After weeks of hard work, students from Barrhead Elementary School finally were able to enjoy the fruits of their labour at the annual science fair.
Students from grades 3-6 tested their scientific knowledge in hopes of securing a first-place medal and a cash reward.
They all were on display at the school’s gymnasium and anxiously awaited their turn to be judged by any number of community volunteers. Participants like Grade 4 student Keith Bowick impressed judges with the knowledge he gained throughout the course of his research. Keith’s project demonstrated how to make homemade pop, and it was quite popular among his fellow classmates.
It takes a dedicated group of people to successfully put together a science fair such as the one hosted at BES, and dedication is what the school’s science fair committee is all about.
Lou Steeves, Chrissie Epp, Laurie Brinsky, Janelle Cloutier, Jaime Fisher and Dana Febbarro work behind the scenes to ensure students in Barrhead are able to strut their stuff at the science fair.
They also work hard to secure sponsorship from local businesses that make it possible to hand out cash rewards to deserving students.
Having the opportunity to research a subject about which a student knows very little, and arriving at an educational outcome is certainly motivation to work diligently on a project, but when there is money up for grabs, it just adds fuel to the fire. After all, it isn’t every day a Grade 3 student can walk away with an extra $100 in their pocket.
And it’s that support from our local businesses that continues to amaze even the judges who volunteer their time to participate in the science fair. Not only do the first-place winners get $100 for their efforts, but also cash prizes are handed out all the way to fourth place.
Furthermore, every single participant, regardless of whether or not they won, was given a day pass to Misty Ridge Ski Hill. What a novel idea. Rewarding children with a chance to get out and enjoy the natural wonder that is the County of Barrhead.
That being said, there are no losers in this type of event. Putting in the hours and the hard work makes every participant a winner. Every single students who participated in the science fair deserves a great deal of recognition.
It’s not easy to be a student and commit time to research and planning for the science fair.
For many youth, it would be much easier to procrastinate and spend the time playing instead of conducting research. For the participants in this year’s fair, the amount of work they put into their projects was very evident.
Some of the winners from the BES science fair will go on to a regional fair in Edmonton. Lou Steeves said a number of students have attended that competition in the past, and some have returned home bearing hardware.
It’s going to be an entirely new playing field for those who do attend, and without a doubt, it’s going to be an eye opener. But, if they practise the same composure as they did in Barrhead, then there’s a pretty good chance they also will be successful.
