Science, Technology, and Giving

SCIENCE

Eight students represented Hendersonville High School at the Regional Science Fair at Western Carolina University on Thursday, February 22. Five of these students were selected as regional representatives and are eligible to move on to the State Science Fair at Meredith College on March 24. The winners are:

• Chelsea Usher, 1st Place in Biological Science for the project, “The Effects of Soil pH on Plant Growth.”
• Taylor Courier, 1st Place in Technology for the project, “Enlightened Sound II: Transforming Sound into Light.”
• Jason Munger, 2nd Place in Technology for the project, “Blustery Bridges”.
• Sarah Layne, 1st Place in Earth & Environmental Science for the project, “Maximizing Solar Energy.”
• Charles Zogzas, 2nd Place in Physical Science for the project, “Crackin’ Down on Crystals.”

In addition, Bailey Hunter was given a special award for excellence by the U.S. Air Force Climatology Center in Asheville for her project, “Weather in my Neighborhood”.

TECHNOLOGY

Legislative School Technology Day

School systems across the state participated in Legislative School Technology Day on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at the North Carolina General Assembly Building. Sponsored by the School Technology Commission, this event provided a showcase for our legislators of the exciting ways that technology is being used to support the teaching and learning of 21st century skills in the classrooms across North Carolina.

Sixty-one school districts sent teams of students and educators. Elementary, middle, and high schools participated. Computer and Internet connectivity were provided for each participating school. Many of the North Carolina legislators visited with school teams from their districts.

Upward Elementary teachers Dena Wolfe and Megan Davis, and student Hunter Elms, traveled to Raleigh to present a Second Grade project at the Legislative School Technology Day. The project is called www.H.P.ODIE.com (Observe, Discover, Investigate). This project was started two years ago when Upward applied for a Hewlett Packard Grant; and, then continued when the school took the option to follow through with the grant to the next level the following year. The Second Grade project involved 100 students in five classes. Dena Wolfe, Megan Davis, Melanie Lisdero, and Donna Brackett presented the project at the national level in San Diego in the summer of 2006.

Quotes from participants…
Megan Davis said, “Legislative School Technology Day was a good opportunity to see how other schools are using technology and the growing use of Smart Boards in the classroom.”

Dena Wolfe said, “Henderson County should be proud of the display showcased in Raleigh. I was inspired to want to find additional ways to integrate technology into my classroom.”

Student Hunter Elms said, “I had a good time. I was introduced to several state legislators who asked me lots of questions about our project. I learned so much about computers and science at the same time. I hope we do it again.”

GIVING

Rugby Middle School math students participate in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Mathathon during the month of February. The school raised over $4,500 for the children of St. Jude. Participating students will receive prizes of certificates, tee shirts, sport bags, and Six Flag tickets. The top fundraiser was 6th grader, Darren Hurley, who will receive a MP3 player. Other top fundraisers were: Thana Alley, Crystal Rhodes, Cameron Metcalf, Samantha Smith, Sammie Onken, Haley Glatzer, Justin Callahan, Maddie Havener, Mary Wallace, Thomas James, and Katherine Moore. Coordinator Joyce Jennings is very proud of the success of the Mathathon and would like to thank all who participated and donated.