Science Fair Returns for Third to Eighth Graders

After weeks of planning, hypothesizing, testing, and recording, students in grades 3-8 presented their projects at the OVS Science Fair in March. Projects covered topics that included gardening, sports, psychology, chemistry, acoustics, and more. At OVS, the Science Fair is an annual event (although one was canceled last year amid the pandemic). Projects encourage students to develop a question about the world around them, and then design and carry out an experiment that aims to answer that question. The school has a long history of teaching students through the Science Fair how to identify and research innovative topics and then present their findings with well-written reports, colorful project boards and oral presentations. In past years, students have gone on to compete at the county and state level at the California State Science Fair. Former Science Teacher Matt Inman kept several of their original science boards in his classroom years after the students graduated, examples of award-winning inquiry in fields of bio-engineering, hydrodynamics, zoology and materials science.

Spring Musicals Debut on Upper, Lower Campuses

OVS middle school students performed a rousing production of “High School Musical” during Spring Family Weekend. Performing Arts Coordinator Andy Street has been asked over the years to put on this show, but put it off until this year. He thought now would be the perfect time to embrace a fun and active musical to get the kids out of the COVID-19 slump. After all, what’s better than dancing on tables and playing basketball? More than 40 middle school students, faculty members, staff and parents were involved in this year’s production inside the Greenberg Center.

Next up: The high school students will perform a musical titled Good Trouble in Oz, based on the shows Wicked, The Wizard of Oz, and The Wiz on April 29.