SCIENCE LAB NEWS

Science, Science, and Saints Everywhere!

Thanks to all for participating so enthusiastically during our Saints and Science celebration.  The week was kicked off with 109 first and sixth graders assembling in the gym to form a human “Periodic Table of the Elements”!  (See photos below).  A school wide scavenger hunt for the elements followed.  Every classroom door and many walls were decorated with awesome information about scientists and science!

On Friday September 26, the feast day of Saints Cosmas and Damian, our students learned bout the saints and participated in science activities all day long.  Father Kaminski tried to cut the ribbon to our lab with a laser light, but Father Peyton saved the day with regular old scissors.

Experiments were simultaneously conducted in the lab, in regular classrooms, in the art room (papermaking), and even in gym class (physics).  Second graders made a cloud and preschoolers mixed frosting for cookies (chemistry).   Some students even had a science test in Spanish class!   The study of pitch and tone was addressed in music, Internet based science adventures were covered in computer class, and our students ate Jell-O with a nucleus for lunch!  All enjoyed Science moments, announced on the hour every hour. 

Many teachers wore lab coats and the sixth grade students dressed in the colors of the spectrum.  First graders wore “I love science hats”, and 5^th graders wore planets on their heads.  Miss. Iemmolo surprised us all and dressed like the one and only Albert Einstein!

Newsletter 9-22-03 - Science Lab Announcement (pdf)

This article (left) was printed Section B, page 2 of the September 23rd, 2003 issue of The Plain Dealer 9/23/03-South Euclid,OH - First and Sixth grade students from St. Gregory the Great School in South Euclid let the elements fly after forming a human Periodic Element Table on Monday, 9/22/03 to kick off a week of Science Celebration. Photo by Roger Mastroianni

9/23/03 - South Euclid, OH - First and Sixth grade students
from St. Gregory the Great School in South Euclid formed a human Periodic
Element Table on Monday, 9/22/03 to kick off a week of Science Celebration.
Photo by Roger Mastroianni

9/23/03 - South Euclid, OH - Parent volunteers seat first and
sixth grade students to form a Human Periodic Element Table on Monday,
9/22/03 to kick off a week of Science Celebration.
Photo by Roger Mastroianni       

Science Lab - Press Release (pdf)

The Xavier-Nichols Foundation Provides More Funding!

The Xavier-Nichols Foundation has generously awarded our Science Lab an additional $20,000, making the total grant from the foundation a magnificent $69,000.00! Our school is blessed. The additional funding will be judiciously used for equipment, supplies, and instructional materials, for inquiry-based, hands-on learning activities for students in grades K-8.

In accordance with the foundation's wishes, and in keeping with their deep faith in Catholic Education, our lab has graciously been named the "Saints Cosmas and Damian Science Lab." Cosmas and Damian are patron saints of physicians, chemists, and physicists. The twin saints were known for providing many charitable services including free medical care.

As a school community we cherish this most gracious gift. The science committee will be in touch with the Foundation quarterly to share with them exciting lab activity. They will know first hand how their goodwill is helping hundreds of students.

Science Lab is OPEN!

On March 18th, Miss D'Amico and her sixth grade MATH class christened our lab! Her students worked "hands on" with metric conversions measuring volume and weight. All classes from K-8 have now tried out the lab! The effects of saliva on a cracker, the breathing patterns of gold fish and the effects of acid rain on radishes are just a few of the great experiences some of our students have had. Each grade level is doing experiments based on their own curriculum. The enthusiasm for the lab and the awesome new equipment is abounding! More details about lab activities will soon be available on the school website.

Science Lab Receives Another Grant!

Pleased with the progress of the Science Lab Project, the Xavier-Nichols Foundation has blessed our school with an additional $20,000 grant.

The first $29,000 grant was used to remodel room 101, and for the purchase of furniture and basic lab equipment. The renovated room looks beautiful and now has an optional number of electrical outlets, a raised ceiling, new tile floor, and fresh paint. We have purchased 8 lab tables, 20 stools, 2 large storage cupboards, 30(!) microscopes (15 with mechanical stages and 15 with standard stages, a teachers microscope, a flex camera, and electronic balance, a LCD projector, and a white board. The additional funding will be used for more equipment, instructional materials, experiment supplies, and to supplement a teacher's salary.

We are delighted to announce Maureen Becker, a school parent and science teacher at Regina High School has agreed to work in our lab on a part-time/consultant basis. She will continue to fulfill her commitment to Regina as well. Mrs. Becker will work in collaboration with our teachers as they rotate their classes into the lab. Please welcome her.

For these wonderful gifts we offer our prayers and thanks. We appreciate the Foundation's commitment to science and the ongoing trust they place in our school.

Science Lab Receives Grant

Our school is in gracious receipt of a $29,000.00 grant awarded to us from the Xavier-Nichols Foundation.  The foundation was formed in honor of a Jesuit, Father Bill Nichols.  He was a scientist at John Carroll University who passed away recently.  To honor his commitment to science the foundation was formed.

This extremely generous gift will allow more than seven hundred students each year have a “hands on” approach to learning science in a proper lab setting.  Plans include minor remodeling of a temporary room and the purchase of lab tables and equipment for immediate use.  Once a permanent lab space has been identified, funds will be appropriated for the construction of a permanent lab and for additional supplies and resources.

The School Advisory Board helped secure the grant and has established a subcommittee to focus solely on this project.  Committee members include Miss Iemmolo, Mrs. Carney, Maureen Becker, Barbara Mastroianni, and other faculty members representing all grade levels.  The committee is open to any ideas and support. 

We are truly blessed with a philanthropist who will support Catholic Education in such an altruistic way.  Please keep our Lab Project and especially the Xavier – Nichols Foundation Trustees in your prayers.

Watch our Science Lab evolve!