Students Create Mock Emergency Room as Part of Human Body Study

For their recent unit on the human body, the eighth graders studied various medical specialties. After passing eighth-grade modified board exams and physiology tests, students became certified medical specialists. For the unit’s culminating activity, they participated in a mock Emergency Room (ER) April 15.  Students worked in medical teams at clinics to assess, diagnose, and treat patients that visited their clinic. Prior to the ER day, students had studied various ailments and diseases as well as the tests and treatment options available.

***

Students at School of St. Mary recently participated in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Math-A-Thon program and raised $6,441 to help kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases. First grader Peter Fiocchi raised the most money in this year's event, with donations totaling $562. Since its inception more than 30 years ago, Math-A-Thon has become one of America’s largest education-based fundraisers. More than 10,000 schools across the country participate in the program every year.  Over the years, School of St. Mary students have raised more than $100,000 for the hospital. Participating students solve math problems in a printed or online Funbook. Students ask family and friends for donations in support of their participation in the Math-A-Thon.

***

This year, School of St. Mary established its first Debate Team. Fifth through eighth grade students spent the school year researching and preparing to debate the pros and cons of bills written by participating schools, which were presented at two scheduled debates during the school year. St. Mary students also learned how to write their own bill, which was presented at the final debate in March. Their bill was on regulating the Internet. St. Mary’s took third place at the final meet, and team member Marisa Perino received a Critics’ Choice award. Other members of the team include: Andrew Kubichek, Christian Kulas, Emma Freeman, Frank Kennedy, Jack Peters, Ashley Mullarkey, Lauren Romanchek, Corrine White, Michael Finnegan, Michelle Alonzi, Ike Lyons, and Max LaVitola.

***

The sixth grade students recently finished their unit of study on the Earth and its features. As a culminating activity to reinforce what they have learned and to build background knowledge for their next unit on weather and space, the students spent the day interacting with several exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry.  The students’ visit to the “Earth Revealed” and “Petroleum Planet” exhibits gave them added insight and knowledge about our Earth, its population, and the impact people have on our planet. To learn more about tornadoes and the storms behind them, students were able to see the museum’s thrilling IMAX movie “Tornado Alley.”  As a final activity, students visited the “Henry Crown Space Center” exhibit.