St. Alphonsus launches Science Club with Hands on Learning

Nearly 40 students watched as Science Teacher and Science Club Moderator, Glenn Crosswhite of St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish School in Prospect Heights, got out his yard stick to determine which tower of plastic straws and masking tape would win the science club challenge.

Students were instructed to design and build a tower as tall as possible and strong enough to support a golf ball – but the catch was they were limited to only 50 straws. The winning tower, built by “Team Zebra,” was 71 centimeters tall and easily supported the golf ball.

Principal Fred Muehleman said the school introduced the new science club this year as part of its effort to enhance the learning opportunities offered at Saint Alphonsus Liguori Parish School. “Many of our students were telling us they had interest in participating in more extra-curricular activities after school, and science was high on the list of desired activities,” Muehleman said.

The Science Club at St. Alphonsus Liguori meets bi-monthly and is open to students in grades three through eight. So far this year, students have already built turbine-powered vehicles from plastic bottles and balloons, as well as an “egg drop” basket designed to protect an egg from breaking after a 16-inch drop to the floor.

Students say they love the opportunity to work with the science projects hands on in a fun after-school atmosphere.

For over 50 years St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish School has celebrated its Catholic values with a strong math, science and technology curriculum.

ABOUT SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI PARISH SCHOOL

St. Alphonsus Liguori is a Catholic elementary school educating students from preschool through eighth grade. Faculty and staff are committed to developing each student as a whole by providing an outstanding Catholic education designed to promote religious, spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development. Saint Alphonsus is a proud recipient of the U.S. Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award.