March 2022

When the Trackers got to the Pump House they expected to see some complicated mathematical formula for water pressure per square inch and the distance and elevation from the Raritan River and rotation and velocity of the pump’s turbines. But what they saw, scrawled in purple chalk on the Pump House door, stopped them dead in their tracks! 4 🡪 read more

This time Mr. C had to laugh. “I sure did, Cooper. And yes, Jamal, fore is a golf term. When you hit a golf ball wrong, you have to “forewarn” all the other players on the course. So, you yell “fore”. It’s part of golf etiquette. It means you are practicing good golf sportsmanship and being a good sport.” “Jamal, read more

They had barely approached the Werblin Recreation Center when Simon offered excitedly, “Hey, I see some purple writing on the back of the building!” “There’s also something on the side of the building, too!” countered Jamal. They pulled the bookmobile to a stop near the front. Cooper bounded out and proclaimed, “Hey, there’s even more purple writing on the front!” read more

“Well, let’s think about this, and break it down so it makes sense,” she replied. “I think you’re all correct that these numbers have something to do with each other. So, let’s start at the top: There are 360 degrees in a circle….” “That’s true, Gab, but not just a circle. A ball as well—” said Cooper, adding thoughtfully, “—well, read more

The rest of the trackers stood in front of the Marvin Apartments, while Gabby ran up the steps two at a time and tugged on the front door. When the door would not budge, she switched to knocking on the glass. Finally, she cupped her hands around her eyes, leaned forward, and peered into the building. “We can’t get in!” read more

Cooper ran across the campus with the rest of the Trackers trailing behind him. They had reached the Student Center, by the time Pascal caught up to them. Panting, he said, “Are you sure this is where we should be? After all, this is where Dr. Newton disappeared.” Cooper was already holding the door open wide and waving the Trackers read more

Several minutes later, the Trackers stood outside Marvin Apartments staring at Dr. Newton’s message. Gabby squatted down and pointed at the lines. “This isn’t just a plus sign,” she said. “The lines are arrows. The top arrow points north, the next one points east, next comes south, and then this one is west. All the numbers are written between the read more

“Where are they all headed in such a hurry?” Chelsea called out over the noise of the throng of students. She looked up at the Physics building. It didn’t seem big enough to fit all the college kids currently streaming out of it. “You would think someone was giving away free cell phones!” Cooper replied. “Hey,” he said, stopping one read more

At the podium in the front of the room, a professor was sliding her notes into a briefcase. The kids gaped at the size of the room. Rows and rows of chairs faced white boards that went across the whole front and sides of the room. Equations and diagrams and scientific terms filled most of them. Maya turned in a read more

Mr. C and Pascal came over to shake hands with the professor so Chelsea and Jamal said quick thank yous and went off to join the others at the blackboard. Maya pointed to the single symbol in purple chalk. “It’s Pi! Remember we learned that in math class last year?” “That’s right!” Simon said. “It’s how you find out the read more