Science

The St. Rene science lab is a weekly experience for students grades 3 through 8.

This enrichment enhances their regular science curriculum, as well as meeting all NSES/SEED standards.

Students complete coursework on microscope mastery, wet and dry mounting for microscope slides, staining, and more.

All labs follow topics covered in the classroom, thus giving students a hands-on view of science and the scientific method.

Teachers work closely with the lab instructor to coordinate all classroom and lab experiences.

Some experiments and demonstrations are single period experiences, while other experiments require longer for implementation and observation. All students learn basic lab drawing techniques, and work with lab partners to describe observations in lab worksheets.

Recently, the second graders and their families participated in a retreat to help prepare them for their First Communion Day.

They began their day by attending mass together. Afterward the families participated in several activities to help them share their faith. The students created prayer boxes with their families designed to hold prayer requests using the symbols of Eucharist. They also spent time in prayer, reflecting on the importance of prayer in family life. Each family wrote a prayer together that they could pray every day until First Communion Day.

The children also shared the gospel story of Jesus feeding the crowd

of 5,000 with their families by acting it out. At the end of the retreat Father Tom met with all the parents to discuss the importance of this sacrament in the life of their family.

The second graders would like to thank all those who made this retreat possible and they ask that you keep them in your prayers. First Communion Day is on May 7th.

Science lab students, grades 3 thru 8 are hard at work refining their group projects for the St. Rene Energy Fair. This fair will be held during the school’s open house and all are invited to view our wind and water turbines, test our lemon power (beware the zap to your tongue!), note the destructive power of a flood, set your watch by our potato clock, see photovoltaic cells power a fan, motor, or music box, and much more!

Each group is responsible for researching and writing a paper, creating a display board, and testing or demonstrating an area of energy .We are proud of the energy and creativity shown in these projects. Each year, students become more proficient in problem solving, as well as completing a large project. This year, grade 8 students will defer their traditional bridge building project until later in spring in order to participate in the energy fair.