Explore 2000 Middle School held its annual Science Fair this morning, its first in the school's new location in Jersey City. A collaboration between the school and another local institution, the Waterfront Montessori School, the Science Fair featured hundreds of student projects being presented in the school's gym with topics as varied as Solar Ovens, Non-Newtonian Liquid, Plant Growth, How Heat Moves, Making a Battery with Common Cents and much more. Lauren Norcia, Science Facilitator, engaged the students over summer break to begin an examination on “something of interest in the natural world” around them. Norcia commented, “All students were engaged; It was interesting to see the diverse innovative experiments presented by them.”
The event was attended by Hudson County Schools of Technology Superintendent of Schools Frank Gargiulo, Assistant Superintendent Joseph Sirangelo, Foundation Director Linda Quentzel and many teachers, administrators and parents.
“Our Science Fair is like no other. We strive to build confidence in our learners by building positive interactions with fellow students. All were provided with rubrics as part of the collaborative process, enabling them to learn from and assess each other’s projects," said Explore 2000 Principal Amy Lin Rodriguez. "From the rubric assessment results, we will send two to three of our students to move forward and represent Explore 2000 in the Hudson County Science Fair.”
In addition to being a showcase of students' projects, the Science Fair was also open to prospective students and their families as a means of showcasing the school to new applicants. Explore 2000 moved to its new location on 9th Street in Downtown Jersey City last year.
