An extensive, enjoyable science fair without any of the usual stress: that's the description of the STEM Expo, a day-long celebration of science for students, parents, teachers and supporters of Portsmouth Public Schools.
The expo is the culmination of the division's year-long focus on science, math, engineering and technology. Though it is held annually the fourth Saturday in March, the energy that drives the event builds throughout the year.
Laura Nelson is the school district's director of science and STEM Expo coordinator. She and her staff have devised a nine-month program of interactive, fun activities that negate boredom, eliminate fear and provide real life application of science and math.
The introduction begins in elementary school, when fourth- through sixth-graders journey to Victory Elementary School to participate in Starbase Victory, a hands-on four day immersion in the discipline.
Fourth-graders are assigned to Spacebase, where they learn geospatial and mapping technologies with a focus on our community. A Lego re-creation of Olde Towne was one of the Expo highlights.
Envirobase is reserved for fifth-graders, where students study the biodiversity of the Elizabeth River and learn the human impact on the environment.
Sixth-grade students are introduced to physics and basic aeronautics and build their own rocket, which is launched at their graduation.
They take the knowledge on the road for middle school, as Starbase instructors report to Waters, Churchland and Cradock middle schools to build upon the training given in elementary classes.
Seventh-graders are assigned to Biobase, which continues the study of the Elizabeth River. Rovobase expands eighth-graders' physics education. Robotics is introduced in this session and is particularly exciting for the middle-schoolers.
High school courses are taught at I.C. Norcom. Students from Wilson and Churchland high schools join their Norcom classmates for courses in exponential design and spatial technology.
Norcom is the home of Starbase Victory's FIRST Robotics Team. The group recently returned from its ninth regional competition in Richmond, where it ranked in the top 30 of 150 teams across the state.
It's a major accomplishment, according to Richard Neef, STEM program specialist.
"Our students compete against teams in Northern Virginia, where a lot of the parents are engineers, software designers and doctors. The challenge is great and their growth is rather remarkable," he said.
It is from these programs that students report to the STEM Expo, eager to share what they've learned during the year. More than 700 students participated in last Saturday's event at Wilson High School.
"It gets larger every year," Nelson said.
Jordan Mutlow, who attended Norcom before moving away and has now returned, is a sophomore at Wilson and a member of the robotics team. He and his classmates enthralled younger students with their robotics presentation at the expo.
Siblings Elvis and Peggie Buckman made return trips to the expo. Elvis, a Wilson freshman, helped man the booth for Paradise Creek Nature Park. He counts a middle school trip to Florida as one of his favorite STEM memories. He and 10 of his classmates joined Wheelabrator Technologies at a symposium and discussed the dangers of over-harvesting oysters.
Younger sister Peggie enjoyed the Lego table with her fifth-grade teacher Janet Blake-Perry of Park View Elementary. Mother Ericka helps coordinate the annual golf tournament that raises funds for Starbase Victory.
"I've seen what this program does for students. It's amazing," she said.
Generous partner agencies, grants and individual donors undergird the finances received from the city. Nelson is grateful for staff and teachers who helped set up on Friday, then returned the following day to assist students. Two of the helpers, FIRST Team head coach Danielle Morgan and STEM Expo preK assistant Crystal Gerron, were students of Nelson's when she taught in Norfolk Public Schools.
Nelson is developing STEM summer camps, which will be free to Portsmouth public school students.
"We are committed to helping students excel in science and math and to set their sights on careers in STEM fields," she said.
Pamela Nichols, pamelawrites@hotmail.com