KNOLLWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

ANNUAL SCIENCE FAIR FRIDAY, MARCH 16

Join this year’s Science Fair and discover more about your world, your universe, and maybe more about yourself, too. We are looking for a group of young Einsteins, right here at KMS to tackle the world of the known, the unknown and the unimagined. Are you curious? Do you have a deep interest in things scientific? Are there things out there you just have to know about? Well, then here is your chance to do something about that scientific itch that need scratching. Grab your telescopes and microscopes and get knee deep in the ocean’s tides, dig in the earth and clay, start investigating the woodlands and forests. There is a wide, wide world out there, a world of science and wonder awaiting all adventurous travelers.

“Enough, that’s enough. I realize Mr. Nelson gets a little carried away, but you get the point,” Mr. Ruiz silences the giggles and other noise. “Let’s resume.”

If you choose to participate there are a few rules and guidelines we suggest you follow. They are not all mandatory but since they are methods utilized by true scientists, it would be wise to adhere as closely to them as possible.

GUIDELINES:

1. Each contestant must choose a project that includes an experiment of some sort. The project is not merely research but one that can be proved or disproved through experimentation.

2. Therefore you must create and perform a lab experiment for the judges on the day of the Science Fair. A complete, detailed experiment form must be submitted showing your attempts and either your successes or failures. Follow the Lab Experiment Form that will be given to you by your homeroom teachers.

3. You must provide a poster board that illustrates the steps you take to complete your project. This is somewhat straightforward but there is room for some creativity here that may exhibit your group’s originality.

4. There are no limitations put on the project you choose as long as it is of a scientific nature. It would be wise to discuss your topic with your science teacher just to be sure, however.

5. Due dates –Project outline and rough sketches - Friday, March 2

Final project ( all portions compete )Thursday, March 15

Science Fair and Judging - Friday, March 16

Good luck to all!

“The lights, Terry, again.” Our eyes adjust to the brightness once again. Jack is adding some last minute information into his notebook, at least he understood what was on the letter. I turn to look at Luke who appears to be as confused as I am. I don’t have the courage to check out what Pep may be doing so I face the front of the room as Mr. Ruiz begins to talk.

“Well, there you have it. I’m sure you have a million questions but for now I hold off until I can get some information from the science teachers. The announcement was very clear ( it was? ), and I’m sure you’ve already thought of some interesting topics to explore. Here’s what we’ll do. Jason, would you pass these papers out to everyone for me. These are the Lab forms they mentioned. Don’t lose them. I’ll give you about ten minutes or so to jot down some ideas so you can begin planning.”

“Jane, what is it?”

“May we work in groups”?

“Oh, yes, there was something about that in the notes they gave me. Let’s see, yes, students may opt to work individually or in groups of two, three or four. That’s it. Ok, you have about ten minutes, break up and keep the noise level down.”

Notebook in hand I grab a pen, poke Luke and go to the side of Jack’s desk. Pep has one foot on the windowsill and a ruler in his right hand measuring I am not sure what. I ask Carolyn to call him and when she does the ruler goes flying out of his hand and directly into the garbage can. I can’t help laughing. The guy cracks me up. Jack sighs and asks if we think it’s a good idea to have Pep in the group. Pep is one of our best friends and of course he is in the group with us. Jack has this look in his eyes that makes me wonder. Pep strolls over and sits in Tommy Wilson’s vacated seat.

“Pep, where’s your science notebook”? Jack inquires.

“In my desk, should I get it?”

“No, listen we need to make a list of possible topics. The more the better.”

“Yeah, I have some great ones,” chimes in Pep.

“I had a million popping into my head while Mr. Ruiz was talking. How about this one - we discover whether there is a real Sasquatch or not, or I was thinking we could always change that to the Loch Ness Monster if we want –whatever you guys want. It’s just that I’m not such a great swimmer and I think it could be more fun in the mountains looking for Sasquatch – but I’m flexible if you guys want to find the Loch Ness Monster.”

