CRESSKILL, N.J.—The Academy of St. Therese in Cresskill held its annual STEM Fair at the Academy on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Eleven teams from the Academy’s sixth, seventh and eighth grades participated this year. Each team identified a specific need in a disadvantaged country, based upon the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These goals identify themes such as: zero hunger, no poverty, responsible consumption and production, and life below water.
After extensive research about their country, teams designed a solution using only materials available to the local population. Employing the disciplines of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), each team built a working prototype based on their design concept. Teams kept careful records of testing and modification of the prototype. Final designs were on display at the fair, along with a clear visual description of the country, the problem, and the solution.
“Congratulations goes to our seventh grade team of Lawrence Bailey from Cresskill, Sofia Zerillo of Dumont, Isabelle Nahass of Westwood and Emanuella Russo from Closter,” the school said. “Their project, titled ‘One Foot at a Time,’ presented a workable solution to help industry while cutting down on waste, recycling old tires into sandals and shoes.”
The Academy of St. Therese strives to see that each graduating student is concerned about the needs of others, and knows how to apply science, technology, engineering, and math for real world solutions to actual problems. They also take with them skills required for the jobs of tomorrow in an ever more global, technology based economy.