall School Club Roundup Score
Contacts: Phone      - 140
                PSK        -     9
Total Contacts        - 149

QSO Points   -  140 X 1 = 140
                      -      2 X 9 =  18
Total QSO Points           = 158

States             25  X 1 =  25
Provinces         1  X 1 =    1
Countries       20  X 1 =   20
Clubs              5  X 2 =    10
Schools         18  X 5  =   90

Total Multiplier          =  146

2008 SCR Score 158 X 146 = 23,068

We operated for a total of 23.75 hours Monday - Friday
And over twenty fifth and sixth grade students and fifteen classrooms participated.

Our Club Came in First in the Elementary Division for the October Roundup!!

KB3BRT (CVSARC)
2009 February School Club Roundup Score
Contacts: Phone      -   66
                CW         -     1
                PSK        -   17
Total Contacts        -   84

QSO Points   -    66 X 1 =   66
                      -    2 X 18 =  36
Total QSO Points           = 102

States             23  X 1 =  23
Provinces         1  X 3 =    3
Countries         6  X 1 =    6
Clubs               1  X 2 =    2
Schools         14  X 5  =  70

Total Multiplier         = 104

2009 SCR Score 103 X 104 = 10,608

We operated for a total of 22.87 hours Monday - Friday
And over fifteen fifth and sixth grade students and fifteen classrooms participated.

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     On May 1, 2002, KB3BRT made a successful random contact with ISS.  Mr. Weaver's Fifth Grade Class spoke with the South African computer software entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.  The fifth grade students gave Mark a big hello.  Thanks to Miles, WF1F, we were able to piece together both sides of our QSO with NA1SS.

(May Take up to 4 minutes to load.  Beginning is from a cassette tape recording of contact, the rest from wav file mixed with our side of QSO)

   On Wednesday, May 9, 2001, Mr. Weaver's fifth grade class had a "close encounter of the exciting kind" with the International Space Station.  When they came in from the playground after noon recess, Susan Helms, one of the ISS crew members, was calling CQ with the Space Station's NA1SS call sign.  Mr. Weaver gave the CVSARC call sign, KB3BRT,  a couple of times and on the third attempt, Susan came back to KB3BRT.  It was a brief, but exciting contact!  Too bad we didn't have a tape player running.
   But wait!  Someone in Indiana was not only listening in, but taping what NA1SS was saying.  Stan, W4SV, from Hanna, IN, sent a copy of Susan's part of the QSO to Mr. Weaver.  So through the magic of electronic wizardry we have audio of the contact.
    Click Here to Listen to ISS Helms Contact    (Takes some time to load.  Click  "Back" on your browser to return to here.)

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