First Test Trial (a great start)

Learning to work the PA system

Our sweet setup

Today was a good day; we managed to start our project trial right on time at 3:30. We had a quick crash course from Mrs. Martin ("Okay guys, press PAGE, then 1, then 19, then #") on how to work the PA system, then we switched on the walkie-talkie radio, listening to Mr. Cardenas remind the drivers to call out their route when they left for Konia. Although it took a couple of runs to get our announcements running smoothly (note to self: wait until the beeping over the PA system stops before you announce anything), we managed to get a system in working order by the time Mililani B/C was announced over the walkie-talkie. Rachelle documented our trial, noting what was helpful and what was not, and went outside to get feedback. Kenny helped me inside, listening carefully to the frequency and letting me know what buses were on their way. And I announced the buses over the PA system. We were quite successful, I think, because people asked later if the announcements were part of a physics project and a couple of people noted that the announcements came in loud and clear through the classrooms. The one hitch we had was that people at the bus stop itself were unable to hear the announcements as clearly because of the existing noise and the openness of the bus stop itself. Although that is an unfortunate and  discouraging turn, we still are helping people and still helping to fix a problem that needed to be solved, so we'll see at our next trial run (tomorrow). Here's to Day 2!