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Allendale-Fairfax Elementary School science fair winners are: 4th grader K’Jenae Cunningham (1st place for Melt Me Please) and 5th grader Terrance Green-Coleman (2nd place for The Science of Spherification). Not pictured is 4th grader Colten Brant who won 3rd place for Gummy Bear Osmosis.
Allendale-Fairfax Middle School science fair winners are: 8th grader Anthony Johnson (1st place for “Teeth Terminators”), 6th grader Chris Smith (2nd place for “Melting Away”), and 7th grader Ijaanae Grayson (3rd place for “Pop Fantasy”).
Allendale-Fairfax High School science fair winners are: Brianna Holmes (1st place for How Does Temperature Affect the Glow of Luminol?) and Arianna Priester (2nd place for From Bitter to Sweet). Not pictured: Keirra Aiken who placed 3rd for DNA Extraction.
Roxanne Griddle’s 4k scholars received prizes from the Waterford Wagon on Feb. 15 for having the highest usage in the Waterford program.
The Allendale County School Board celebrated achievements at their Feb. 27 meeting.
“This is one of my favorite times of the month when we are able to provide updates to the community and board members. Great things are happening in all our schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Margaret Gilmore.
This includes a $23 million renovation of the middle and high school campus. They received seven bids for the project.
However, Gilmore said there are still some “bumps in the road” because the state is holding the funds due to Allendale County Council not passing a budget. She planned to speak at the next council meeting.
“We are in dire need,” she said.
She also spoke recently with Eric Jenkins, the CEO of SRP Federal Credit Union. He agreed to sponsor charter buses for field trips. The credit union and school district are also working to bring an SRP branch back to Allendale County.
“I am very adamant about that,” said Gilmore.
The district is also looking at the possibility of a modified calendar for next school year, which is something more and more districts are doing. There are three options.
“I don’t want Allendale to be left behind,” Gilmore said.
In her finance report, Finance Director Angela Grant said they had $6,991,767 in expenditures and $5,594,318 in revenue. The district has started the budget process for next year. A budget workshop on April 17 is the next step in that process followed by a first reading in April.
Several students were recognized, including those who won the Waterford Early Learning program, which sets a foundation of literacy, math, and science.
“Children who learn how to read become leaders,” said 4K teacher Roxanne Griddle. “There are some things we can’t change, but I can change where they are going.”
Waterford only takes 15 minutes a day, five days a week. Griddle said students love it.
The science fair winners from each school were also recognized. Working both individually and as a group during science class, students were tasked with “trying to solve a problem or study an idea,” said Johnnie Miller, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.
First place winners had the opportunity to go to the March 11 regional fair. Gilmore encouraged every parent and guardian to be involved and provide input so they can move Allendale forward.
