DSUSD celebrated its annual District Science and Engineering Fair on January 22-23, 2020 at the Taj Mahal (Date Festival Fairgrounds) in Indio. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators were in attendance to cheer on our young innovators and scientists.
School Board President Linda Porras and members Gary Tomak, Ana Conover, and Donald Griffith were there to congratulate each participant along with Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Kelly May-Vollmar, Ed.D., and Senior Director Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Michael Wilhite.
Close to 200 projects were on display from our budding scientists in kindergarten through 12th grade. Participants came from 25 of our schools.
Science fairs first became popular in the early 1950s as interest in the sciences was high after the world witnessed the use of atomic weapons, the dawn of television, and early space travel. As the decade progressed, science stories in the news brought science fiction closer to reality and attracted increasing numbers of students to the fairs.
A science fair is generally a competition where contestants present their science project results in the form of a report, display board, and models that they have created. Science fairs allow students at all grade levels an opportunity to compete in science and/or technology activities, exploring areas of the science standards, test a hypothesis, and reach a conclusion based on data.
Twenty-nine Sweepstakes winners (grades 4-12) will be moving on from the DSUSD Fair to the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair on March 2-3, 2020 at the Riverside Convention Center. Our best wishes go with them.
Community Partner Awards were given to:
- Shea Hill, 2nd grader at James Monroe Elementary School, received an award from the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District for “Ant Snacks”
- Isabella Rodriguez, 5th grader at George Washington Charter Elementary School, received an award from the Coachella Valley Water District for “Fabulous Filter”
- Benjamin Aguirre, 5th grader at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, received an award from The Diane McClary Estate for “Do Cats Like to be Bathed”
This year’s School Participation Awards were given to the following schools for the highest percentage of student projects:
- John Kennedy Elementary School
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School
- Indio High School
All three schools are repeat winners from last year and are all located in Indio! Go Coyotes, Jaguars, and Rajahs!
District coordinators, Jocy McManus, Kari Penny, and Carrie Isbell would like to thank Veronica Amezcua from Dr. Reynaldo Carreon Jr. Academy who was the announcer for the evening, she did a marvelous job; and Chris Viveros and Lupe Zavala from the education services department for their invaluable help.