Mariner students come out in droves for science night

Sixth-grader Amanda Silar put a lot of heart in her science project.

First, she crafted a clay model of the heart and major arteries that flow in and out of it. Then she painted it with bright colors to show its parts. Smaller, feathery veins decorated the backboard that held up the rest of Amanda's presentation.

“It's an interesting and complex organ,” she said, explaining why she chose it.

Amanda said she used books and the Internet to gather information about the heart.

“It took about a month of research,” she said. “But it took me longer to make the heart.”

Amanda was one of hundreds of Mariner Middle students who put together a project and came back to school for an evening presentation after a days worth of classes.

For the past six years, the school has opened its doors for one night of pure science fun.

“It gets kids back in the school doing experiments that we don't always have time for during the day,” said Kathleen Fisher, science teacher and a coordinator of the science fair.

On Feb. 6, about 400 students and parents came back to the school, filling up the hallways as if it were a regular school day.

“This is one of the most popular events each year,” said guidance counselor Jacqui Sheridan, who directed students to various classroom experiments. “Kids know from the beginning of the year that they're going to have a science project. They're reminded throughout the year.”

Some projects lined the hallways and others were set up in the gymnasium as swarms of people gathered in classrooms for hands-on fun.

It was elbow-to-elbow in the room where kids could make their own ice cream using fresh ingredients and ice.

“I've been shaking this for 12 minutes,” said sixth-grader R.J. Gooner, 11, of Milton. “My hands are frozen.”

Other students had a hair-raising experience with the vandergraph machine that uses electrical current literally makes hair stand on end. Then there was fun with fire in another classroom where elements were burned to show different colored flames.

Mariner Middel School teachers have hit the right combination when it comes to getting kids excited about science – the highlight of the night was definitely student projects.

Earlier in the school year, topics were established for each grade. Sixth-graders projects were about the human body, seventh-graders studied environmental problems and eighth-graders researched and presented a scientific question.

Students research their topics and put together of a trifold presentation on them. Mariner Middle's Sheridan said language arts teachers help with writing up the projects. Students used flashing lights, clay models or pretty designs for a dramatic presentation.

There were 30 top finishers in this year's science fair. Eight-grade winners earn the opportunity to compete in the Sussex County Science Fair, Fisher said.

In sixth-grade, Bryan Ciabatoni, Isaac Lewis, Kody Garrison, Hayley Talbot and Vicki Stein earned first place awards for their projects; Bruilo Luis, Sydney Zych, Marley Evans, Ryan Butler, Derrick Lewis, Claire Gustafson and Amanda Silar earned second-place awards; Morgan King, Day'ja Smith, Mackenzie Lewis, AJ White, Chyenne Cole and Blaine Dole earned third-place awards.

In seventh-grade, Jaycob Trimmer and George Simmons won first place; Savannah Reed, Vienna Iacona and Freddy Sposato earned second; and Maci Long and Corrine Johnson earned third place.

In eighth-grade Caitlyn Lewis and Madison Alt won third place; Evangeline Dillard earned second; and Nouman Chaudhary and Aliyah Browning won first place honors.