Around the Schools
Community turns out for Districtwide Middle School Science Fair;
Student winners in 10 categories announced
The 14th annual Districtwide Middle School Science Fair had the biggest turnout yet this year in terms of students, parents, and other visitors. The fair, held June 7 at the Museum of Flight, had 211 students from 11 middle schools who participated. Also, 2,438 people came through the museum between 5 and 9 p.m.
The fair showcased 150 projects, included 25 judges, and was staffed by 10 volunteer teachers. The fair is a signature program of the Pacific Science Center’s Science Festival.
Each middle school is allowed to send five students from each of the three grade levels from their school’s science fair to the District science fair.
Middle schools and K-8 schools participating this year were: Blaine, Denny, Eckstein, Hamilton International, Jane Addams, Madison, McClure, Mercer, Pinehurst, Washington and Whitman.
The Best Overall Award for each grade level went to these students (project title and school mentioned as well):
• 6th Grade – Mason Klein, "Counterweights and Destruction," Jane Addams K-8
• 7th Grade – Ruby Nelson, "Fabric Insulation," Whitman Middle School
• 8th Grade – Bryn Templeton, "The Beauty of Biochar," Blaine K-8
Many students earned awards at each of the three grade levels in these categories (please see link for list of winners):
|
• Best Overall |
• Most Beneficial to Puget Sound |
|
• Superior (top 5%) |
• Best Aeronautics Project |
|
• Excellent (top 10%) |
• Best Engineering/Design |
|
• Most Original |
• Best Data Analysis |
|
• Most Beneficial to Society |
• Judges’ Special Recognition |
Judges volunteered for a half-day from these companies or institutions: Boeing, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, Google, Institute for Systems Biology, Museum of Flight, Seattle Biomedical Research, US Forest Service, University of Washington, Seattle Public Schools, Wignall Consulting LLC, Starbucks, & Cadence MD.
Staff members in the District are very thankful for funders who financially supported the middle school science fair this year:
• Eureka Lodge #20 F&AM of WA
• Puget Sound Engineering Council
• American Statistical Association
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Puget Sound Chapter Astronautics (AIAA)
These organizations donated prizes: Seattle Aquarium, Burke Museum, Museum of Flight, and Woodland Park Zoo. Gary Foss is a friend of the fair and helps in many ways.