Education Minister Wycliffe Smith at the Science Fair.
Winners of the 2019 Foundation Catholic Education Science Fair.
PHILIPSBURG–Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten hosted its sixth annual Science Fair at the Parish Hall on Back Street on Friday, June 14. Group 8 pupils of all Catholic primary schools on the island presented and displayed their projects.
Ten members of the community with science, chemistry, biology and archaeology backgrounds judged the projects, helping to select the first, second and third prize winners.
The project “Heat Purifier” won first prize. “How to reduce the amount of mosquitos on the Island” won second prize and “Turmeric Power/Golden Spice” won third prize.
All projects explored St. Maarten’s environment and entailed recommendations that might benefit St. Maarten in the future. Pupils also presented projects that could benefit health. Other projects that were judged include: Paper Soil, Global Warming, Self-Made Solar Panel, Renewable Energy, “How can we reduce fuel emission?”, Air Pollution, Oil Spill Clean-Up, and Water Filter.
“The important thing to see, as an educator, was how proficient and confident the pupils were as they presented their projects. The pupils were happy to participate in the Science Fair,” said Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten Superintendent Ria Uiterloo.
She believed the pupils put much time and effort into their projects and this was evident.
She explained that the foundation hosts these Science Fairs for group 8 pupils to push science and technology, but also critical thinking and communication skills. The Science Fair also demonstrated how teachers can put cross-curriculum subjects together.
Pupils learned how to present their projects to the judges, parents, peers and guests. They also learned how to use the scientific process effectively by learning about hypothesis development, hypothesis testing, compiling data, and coming up with conclusions.
Foundation Catholic Education thanked the judges who offer their expertise every year and the Catholic Church for the use of the Parish Hall for six consecutive years.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/88485-catholic-education-hosts-sixth-annual-science-fair
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