Saint Mary’s Catholic School held its annual K–8 Science Fair on Thursday, transforming the parish gym into a maze of tri‑fold boards, bubbling experiments, and students eager to explain their discoveries. The event, a long‑standing tradition at the school, drew families, parish members, and alumni.
Principal Sister Margaret Donnelly said the fair is one of the most important academic events of the year.
“Science teaches our students to ask questions, to test ideas, and to see God’s creation with wonder,” she explained. “This fair is about celebrating that curiosity.”
Kindergarten through second grade presented class projects, while grades three through eight completed individual or small‑group experiments.
In the primary section, first‑grader Maya Thompson proudly demonstrated her class’s “What Makes Plants Grow?” display.
“We gave one plant water, one sunlight, and one nothing,” she said. “The nothing one got really droopy.”
Third‑graders focused on motion and engineering. Ethan Riley, age 9, built a popsicle‑stick bridge that held 42 pounds before collapsing.
“I thought it would break at 20,” he said. “I guess triangles really are strong.”
The middle‑school section featured more advanced work. Seventh‑grader Ava Russo tested the effectiveness of natural cleaning agents.
“My mom doesn’t like using chemicals,” she said. “So I compared vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. Vinegar won by a lot.”
Her classmate Leo Martinez created a project titled The Egg Drop Challenge: Engineering for Impact.
“I tried five designs,” he said. “The parachute one worked best, but the bubble‑wrap cube was the funniest because it bounced.”
This year’s fair included a notable addition: Dr. Elena Navarro, a Saint Mary’s alumna and current NASA research engineer, returned to serve as a guest judge.
Dr. Navarro spent time at each table, asking students about their hypotheses, data collection, and conclusions.
“I started my first experiment in this very gym,” she said. “Seeing these students think critically at such young ages is incredible.”
Eighth‑grader Sophie Delgado, who studied the effects of screen time on sleep patterns, said talking with Dr. Navarro was the highlight of her day.
“She asked me how I controlled variables,” Sophie said. “No adult has ever asked me that before.”
Science teacher Mr. Paul O’Donnell said the fair is designed to build confidence as much as scientific literacy.
“Students learn to communicate their ideas clearly,” he said. “They also learn that experiments don’t always go as planned — and that’s part of real science.”
Parents echoed that sentiment. Maria Martinez, Leo’s mother, said she appreciates how the fair brings the whole school together.
“You see eighth graders explaining things to kindergarteners,” she said. “It feels like a family event.”
At the end of the evening, Sister Margaret announced the winners: Ethan Riley for his bridge engineering project and Sophie Delgado for her sleep‑study experiment
Both projects will be displayed at the diocesan academic showcase next month.
As the gym emptied and students carried their projects home, Dr. Navarro offered one final message:
“Science isn’t about having the right answer. It’s about staying curious.”