School News Briefs Middle School News Student Council Elections Held
L-R Ilias Mamea, William Pounds, Grace Castleman, Ava Rose Weber, Bailey Conner
Middle School Student Council Elections were held September 1, 2021 and included candidates Bailey Conner ’27 for Historian, Ilias Mamea ’26 for Vice President, and, for President, William Pounds ’26, Gracie Castleman ’27, and Ava Rose Weber ’26. All of the candidates gave excellent speeches to their peers in St. Johns’ Performing Arts Center, with elections following in homerooms. The results were: Historian Bailey Conner, Vice President Ilias Mamea, and President William Pounds. Congratulations to all of the candidates and to the newly elected officials.
Regolith Grant Fuels Future Scientists NASA scientists currently believe that in order to get to Mars in the future, spacecraft will need to make a pitstop at the Moon. Thus, NASA will likely establish a lunar operating base on the Moon. This year, Grade 7 Earth Science teachers received two grants that provided about $400 worth of lunar regolith (simulated Moon soil) and Mars regolith (simulated Martian soil). Mrs. Wagstaff’s Grade 7 science classes have been studying whether specific percentages of lunar regolith and mixed compacted Earth additives will affect the growth of dandelions. Mrs. Sachs’ Grade 7 classes are studying the same concepts, but are using Martian regolith. As part of the grant, students have also had the opportunity to participate in webinars with scientists and astronauts who are providing information about the best ideas for growing food on the Moon or Mars. “This experience was a great way for students to experience designing a solution for our future society,” said Science Department Chair Jennifer Wagstaff. “It helps them see the practical applications of what we’re learning in the classroom, and may pique their interest in possible future careers. We might even have the next NASA astronaut or astrobotanist in the classroom!”
S T. J O H N S C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E
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