Before the end of the school year, Padonia International Elementary School's STEM Fair was held with great success.
Seventeen students from fourth and fifth grades took part in an after school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) club for 15 weeks to prepare for our school's competition.
Participants included Kenya Alvarado, Omkar Apte, Trinity Collier, Jay Dani, Bivore Gyawali, Joshua Johnson, Ritika Joshi, Summer Neblett, Onani Banda, Isaac Chou, Delaram Doorandish, Kevin Hu, Monica Mazariegos, Jeeyoung Lee, Mone't Peoples, Noel Sorce and Brittany Steedman.
Many teachers/judges commented that the STEM projects completed this year showed high quality, great execution, and a strong knowledge of scientific process.
First place winners Summer Neblett and Jeeyoung Lee represented Padonia Elementary at the countywide competition on May 21 at Randallstown High School.
There, Jeeyoung earned second place among all fifth-graders and Summer earned third place among all fourth-graders.
Congratulations to all STEM Club participants for such great dedication and effort.
Padonia International School is also proud of its third-grade Safe Racer team, Eggbolt.
The team received honorable mention in the 2011 Safe Racer completion, held May 20 at Randallstown High.
The Safe Racer program challenges students to create a vehicle that can race, while keeping its egg occupant safe from a "crack-up."
Team members were Alex Kramer, Marybeth Meyerhuber, Freddy Herrera, Ockeya Gilbert, Abel Salas and Andre Davis.
The team did an "egg-cellent" job designing a car, working cooperatively and testing its vehicle. Congratulations to the students and their teachers and parents!
A graduation ceremony was recently held on the campus of Villa Maria to celebrate the move of eighth-graders to local high schools.
Students voted to have the school's basketball coach and physical education teacher, Glenn Simpkins, as the commencement speaker.
"Coach Glenn," as he is fondly called, has been a faculty member at Villa Maria School for more than 24 years. His speech stressed the importance of success through commitment. His words encouraged the students to persevere with vision and purpose. For the young men and women who have overcome difficulties in their lives, this gave them true food for thought.
Again, best wishes to these students and their families as they embark on a new and exciting journey.
Bargain hunters may wish to take note of these upcoming events:
• The mid-summer Mini-Barn Sale at Broadmead, 13801 York Road, Cockeysville, will be held Friday, July 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring clothing, linens, furniture, glassware, china and more.
• Stella Maris Auxiliary's Good Buy Shop will host its Christmas in July sale on Tuesday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, July 20, from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stella Maris' Family Center, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road, Timonium. Items include Christmas decorations, stationary items and clothing.
The Good Buy Shop is a volunteer-run store that accepts donations of clothing and house wares from the community. All proceeds benefit the residents of Stella Maris. For more details, call Marianne Yannarell, director of volunteer services, at 410-252-4500, ext. 7315.
As we celebrate our nation's birthday, let's also remember our young men and women who are still fighting for independence throughout the world.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!