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The Paper | Thursday, March 27, 2014
Gum Springs Elementary students get inventive and step back in time By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
The students at Gum Springs Elementary School (GSES) are learning to think for themselves by participating in the first Invention Convention and discovering the joys of having a museum exhibit in the comfort of their own school. The Invention Convention is an intense learning and independence project GSES students participated in within the last few months. They were required to think of a problem, which was generally something that was a bother to each individual student. Some thought of ideas that are a bother to the general population or even something that peeved a friend or loved one. This caused the wheels to turn in each student’s head, which resulted in an idea for an invention to solve the problem. However, the project was much more in depth than simply thinking of an invention and presenting it. The students filled out a log book that stated all the facts -- everything from prices to surveys that stated whether other people would use the product for the price it would hypothetically be sold for. The surveys also included room for suggestions. The students actually created physical models of their inventions that were accompanied by a large presentation poster board with step-bystep instructions and photos. “The Invention Convention has been successful for our students,” said GSES Challenge teacher Stephanie Purvis. “Since they choose their own idea, it gives them a sense of independence. They pick something that interests them. It’s a challenge, and it’s a lot of fun.” The inventions that GSES students came up with were impressive. In fact, some were so impressive that they received awards and were invited to the county contest. The winners were Reyna Lofton, Gracie Herrin, Iris Thao, Emma Axelberg, Jonathan Cole, Preston Eye, Madelyn Thornton, Victor Siple and Victoria Siple. These winners have the opportunity to “fix up” and perfect their projects to prepare for the county contest and hopefully win. The winner’s inventions were impressive – Preston Eye created the “Bouncy Bouncy” high-tech pogo stick; Emma Axelberg’s
Participants in the Invention Convention (above); Preston Eye shows off his “Bouncy Bouncy” high-tech pogo stick (below); Fourth and fifth graders (R) involved in the Egyptian museum exhibit which included a walking tour of the Nile River and a Sphinx with a QR code for more information. See more scenes at ClickThePaper.com “Don’t Sweat The Wet” invention that is a handsfree umbrella holder that attaches to a car door; and Madelyn Thornton’s mail alert invention. Thornton created a large spring with a bright red ball at the top that springs upright once the mail has arrived. One end is attached to the top of the mailbox, while the other is attached by a magnet on the mailbox door. Once the mailman or woman opens the door and places the mail inside the box, the spring stands straight up, so that Thornton and her family can see if the mail has arrived or not without leaving the house. Other impressive inventions included a homemade snake repellent, an idea for a way to easily insert a pillow into a pillowcase, a purse strap insert that is used to prevent sliding off the shoulder and Katie Hitt’s lap desk for easy bedtime reading. The students are also very proud of their Egyptian museum exhibit that has been showcased since November 2013. This is the first year that GSES students have done an exhibit. Due to the great success, Purvis and the students have decided to make this an annual tradition and already have ideas ready for the next exhibit. In fact, the success was so great that the students still remember their ancient Egypt facts several months later. The idea for an exhibit filled with ancient Egyptian items stemmed from a field trip to the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory
University. Students were asked to choose something that interested them from that time period and create a replica of whatever it may be. There was a model of the Nile River, a mummy, hieroglyphic tutorials, sphinx, a model and verbal re-enactment of the weighing of the heart ceremony, amulets, precious metals, pottery and more. Not only did the students create a replica of what interested them during ancient Egyptian times, but they knew all the facts and even included QR codes that visitors could use to receive additional information. “We are impressed with these students because of their diligence,” said Purvis. “They sacrificed a lot of their
free time to work on this exhibit. They worked at home, on the weekends, before and after school and even during recess. They are so proud of their accomplishments and now they always want to take their school projects and work a step further each time.” The teachers at Gum Springs Elementary School always look for ways to challenge their students to prepare them for middle school and beyond. It is important to learn proper time management, research skills and working in groups at elementary school age so these things can be done successfully and smoothly as they grow older and receive more intense academic assignments.
Winter guard and drumline invitational held By Lisa Laskey
Regional staff
Flowery Branch High School hosted the Southern Association for Performance Arts Winter Guard and Indoor Drumline Invitational on March 15, including a combined 71 guard and percussion performance groups from across the South. Middle and high school as well as college students were eligible to participate in SAPA, a local circuit based in metro Atlanta. The organization sponsors competitive and educational events for color guard, indoor marching percussion and concert percussion units from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The SAPA season began in January and ends in April.
“Both the FBHS Drumline and Winter Guards did well,” Flowery Branch High School Band Vice President John Avery said. “They were both third in class. This was actually the FBHS drumline’s first performance in competition this year due to weather issues earlier in the year, so considering that, we were all very pleased with their results. “Other local winter guard groups competed, as well,” he added. The Mill Creek cadets placed third in class for the Cadet Class, scoring 67.800. Mill Creek HS JV placed first in class for the Scholastic Novice Class, scoring 84.580. Avery said West Hall, Buford and Dacula high schools also had great performances, scoring 75.720, 69.720 and
66.360, respectively in the Scholastic Novice Class. Mill Creek varsity placed first in class for the Scholastic A Class, scoring 82.140. In percussion, Jackson County Comprehensive High School and Dacula High School scored 73.900 and 70.500, respectively, in the Percussion Scholastic A class. The FBHS winter guard and drumline, along with many of the groups that competed at the Flowery Branch Invitational, will compete at the SAPA Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn., on March 29-30. For a full list of performances and scores, visit www.sapaonline.net/ events and select, “Flowery Branch Invitational” - Guard/Percussion links.
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