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ORANGE & BLUE REVIEW STEM Students Share Science by Susan Barton, HSHS STEM Academic Coach What do you get when high school students share their science knowledge with elementary students? A lot of laughter, learning, and excitement! That is exactly what happened at the Science and Engineering EXPO that recently took place at Hardee Senior High School. Alpha Zeta Pi members, the STEM Scholars club, impressed the younger minds with their knowledge of geology in a rock display provided by the Society of Metallurgy, Mining, and Exploration. As the children touched the various rocks, presenters identified them and explained how they are used to better our lives. Other students enjoyed getting their hands into chemistry as they mixed two liquid compounds to produce an amorphous green solid called slime. A big hit was the physics Rube Goldberg presentation that demonstrated how one reaction can impact another in a series. The design began with a roller coaster made up of Knex pieces and ended with a model hand giving a high-five. Kayton Nedza was available to excite the children with a Van de Graff Generator. The students loved seeing how electricity can make one’s hair stand on end. Alpha Zeta Pi members shared stories about orangutans and chimpanzees from the Center for Great Apes, and demonstrated drone technology. They explained how drones are being used for many purposes. Utilitech provided a display on robotics and their uses in manufacturing. Also, high schools students gave an educational presentation on solar energy and how it is used to power the Alpha Zeta Pi Solar Go-Kart. Finally, the high school students enjoyed the opportunity to share their knowledge of the Science Fair experience as they escorted groups of students through the research projects on display. Overall, it was an exciting event with each elementary student leaving with a ziplock bag of slime, a card of stickers that represented their participation in each display, and new knowledge about how STEM impacts their lives! HHS IN PICTURES Trinity Vassickle was excited to learn how Chemistry can be fun...especially when making slime! On February 19th, teachers across the Hardee School District participated in a pro- fessional development day. At HHS, teachers participated in various sessions that included workshops on writing, developing WICORized lessons, and ESE teach- ing strategies. Pictured, is English/Social Studies Teacher Daniel Estrada during a presentation by Kitty Maddox regarding the process for developing test items on required standardized tests. Many Hardee High Ag students and FFA members are actively involved with the showing of animals at the local fair. Sophomore Mallory Gough is pictured here preparing her steer “Moose” for the steer show. Animals entered into the fair are washed and groomed extensively before competing for the ultimate prize of Grand Champion. At the Regional Science Fair competition, four students were selected to attend the International Science Fair to be held in Phoenix, Arizona. Zackary Durastanti was chosen for his microbiology project and Jansen Walker for her botany project. They are pictured here with their proud science teacher, Mr. Rob Beatty. AFJROTC Cadet Odalis Hernandez is an 11th grade student at HHS and was the winner of Sons of the American Revolution Essay Contest. She was recently hon- ored at an awards program at Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota where she was presented with a Gold Medal and $1,000 Scholarship Check. Pictured (L to R) at the awards banquet are: AFJROTC Instructor Stephen McDaniel, Past President of the Saranama Chapter of the SAR, Mr. Vic McMurry, Cadet Odalis, and her mother Angelica Hernandez. Odalis will now move on to the state competition. In celebration of Black History Month, students gathered in the commons to hear students Josh Faulk (L) and Kristian Judah (R) perform the song “Glory.” “Glory” is the theme song from the 2014 film “Selma” which portrays the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. To support the students with the rap portion of the song was local rap artist and HHS substitute teacher Theo Lodge.