Jack stops writing and slowly lifts his head, first at me, and then at Pep. Pep’s all excited and even Jack doesn’t have the heart to go after him for his suggestions.

“You know what, Pep, not a bad idea, but we’re under a bit of a time constraint here and a trip to Nepal, or Tibet, or wherever it is that Sasquatch is believed to reside, is just a bit

Frozen Waves on The Top of Mantanuska Galcier

Gregory Stone ‘19 out of the question right now,” responds Jack. “Yeah, I thought that might be a problem, so that’s why my alternate is the Loch Ness Monster.”

Gregory Stone, ’19 attends Choate Rosemary Hall in CT. He is very interested in the environment, conservation and sustainability. Following his AS passions, Gregory sings and performs in musical theater.

Jack lifts his head again. “Well, Pep, another great idea, but that would mean a trip to Scotland for the four of us. Not sure about you, but my travel expenses have gotten a little crazy lately, so, not sure I could find the cash for a 3,500 mile trip at this time.”

“Don’t worry, Jack, like I said, I have a million of them.”

“That’s kind of what I was afraid of, Pep. Are they all similar to the others, by any chance?”

“Oh, no, some of the others are a bit out there, like a little wild actually.”

“ Some of the others are a little wild, did you just say?

Mr. Ruiz’ voice instructing us to take our seats may have been the only thing that saved Jack from a minor explosion. He suggests we all meet at the bike rack after school to complete the discussion. Before Pep walks away Jack calmly tells him not to tax his brain anymore thinking of any new ideas, that we’ll handle it until after school. Pep walks away, giving us all the OK sign with thumbs up, then proceeds to knock over the globe that sits on top of the spare desk. Above the loud racket it makes Jack turn to me and give me two Ok signs, but his thumbs are pointing downward.

Chapter II

“So, I guess you guys didn’t exactly like my first idea. We’re missing out on a great opportunity here. The first people in the world, kids no less, to verify the existence of “Nessie”. No, all right, I have this other idea, a bit far-fetched, but here goes. You know how Ben Franklin discovered electricity by flying a kite during a lightning …” “PEP!” we all shout.

You have to love this guy. He cracks me up.

I’ve been laughing since the day Pep, real name Pete Powers, came into our school in third grade. There is never a dull moment when Pep’s around. When he thinks of something he usually either says it or does it. You can imagine how this gets him into trouble sometimes. Take his nickname, for example. It comes from the time we were all in town at the local burger joint after playing some baseball last summer. Luke had ordered a cheeseburger with fries and went to the counter to pick it up when they called his number. Pep decided to play a prank on Luke by unscrewing the pepper shaker. He eased off the cap so that when Luke turned it over the cap would fall and … A perfect plan! What Pep hadn’t anticipated was that Jimmy Benson, the town tough guy and friend of Pep’s older brother Neil would come to the table reaching for the pepper shaker.

“No, don’t,” screamed Pep grabbing for the shaker.

“What,” said Jimmy, slapping Pep’s hand away.

From The Fishbowl

Jenny Bruce, mother of two boys, joined A-S’s Communications Team in the summer of 2021. Passionate about creating, Jenny is an award-winning singer-songwriter and also loves blogging, videography, and photographing moments of ephemeral beauty in her native New York City and beyond.

“Are you saying I can’t have your pepper, kid? Let go.”

“No, I just wouldn’t if I were you.

“Well, kid, there’s the beauty. You are not me, and I am certainly not you. Hey, Neil, what’s up with your little brother? He’s denying me some pepper. You need to set him straight before this gets ugly.”

Pep’s brother grabs Pep by the arm and says, “Pete, give him the pepper or mom and dad will be minus a son, you got me?”

“But you don’t understand. I’m saving it for Luke.”

“You know what, when your little friend gets back here, you just send him over if he wants a little pepper,” threatened Jimmy. The walk away laughing and pointing back at us as we sat there counting the seconds before Jimmy Benson pours a mound of pepper all over his burger. Pep is sweating and about to head to the door when he rams into Luke knocking his food to the floor.

