St. Barnabas Math and Science Club

Members of the St. Barnabas Math and Science Club participate in the Rockets for Schools program. This program provides an opportunity for students to learn about aerospace technology, scientific experiments, and space launches. Club members, leaders, and parents travel to Spaceport Sheboygan (Wisconsin) each year to participate in experimental launches and learn more about space travel through a series of lectures, exhibits, and movies.

As part of the annual Rockets for Schools Competition, St. Barnabas student teams construct a rocket equipped with a powerful motor to lift it to high altitudes. Additionally, students design a payload experiment to fly on their rocket. They also give oral presentations and prepare a visual display of their experiment for the event.

This club is led by parent volunteers and is open to St. Barnabas students in 5th through 8th grades.  For more information about Rockets for Schools, contact Matt O’Keefe or visit the website www.rockets4schools.org.

Additionally, the St. Barnabas Math and Science Club participates in the First Lego League of Illinois.  The First Lego League (FLL) introduces fourth through eighth grade students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface.  Students design, build and program robots using LEGO Mindstorm technology, apply real-world math and science concepts, research challenges facing today's scientists, earn critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills, and participate in tournaments.

For more information about the First Lego League, contact Maggie Valentine or Sean Kenny or visit www.firstlegoleague.org.  To register, click here to print out a registration form.