To the Editor:

Thanks to the enthusiasm, dedication, and scientific curiosity of our elementary students and the support of their teachers, families, and PTA, Berne-Knox-Westerlo had a very successful science fair in March.

This year, all of the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade classes had scientific exhibits in their halls, showcasing health to geology to winter effects.  In the cafeteria and gym, over 60 third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders had their own scientific experiments using the scientific method — the step-by-step way a scientific hypothesis can be thought of, controlled, experimented with, observed, and repeated.

Eleven middle and high school students volunteered, moving desks and organizing the night, while nine real live scientists from the community came forth to judge the individual projects.

And don’t forget the PTA bakers!

It was a night of showcasing learning, and sharing that knowledge with the community.  Well done, students!  The judges were once again impressed with the quality of your experiments, BKW Elementary.

It was very difficult but, after some deliberation, the judges chose the finalists and trophy winners for this year’s science fair.  Awards were presented at early-morning announcements in April.

Congratulations to the following:  

— Third grade: Trophy, Daniel Barcomb, Testing Magnetic Strength; second, Jarrett Berenger, Homemade Rock Candy; third, Matthew Clickman, Potato Electricity;

— Fourth grade: Trophy, Paul Larrabee, Which Battery Lasts the Longest?; second, Jacob Detlefsen, Can Fruits Make Electricity?; third, Kimberley Howland, Effects of Different Liquids on Plants;

— Fifth grade: Trophy, Quinn Toomey, How to Get the Most Sap From Tree; second, Corey Bub, May the Force be With You!; third, Kelsie Apicelli, Audio Frequencies and Non-Newtonian Fluids; and

— Sixth grade: Trophy, Emily Purcell and Mackenzie Stevenson, Real Smile or Fake?; second, Taryn Hanley and Kiki Lefkaditis, Fire Retardants; third, Kyla Creamer and Samantha Mengle, How Peppers Can be so Deadly.

These students worked especially diligently on their projects, and all of the parents commented that the students got very curious about their topics.  They were interested in finding out why. That is the essence of science.  So what will be your science experiment be for the fair next year?

Jean Forti, chairwoman
PTA Elementary Science Fair