Ed Monahan has been a science teacher at Weehawken High School for the last nine years and he’s always looking for ways to keep his students on the cutting edge. So last year, Monahan approached school officials and asked to see if he could start a new science club at the high school.
Then, Monahan got an even better idea, after watching the school’s famed Kidwitness News program.
“They’ve been doing the news for so long in Weehawken,” Monahan said. “Well, what kind of news is it without the weather?”
Monahan wanted to teach his students about weather and how to properly read forecasts and measure aspects of weather.
“I always wanted to teach meteorology to the students as a science,” Monahan said. “I even took a graduate course in meteorology (at the State University of New York) just to get ready.”
Monahan found out that the Federal Department of Homeland Security is asking local schools to be weather reporters, so they instantly know the conditions in that area in case something should happen in the area. It made sense that Weehawken should participate in the federal program.
So Monahan checked out the parameters how Weehawken could have its own weather laboratory. He found out, through the American Weather Service, that purchasing the equipment for a weather lab wasn’t that expensive.
“I talked with (Superintendent of Schools) Kevin McLellan and Dr. (Peter) Olivieri (the high school principal) and told them what I wanted to do,” Monahan said. “They agreed to it, so we went for it.”
Last June, Monahan worked with township engineer Tom Rovito to set up the equipment on the roof of the school. The weather reading equipment is hooked up to a computer in a classroom that provides the updated information.
“We have to be online all the time to provide the weather for the Department of Homeland Security,” Monahan said.
The equipment came complete with a lesson plan from the American Weather Service, to teach the students the proper way to accurately read the weather findings.
“It comes with an entire tutorial package so that the kids would learn meteorology,” Monahan said.
Once the equipment was put into place and operating, then Weehawken was able to participate in the Neighborhood WeatherNet, which provides accurate and up-to-the-minute readings for several news agencies, including WNBC-TV Channel 4’s “Weather Bug” program.
The readings are also put on the Internet as well, with instant readings about the wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature, rain amounts, percentages of light and barometric pressure.
“Channel 4 gives the weather from all the different schools in the area,” Monahan said. “If you look, you’ll see that Weehawken is part of that group. It’s pretty exciting that you can go on the Internet or turn on the television and instantly find out the weather in Weehawken.”
But in Monahan’s eyes, having the weather lab is more than just providing information for the public. It’s a good learning tool as well. So beginning this week, the students will begin the tutorial of how to use the equipment and how to read the weather reports.
“Within the next few weeks, we should be able to have the kids reporting the weather,” Monahan said.
That makes sophomore Francis Petrie excited.
“I really want to learn more. It seems like an interesting, new thing. I heard about the new club and I want it to succeed, because I like science. But now, with the weather lab, maybe this might become a new career for me. I’d really like to pursue it. We can make it convenient for everyone in town to have the weather. I’m very eager to learn,” Petrie said
Olivieri is also thrilled to offer the program to the students.
“I watch Channel 4 all the time and see all the different schools,” Olivieri said. “And I love seeing Weehawken on the TV screen in the morning. It really is something. I’m very excited about it. All science should be learned hands-on and this is the best experience for the kids, learning hands-on. That’s how they truly learn. Plus, you never know, but maybe one will end up as a weatherman or weather lady.”
Like another Al Roker?
“You never know,” Olivieri said. “It could happen.”
Olivieri is excited as well, because Monahan plans to make it a part of the regular curriculum.
Monahan just loves that the lab is already having a practical purpose.
“Everyone can get the weather from us,” Monahan said. “The more local, the better. The whole town can use it, not just the school. People can just type in the new zip code and instant weather.”
There’s only one aspect to the lab that is missing.
“The camera,” Monahan said. “I want to get the camera up there as well. Then it would be perfect. Then after the kids learn how to do it, then they can go in front of the camera and report the weather as part of our news program.”
Give it time. It seems as if Ed Monahan can accomplish anything.