2 volume 12, issue 6 Scholarship Announcement
Kendell Anderson, 12 William & Mary, Football “I’m looking forward to college football and playing against my brother because he plays for JMU.”
Zach Elcano, 12 American University, Basketball “I felt like it was where I would fit best. I’m looking forward to playing basketball in college.”
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BITS Tutoring Experiences Low Turnout Bulldog Instructional Tutoring for Students, BITS, has proven to be helpful for students of all ages, although a relatively low turnout has occurred due to the lack of high school students. Johnathan Simmons, 11, has gone to BITS several times. “It’s really beneficial because when you’re at home you don’t want to study but when you have people to help you, it can make learning fun and really help,” Simmons said. BITS is a Saturday morning program held from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the library where students are able to get help from other students in school subjects. “I think BITS is a great opportunity for students to get extra help even though lately it hasn’t been utilized as much,” Aazeen Meraj, 11, said. Students have taken time out of their weekend to come to the school and help tutor kids. Tutors have been having trouble getting students to come. “We haven’t been advertising as much, word of mouth is what it really comes down to,” Amanda Kwieraga, 12, said.
Photo by Kelsey Stanton
Larissa Lopez, 9, receives tutoring from Lauren Correia, 11, during the Saturday BITS tutoring sessions. Even with a low turnout of students like Correria have continued to help out at the program. There are many reasons why students choose not to go to BITS tutoring on Saturdays. “Some people just don’t want to or don’t have the time, but it really benefits you. It also saves you time later,” Simmons said.
However, Kwieraga finds it helpful that a smaller group of students attend BITS. “One-on-one time with students is very beneficial, but it would be helpful if more students made an effort,” said Kwieraga.
BITS not only benefits students who need help but also student tutors. “Tutoring students is really rewarding. I use material that I’ve already learned throughout high school and help others that are struggling,” Meraj said.
Tutors are also able to receive credit for honor societies for partaking in BITS. “Its also really nice for me because I am able to credit for honor societies,” Meraj said. - Angela Pathammavong, Christina Beiene
Science Fair Contestants Find Perspective The first place science fair winner for the physics Meghan Dipippa, 11 category, Rohit Madhu, St. Joe’s, Soccer 11, enjoyed seeing the experiments of contestants. “I visited St. Joe’s and For Lakshay Akula, 11, had an overnight trip who was a second place there. I knew it was winner for physics, his perfect for me. I’m experience was more of a looking forward to social one. making new friends “[I liked the science fair there.” because] I got to see other top picks, their work, and ideas of the other students,” Madhu said. To Madhu, the science fair was not only a chance to view others work but a stepping stone on his way to regionals science fair competition. “[The school science fair] is nothing compared to regionals; regionals are Carolyn Seltzer, 11 a string above what we University of Delaware, face in school,” Madhu Soccer said. Akula enjoyed being “I felt really comfortwith his friends more than able at Delaware and the other contestants and they have a great the competition. physical therapy “[The best part was] program. I’m really talking to other people excited to be a blue and hanging out,” Akula hen.” said. Though Akula showed positive feedback toward the social aspect of the Photos by Anne Culbscience fair, his views on ertson and Molly Burns the academic portion
were on the negative side due to mandatory science fair project. “It was really long; we had to wait for the judges for a long time. I had to do the project for a class, going [to science fair] was a choice,” Akula said. However, other science fair contestants such as, Mariam Azim, 12, had opposite feelings about the fair. “Yeah [I had a good time], it was a nice learning experience and went faster than I thought it would. The judges asked few questions and [the fair was] organized,” Azim said. The best part of the fair for Azim was showing her experiment to the judges. “Presenting was the best part, because I put a lot of effort in to making the back board, and I liked how it turned out,” Azim said. Madhu is no newcomer to the science fair after two past science fair experiences unlike Sarah Worthington, 9, who experienced her first science fair this year in her biology class.
Photo by Cortney Mecimore
Catherine Meyer, 9, and Sarah Worthington, 9, present their science fair experiment to judges in the cafeteria. Worthington worked on her project with classmate Catherine Meyer, 9. Madhu thought the science fair was easy, while Worthington thought of the science fair project as a stressful situation for herself and her partner. “It was a little stress-
ful when the judges came by right before the science fair and before the awards,” said Worthington. Even though this being her first time participating in the science fair, Worthington learned from her experience and has given her advice to
future science fair contestants. “My advice would be to prepare for the project, and speaking in front of people and don’t procrastinate. The hardest part is answering all the judges questions.” - Ashleigh Bielen, Maddie Gray