McHenry Times

Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 recently issued the following announcement.

Science Olympiad teams from Hannah Beardsley and Bernotas Middle Schools will head to the virtual Illinois Science Olympiad state tournament on Saturday, April 10.  Hannah Beardsley will compete against 20 other teams in the AA division, as this is the third year they have qualified for the state competition. Bernotas will compete against 16 other teams in the A division. 

Science Olympiad is an after school program open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders who wish to further their pursuit of science. To participate, students must submit an application and obtain teacher recommendations.

Science Olympiad teams typically meet weekly throughout the year to prepare for several regional competitions, which consist of 23 study, build, and scientific process events that encompass such scientific disciplines as earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Among the 23 events this year, specific entries include Crime Busters, Density Labs, Boomilever, Dynamic Planet, Heredity, to name a few. 

This year, due to COVID-19, District 47 Science Olympiad teams have met 1-2 times per week since September via Zoom. Teams are comprised of 6th, 7th and 8th graders and both remote learners and students attending in-person instruction. Students are required to take written tests, perform labs, or construct projects like mousetrap cars, ping-pong parachutes and gliders. As students prepare for these competitions, they work in pairs and divide up the work. Planning and labs are done at the school under the direction of a coach/ staff member, but the "builds" are primarily done at home, occasionally with the help of parents. Photos and video are taken along the way and shared with the school coach, who monitors students' progress.

Hannah Beardsley has had a Science Olympiad team for 25 years. The team’s coordinator, Laura Coirier, has coached the Hannah Beardsley team for the past five years but has a total of 26 years of experience as a Science Olympiad coach. Coirier said she thinks of Science Olympiad as a “track meet of science events.”

“It’s always wonderful to work with the scientists and leaders of tomorrow,” said Coirier. “They are winners, no matter how they do compared to other state teams. This team deserves all the credit for working hard throughout this challenging year.”

District 47 wishes both teams the best of luck on Saturday!

Original source can be found here.

Source: Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47