Budding junior scientists from grades 7, 8, and 9.

 

On Wednesday, April 16th, 2014, junior and senior students at the Windermere High School campus in Savannah Sound welcomed community members, parents, and a panel of roving judges to the first ever Science Fair presentation at the school.

Students in grades 10 through 12 competed in a senior division, and students in grades 7 through 9 competed for top recognition in a junior division.  Individuals and students working in groups presented detailed displays and models of their science projects, which they began eight months earlier in September of 2013.


Young Mason Higgs shows offs the controls for his solar powered car.

Ryan Flunker, science teacher as well as vice principal, and campus coordinator teamed up with fellow teacher, Dr. Donna Banks to make it all happen.  With Windermere High School’s legacy of challenging its students to go above and beyond, Mr. Flunker explained, “I want people to continue to see Windermere as a school that challenges children beyond what an average high school education would provide and in an effort to go above and beyond we wanted to give them this opportunity.  By inviting the public, people would see and be proud of their local Christian High School and the work that we are trying to do here.”

The journey to the fair began in September, when students were given instruction packets and allowed to choose their own topics, encompassing experimentation, research or practical applications.  The project was designed to have the students experience the whole gamut of steps involved in preparing for the BGCSE, including hypothesis, experimentation, observation, synthesis, charts and graphs and more. 


Nameka Forbes (left) and Johndeisha Culmer (center) explain their project of balanced diet to Mrs. Sophie Gibson, a parent judge at the Science Fair.

On the day of the Science Fair, students were required to have a booth with a display, to man their booths and to interact with the judges.  As part of the presentation they were also required to have a hands on display or model of their work as well as to have completed a 15 page research paper.  Judges were selected from the community, the Ministry of Education, as well as Windermere High School staff members and parents.  Students were judged on the presentation of their display, their research and their creativity and experimentation.

During the eight months of preparation, students were given specific achievements to reach at the end of each term, and the teachers worked with them to make sure that they were staying on target, also encouraging them to choose practical application topics that impacted everyday Bahamian life.    “We are doing more than just academic, we are trying to focus the children towards becoming healthy participants in their society for the betterment of the country”, remarked Mr. Flunker.

 

Winners in the Senior and Junior Divisions:

Senior Division Winners:
1st Place – Benjamin Bethel – Water Drops and Sparks
2nd Place – Jehoshaphat Cooper / Raymona Esteves / Errin Thompson / Mason Higgs – Solar Car
3rd Place – Nameka Forbes / Johndeisha Culmer – Effects of Balanced Diet on the Behavior and Performance of Students

Junior Division Winners:
1st Place – Sianna Rolle – Generating Lemon Power
2nd Place – Faith Curry / Marquis Pinder – The Greenhouse Effect
3rd Place – Lauryn Cleare / Leonardo Cooper – Are you a smoker: The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

Science Fair Participants and Project topics:

12th Grade
Mario Strachan / Hervis Cartwright – Hydrogen Electrolysis
John Gibson – The Effects of Plant Fertilizers and Weekly Journal of Its Visible Advantages and Disadvantages
Nameka Forbes / Johndeisha Culmer – Effects of Balanced Diet on the Behavior and Performance of Students
Lakeisha Wallace – “Suck It Up” – Experiments on Capillary Action of Water Transport in Plants
Arianna Knowles / Desiree Clarke – Solar Water Heater
Cohen Sands – The Effect of Temperature on Battery Life
Mia Serju / Jacqueline Matera – Water Turbines
Kes Higgs – The Effects of Sleep Depravation

11th Grade
Benjamin Bethel – Water Drops and Sparks
David Wallace / Kennedy Rolle – Solar Energy compared to Fossil Fuels
Alicia Culmer / Whitney Carey – The Greenhouse Effect
Burchinald Gibson – Rocket Science

10th Grade
Brittany Ingraham / Jet Lee Johnson – Spiders
Ivanna Ferguson / Aundre Tonis – Solar Oven
Jehoshaphat Cooper / Raymona Esteves / Errin Thompson / Mason Higgs – Solar Car
Makeda Serju / Aushanti Knowles – Pollution and Endangerment of Fish Through Commercial Fishing
Naaman Rolle – Recycling
Ahmad Thompson / Kazem Duncombe – Conservation

9th Grade
Laurence Romain / Bredon Mackey – The Effect of Drugs on Infants, Teen, and Adults
Chloe Rolle – How Big Can Stars Get
Destinee Grant / Alex Brown – How we Endanger Sea Animals
Daphnie Charles / Billisha Evans – What Happens When You Do Not Use Condoms
Brenique Curry / Clishae Sands – The Effect of Temperature on Conductivity
Lauryn Cleare / Leonardo Cooper – Are you a smoker: The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes
Khylia Gibson – Why Do Humans Need Sleep
Sianna Rolle – Generating Lemon Power

8th Grade
Faith Curry / Marquis Pinder – The Greenhouse Effect
Shirrel Knowles / Brianne Miller – How Does Music Effect Your Heart Rate
Jade Adderley / Alexy Petty / Jaced Clarke – Effect of Video Games on your Body
Joshua Sweeting – Airplanes
Genesis Sweeting – Which Dish Soap is Most Effective

7th Grade
Sky Rahming / Printassia Hanna – Why Humidity Makes Your Hair Curly
Wadainya Weinburger / Danielle Higgs / Franisha Mayne – Hurricanes