Budding scientists shine at regional Science Olympics

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

When a student throws her arms in the air, declaring this to be the best moment of her life, you’ve got to think the organizers of this year’s Science Olympics were pleased with the event. And pleased they were.

This was the eighth year Science Olympics have been held in the area. Last week, teams of students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 wrapped their brains around science challenges at district qualifying events in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties. On Thursday, June 5, the winners of those events – 28 teams – gathered for the regional Science Olympics at Meadowfields Community School.

“This is the largest program that we’ve run so far,” said Meadowfields teacher Gary Crosby, who started the event in the region, and has been involved with the Science Olympics ever since. “We have about 350 students and 100 volunteers involved this year.”

Crosby says it was always a dream that not only would the Science Olympics sustain itself over the years, but that it would grow in size and popularity.

A team of students from Cape Sable Island Elementary School, calling themselves the Comets, won the overall trophy for achieving 73 out of a possible 75 points during the regional event.

Regional Science Olympics results:

Grade 4:

1st place: Meadowfields Secret Scientists, Yarmouth County: Bailey Saulnier, Sydney Newell, Owen Smith, Dylan LeBlanc.

2nd place: Evelyn Richardson Elementary Electric Smarties, Shelburne County: Colin Yee, Bradley Nickerson, Shelby Nickerson, Kayla Brannen.

3rd place: Forest Ridge Academy, Barrington Brainiacs, Shelburne County: Sarah Wilms, Justin Goreham, Dustin Newell, Christine Bower.

Grade 5:

1st place: Forest Ridge Academy Bubble Buddies: Christopher Nickerson, Courtney Smith, Ethan Reashore, Duane Christie.

2nd place: Carleton Chemical Catastrophes, Yarmouth County: Ainsley Bethune, Ethan Doucette, Gavin MacIssac and Bailey Hanf.

3rd place: Forest Ridge Academy Wild Lab Cats, Shelburne County: Joseph Williams, Thomas Murray, Lara Fraser and Megan Nickerson.

Grade 6:

1st place (and overall winner): Cape Island Comets, Shelburne County: Shaunee Marsh, Brett Dolliver, Kobe Atkinson, Kayleigh Atwood.

2nd place: Arcadia Consolidated School Neon Nerds, Yarmouth County: Matt Baker, Tamara Miller, Chelsea Surette and Bradley Henshaw.

3rd place: Yarmouth Central School, Wizards of Science, Yarmouth County: Chad Strang, Crystal Tunnillie, Olivia Fells, Jessica Grant.



(Note: More Science Olympics results from throughout the week will be posted later.)