Hillside Elementary School officially became an Earth Networks weather station this week.

The installation of the weather station, which is the result of a grant provided by Hastings Education Foundation (HEF) with leadership from STEAM teacher Robin Farrell, is located above Hillside's Learning Commons space and will allow students to regularly contribute weather data to the community. Consisting of a solar-powered wet-globe thermometer, anemometer, and rain gauge, the weather station will provide an accurate view of heat stress on an individual in sunlight. 

Information received from the weather station will be used for daily classroom weather reporting and directly connects to science standards and units of study, as well as to the authentic learning experiences central to the Portrait of a Hastings Learner.  

Throughout the week, students and staff school-wide are celebrating the grand opening of the weather station. Click on the image below to watch a commemorative video created by Ms. Farrell in partnership with Hillside students. Teachers will be hosting viewing parties in their classrooms, and will begin exploring the Online Weather Center.

"Until now, we did not have a hyper-local weather station. The weather data we received was often connected with Yonkers or White Plains," said Farrell.

"By bringing a weather station right outside our school’s doorway, our students will naturally have a greater curiosity and interest in the information."