PCY Sixth Graders Take First Place in Science Fair

The sixth graders at Paradise Canyon Elementary School were at the top of their game the last hour of school on April 29. They were screaming shouts of joy, applauding and high fiving each other as principal Donna Robinson, joined by sixth grade teachers Marion Darling, Jenny Hendler, Kim Slattery and Robin Williams, congratulated them on their outstanding achievements.

In teams, they recently participated in the Eco Hunt and Science Competition at the Los Angeles Environmental Education Fair at the Arboretum. For the first time, Paradise Canyon students, Jack Hale, May Lynn Forssen, Michael Fifield, Eileen Morgan and Ethan Sox were the winning team, placing first. They received a large plexiglas perpetual trophy, which is on display at the school.

“We having been participating in this difficult competition for the last 15 years and one of our teams usually places second, but never first. This is a first, as we had a first place team, as well as second,” said Williams.

Kelly Gregg, Jonathan Stroud, Charley Goddard, Daniel Ko and Katie Freeze were the second place team members.

Both teams received medals at the Environmental Fair, and were presented a second medal from their teachers at the school assembly.

Eighteen other teams competed in the county competition; many were magnet science schools. The all-day competition consisted of three timed challenges. An Eco Hunt challenge required the teams to use a compass and map to find stations hidden all over the Arboretum. At each station they had to complete science experiments and answer questions, as well as finish a multiple choice test of random science questions.

To prepare for the competition, they spent time studying together and learn how to orient with a compass, according to Williams.

“It was really fun, because it was hands-on and we really had to work together,” Kelly Gregg said.

The recognitions did not stop, as the honor roll recipients, as well as the math, science and language student Olympiads, which was determined by their high scores on a national test, were also awarded certificates and congratulated.