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“We started doing the Science Olympiad instead of
Science Bowl because we could involve more students,
so there is more equity. We were doing it for fun and
we placed fi rst and second at our fi rst competition and
we’ve gone to State every year.”
Building a boomilever and the Potions
and Poisons events are two of the 23 Science
Olympiad categories in which members of
Bonham’s Science Olympiad team compete.
Michael is the team’s only third-year member,
having competed since Bonham ventured into
the Science Olympiad circuit three years ago.
For his part, Michael must prepare for a test on
organisms and elements and for a lab experiment.
Last year’s Potions and Poisons competition
focused on chromatography, requiring students
to separate dyes and inks into the diff erent
pigments in which they are comprised. Th
e idea is
to determine the formula used to create a specifi c
color of ink. “Some liquids or pigments are more
soluble than others, so when you put them in
water or rubbing alcohol, they will separate,”
explains Michael. Using chromatography paper,
Michael could then determine the exact ink color
proportions. “If you had a black Sharpie, you
could see how much red, gray, purple, or blue
was used to make it that perfect black color.”
If it sounds complicated, it is. Th
is is college-
level work. “At the middle school level, there’s
nothing like Science Olympiad,” says Bonham
science teacher and Science Olympiad coach
Hannah Galbreath. “Some of the competitions
we do are not things you’re going to fi nd in a
traditional classroom.”
“It is a true STEM competition,” agrees Bonham
science teacher and co-coach Kimberly Irving.
In the Science Olympiad world where some
schools have been competing for many years, the
Bonham team is considered underdogs. But they
don’t compete like underdogs.
Eighth grader Jolie Gaines placed fourth
at state in the Solar Systems competition. In
this event, Jolie must answer questions about
the rocky bodies of the outer solar system, the
moons of Saturn and dwarf planets. “I feel proud
of us. We know how to do all sorts of things not
everyone can do,” she says.
“Our students are amazing,” says Hannah. “We started doing the
Science Olympiad instead of Science Bowl because we could involve more
students, so there is more equity. We were doing it for fun and we placed
fi rst and second at our fi rst competition and we’ve gone to State every year.”
Now there is a dedicated class for the competition team. Th
ey practice
aft er school and on weekends, and they raise money for supplies and
competition expenses. “It is a big investment, but it is a big payoff ,” says
Kimberly. “We’re opening doors early. Th
ey’re getting to try out things
they otherwise wouldn’t get to do for years to come.”