Grade 5 students of the Stettler Elementary School achieved a spectacular feat at the Central Alberta Regional Science Fair (CARSF) last month, scooping five of the six top awards at the fair where they competed against 36 projects from across the region.
“Our students’ results this year were the best of any school I have seen in the 12 years Stettler Elementary has entered CARSF,” said Grade 5 science teacher Rob Howell.
Cassidy Dubber and Rachelle Vogel were jointly awarded the top prize, the first place trophy and received gold award certificates for their project named “Caffeine Jolt.”
Cassidy and Rachelle investigated through their project how caffeine affected people’s heartbeat rates.
Speaking on Monday, at the end of their spring break, Cassidy said “I still feel like I am in Red Deer,” referring to the Bower Place Mall where the fair took place.
“I am very excited for winning this award,” she said.
Rachelle echoed the feelings of her project partner and added “I will definitely do it again if I get another opportunity.”
SES students took part in the fair with a total of nine projects and five of those projects placed in the top six.
“With these results, they actually beat kids one year older than them.“ said Howell, referring to the other projects in the fair entered by Grade 6 students of other schools.
Awards received by Stettler Elementary School students included several other plaques, cash awards, certificates, and other special recognition awards.
A full list of the award winning projects is given with project details in this week’s Stettler Elementary News column.
Alongside Howell, the Grade 5 science staff who guided the students in their projects comprised Bonnie Lynn, Sharon Fischer, and Stefan Olafson.
“Our staff made the students believe that by following the scientific method, doing extensive research, using technology, and believing in themselves that they could produce projects that would be of high quality, and have practical applications to society,” said Howell.
“Our students were practicing things that they have learned from all of their core subjects to bring these projects up to the excellent standard that CARSF demands.”
“Working on projects like this will improve their analytical skills as they go through school, and serve them well throughout their lives,” he concluded.
Stettler Elementary School will be keeping the first place trophy until next year’s fair.