Catholic Consortium schools take part in Egg Drop

Students from Transfiguration Catholic Elementary and Frassati Catholic Academy middle school in Wauconda completed their Egg Drop science experiment this past month with help from the Wauconda Fire Department.

These two schools, governed by the Catholic Consortium of Lake County school system, annually partner with the Wauconda Fire Department to test the limits and challenges of velocity, impact, gravity and shock absorption by using creative solutions to a physical problem.

Lauren, a fourth-grader, said that she practiced by throwing eggs off her porch at home.

"At first the egg did not survive," she said. She adjusted her project by adding a rock for weight management and extra rags for a cushion.

This year may have been a first for some of the Consortium students who have transferred from St. Mary of the Annunciation Elementary and recently entered Santa Maria del Popolo School of Mundelein, both integral schools and affiliates to the strength of the CCLC school system and regional Catholic model of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

For other students who have progressed through the Transfiguration Catholic Elementary School, the Egg Drop project and event are an ongoing tradition.

Jonah, a fifth-grader, has participated for 3 years in the Egg Drop project. He said his favorite part about the project each year is "seeing my egg survive."

Jack, a fifth-grader, said the best part of participating in the Egg Drop unit was "designing the contraption," which was a success this year. This was Jack's second year taking part in the project. In the previous year, his egg had not survived, but he was able to use what he learned to build a more efficient model this year.

Many students, past and present, community members, CCLC parents and families, teachers and staff from both parish and school gather to watch the Egg Drop contraptions built by the students. Egg Drop contraptions are dropped from a fire truck escape ladder, which can reach as high as 100 feet.

This year, about 75 percent of the Egg Drop contraptions built by the CCLC students survived their fall.

Fourth-grader John designed an Egg Drop using a foam football, umbrella and cotton. When asked what his favorite part from the unit was, he said, "When I looked inside of my contraption and [the egg] survived inside the football."

Fourth-grader Cece's egg's fate was not as lucky. When asked how she felt after discovering her broken egg, she replied, "disappointed, but I was just happy. I learned to not put my egg in the bottom of the pillow."

Ashley Daniels, CCLC graduate of 2011 and current student at Lake County College studying Nursing, was in attendance at this year's event, as she continues to stay connected and support her schools. She reflected on her experience of her primary years of education.

"There's no other school I could have imagined growing up in," she said. "The family aspect between students and teachers was just icing on the cake. The small classes were more like brothers and sisters. Such an amazing school."

Fourth-grader Hunter said being a part of the experience "felt really good, [he] felt really happy," especially when his egg survived the 100 foot fall.

Fifth-grader Andy said he enjoyed the Egg Drop unit and added, "[It's] real fun, and because we get to learn about science."

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