The home and school partnership was on full display Monday night at West Nyack Elementary.

Parents and children celebrated with faculty and staff in the school's cafetorium during the school's second annual Science Expo.

Guests to the Expo worked their way through the aisles while gaining insight from students who presented the results of experiments they recently completed. In addition to their verbal presentations, the students had poster boards and artifacts on display while showing or telling visitors all aspects about their experiments. The varying categories of experiments included the following: Chemical Science, Earth, Electricity, Life, and Physics.

I had an opportunity to listen to several students explain the results of their experiments on topics that included the following: Pop Rocks Expander; Gummy Bear Science; Which Egg is the Fastest?; Which Solution Prevents Apples from Browning?; Making Crystals at Three Different Temperatures; What Will Freeze First?; Geodes; The Race - Salt vs. Pepper; and a Food Tasting Test.

The students did outstanding work researching their topics, creating literature and visuals for their poster boards, and providing a verbal presentation with visual aides and artifacts to their guests.  Parents were at the side, proudly watching their children share their information with classmates and adults.

The WNE Science Expo Committee included Maria Cavaliere, Sara Fine, Kristin Hanley, Elyse Hausner, Alana Murphy, Laura Pestone, and Melissa Tsironis. 

"I am so proud of you for pursuing your intellectural curiosity, and for setting the example for all of your fellow students by creating your projects for the Second Annual WNES Science Expo," Principal Annie Streiff communicated to her WNE school community in writing. "Thank you for all of your hard work, and thank you to all of the grownups who helped you along the way to make your exhibits interesting, fun, and scientifically special - especially moms and dads. Most especially, thank you to all the WNES grownups who made this event possible!"

Today is World Down syndrome Day and the faculty and staff at Laurel Plains Elementary are showing their awareness.

Principal Carol Pilla and her staff are wearing yellow World Down syndrome Day shirts and blue Lots of Socks shirts to show their participation.

"The Laurel Plains staff has participated in the Lots of Socks Fundraiser this school year to support World Down syndrome Day," said Dana Lo Medico, Special Education Teacher at Laurel Plains Elementary. "Shirt and sock sale proceeds will not only go towards Down syndrome International to help improve the lives of those with Down syndrome in developing countries, but will also help support the Felix Festa SPIRIT class' community based instruction."

World Down sydrome Day, March 21, is a global awareness day, and since 2012 has been officially observed by the United Nations.

Down syndrome International (DSi) recommends that communities around the globe select their activities and events on this day to "Help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role iin our lives and communities."

More information about Down syndrome Day can be obtained at https://www.worlddownsyndromeday2.org.