“AHHHH, Pete, what are you doing. My food!” Luke looks like he lost his best friend.

“Sorry, Luke, I gotta go.”

“Little Powers, where are you going in such a hurry?” Jimmy reaches the door before Pep.

“I have to get going. My mom said to be home no later than 4:00. Right, Neil, you heard her.”

If Pep was looking for any help from his brother he was seriously barking up the wrong tree.

“Now come back here and sit down with your brother and me. I’ve got something I want to discuss with you. No, no, over here, closer to me. Your friends can wait until we’re done. That’s it; make yourself comfortable. Good. Now I was just saying to your brother here about how skinny you’re getting. I have to be honest; it’s got me a little concerned. Wasn’t I just saying that, Neil?” Pep’s brother nods and grins.

“Well, actually, Jimmy, I’ve put on a few pounds lately. I know I shouldn’t eat so much, but the food is sitting on the plate and then I …”

“Uh, did I ask you a question? Listen here, kid, I’m the one doing the talking. You are the one doing the listening and then very shortly you will be the one doing the eating. Like I said, I’m worried about you. And as anyone around here knows, I don’t like to worry. It upsets my thinking if you know what I mean. So, I’d like to offer you my burger here to make the both of us feel good. Here you go, just the way you like it.”

Pep stares at the plate. As much as he tries, he cannot see a burger anywhere. What he does see is a pile of black pepper sitting on top of an open hamburger bun rising about three inches in the air. He looks from the plate to Jimmy, then to his brother, then looks over at us. Sensing the inevitable, he looks once again at the plate and obediently picks up the burger.

“That’s right, buddy, it’s all yours. Enjoy! Now show me how thankful you are by eating the whole thing. You don’t have to say a thing, your enjoyment will be my thanks.”

“But the pepper…”

“What’s that you’re saying, pepper, you’d like some pepper. No problem. Here let me help you.” With that, Jimmy grabs the shaker and pours the remainder on the burger.

“No, there’s already too much pep, pep, pep, pepper on it,” is all Pete can say. Let’s just say Pep tried every trick in the book but he still ended up eating the entire thing. From that day forward the nickname just kind of stuck.

“I don’t want to hear the rest of that one, Pep. I don’t want to hear you suggest that we stand out in a lightning storm with a kite imitating Franklin’s electricity experiment. Again, Pep, a brilliant idea, but a bit risky. Now, before anyone says another word,” Jack stares directly at Pep, “ let’s all go home and give this some serious thought. We’ll meet tomorrow and share our best, you got that, our best.” Again he stares directly at Pep, but Pep doesn’t notice. He’s sitting on the ground trying to balance a pinecone on a small branch. Jack looks at me, I shrug my shoulders, hit Luke so he can see Pep and we all crack up.

“What, what’d I miss. What are you guys laughing at?”

“Pep, are you paying any attention to me?” Jack asks.

“Yeah, we’re going home and tomorrow we’re gonna share our best ideas. I heard you.”

“All right, see you guys tomorrow. Terry, let’s go.”

Jack and I head up Harding Rd. while Luke and Pep stay on Rock. We take a shortcut through O’Leary’s yard to Ashton and cross Ackerman to Warren. Jack has not said a word the entire walk home until we reach my house.

“Terry, it has to be good. Think hard.”

“Don’t worry, Jack, we’ll come up with something. There are four of us; we’ll come up with a winner. Hey, and if not, there’s always the Loch Ness Monster.”

Jack grabs a bunch of pinecones and hurls them my way. “All right, see you in the morning. 7:45.”

I watch him as he crosses my yard and races up the steps to his front door. I can’t stop smiling. I haven’t seen him like this in almost a year.

Pete Haarmann taught English at Allen-Stevenson for twenty-seven years retiring in 2021. He is an avid reader and has enjoyed his relationship with Kerim Eken and the A-Z Files these many years.