THE BOULDER BEAT

By Jennifer Doucet

May 9, 2013 (Alpine) – On March 20, Open House at Boulder Oaks Elementary in Alpine, California highlighted how fifth graders at the school have opened their minds to the exciting worlds of science and technology.

By using their school-issued IPODS, learning new software and applying the scientific method to their projects, they showcased their knowledge with a Digital Photography Show and Science Fair.

As part of the school-wide art show in the auditorium, the Digital Photography show included photographs submitted by Mrs. Newcomb’s fifth grade students.  The entries displayed were part of a contest judged by peers, parents and office visitors.  The competition had the students creating and snapping photos around school using their IPODS, photo enhancement software and their imaginations.  Student Jordan Schirman commented on the display, “I loved how kids expressed themselves in their photography”.  Contest winners were Best Overall Composition: Claire Doucet, Best Color Contrast: Carli Sheker and Most Original/Creative: Jack Werland and Reid Stammerjohn. 

Also, the classrooms of Mrs. Golden, Mrs. Morales and Mrs. Newcomb were filled with over seventy scientific displays including “How Magnets Attract/Repel One Another”, “How to Conduct Electricity with Citric Acid”, “How Tornadoes Form” and other projects explaining the solar system, the circulatory system, the life cycle and more.  Even solar-powered hovercraft, cell phone charges and remote controlled cars were included. The variety of presentations led student, Cameron Ewert to mention, “I liked seeing all the different ideas and displays”.   Science Fair participant, Rachel Pardue said, “I liked learning the scientific method.  Learning it helped me do my project”. 

Enthusiasm from the Science Fair lead fifth grade students to sign up and be selected to represent Boulder Oaks Elementary in the Science Olympiad that will take place on May 11 at Lakeside Elementary School.  Two teams of sixteen students each will compete against other regional elementary schools in different events including Rocks & Minerals, Structures, Powders, Catapults, Insects and a Science Triathlon Relay.  Participating students are spending hours after school preparing and practicing their areas of scientific expertise for the competition. Science Olympiad Co-Captain, Darlene Newcomb, explained how she makes it entertaining, while educating them as well, “ Our students are so excited about learning new things. Our approach is to give them the tools to do this while effectively applying the objectives they need to meet. The result is a very hands-on, high-interest learning environment where every student feels they are contributing”.

The Digital Photography Contest, Science Fair and Science Olympiad are part of the Boulder Oaks Elementary STEAM program emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math.  Within the Alpine Union School District, Boulder Oaks Elementary, located at 2320 Tavern Road in Alpine, serves students in the first through fifth grades