The Science Fair is a well established school-wide extracurricular activity here at Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary and Ferrahian High School. All middle school and high school students, who are enrolled in a science class participate in this highly educational and rewarding extracurricular activity.
The purpose of the Science Fair is twofold. Its primary objective is to teach the students how to plan, design, execute, and complete a task with limited assistance from teachers and parents, and secondarily to provide an opportunity for students to apply and to bring to life the scientific method much discussed in their science classes. Additionally, the Science Fair program embodies several of our school’s goals, briefly, to graduate students who are critical thinkers and problem solvers, to graduate students who are life-long learners, to graduate students who are effective communicators, and who are responsible citizens.
The preparations for the Science Fair begin early in the academic year and come to fruition during the third quarter. Traditionally, our school’s Science Fair is held early in March with the display of all the projects in the school’s gymnasium and their subsequent judging by engineers and scientists from Rocketdyne, the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA), and perhaps school alumni. This year we were proud to have Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, a 1996 Ferrahian graduate, amongst our judges. The winners of the school’s Science Fair then have an opportunity to participate in the Armenian Science Olympiad sponsored by AESA at the end of March, and later in the Los Angeles County’s Science Fair program held in April.
This year the judges had to choose the winning projects from amongst 43 middle school and 70 high school science projects. Winners were chosen from each grade level, in addition to, an overall winner from middle school and high school levels.
Of the winning projects 5 projects from the high school and 3 projects from the middle school were entered in the AESA sponsored Armenian Science Olympiad. Two group projects performed by the AP Physics and the AP Environmental Science students won “Honorable Mention” status and a $50.00 cash prize.
At the Los Angeles County Science Fair, where hundreds of middle school and high school students participate, we entered three group projects and one individual project from the high school level. The individual project performed by the 11th grade AP Chemistry student, Carol Torrosian, titled: “ Removing Fluoride Ions From Solution Using Magnetic Particles”, was chosen for an award by the LA County’s Science Fair judges. Her standing as a winner will be revealed in the evening of April 18, 2008.
Ferrahian Calendar
Friday, May 16, 6:30-11 p.m. Armens Awards Celebration, Avedissian Hall
Friday, May 16 Review day for Final Exams – 11th and 12th grades only
Mon., Tue. & Wed. May 19-21, May Final exam days – 11th and 12 grades only
Tuesday, May 20 End of early registration period (Fee: $475)
Tuesday, May 20, 6:30-10 p.m. Elementary School Cultural Program, Avedissian Hall
Wednesday, May 21 Regular registration begins for 2008-2009 (Fee: $525)
May 22 – June 5 11th grade Class Trip to Armenia
Friday, May 23 Math Festival for K-8
Monday May 26 Memorial Day – school closed on Monday and Tuesday
Wednesday, May 28 Armenian Independence Day – School closed