Inside the magic of Washingtonville’s Districtwide STEM Fair

The Washingtonville Central School District’s STEM Fair returned to Washingtonville High School, bringing together students, families and educators for a magical and memorable night of learning and exploration. More than 100 families attended, moving through dozens of stations representing programs across all grade levels, including Project Lead the Way, SUPA Science Research, GEMS in STEM and Odyssey of the Mind.

Throughout the building, attendees explored marble runs, polymer experiments, prosthetic prototypes and independent research projects, each offering a different look at problem-solving and creativity in action.

At the elementary level, students experimented with engineering design through marble runs built from paper towel rolls, while stations featuring kinetic sand, slime, Magnatiles and LEGOs introduced foundational STEM concepts through play and exploration.
Little Britain second grade teacher Debra Zupko introduced visitors to polymers and their everyday uses, while also sharing how she incorporates them into classroom gardening projects.

“We mix a little in with the soil, and they absorb the rain,” Ms. Zupko said. “Then over time, they slowly release the water back to the plants.”

Round Hill math teachers Molly Doohkie and Linda Giovene led games designed to make math feel engaging and approachable.

“With games, the kids are having fun,” Ms. Giovene said. “They’re more engaged and more likely to remember it.”
“And a lot of times, they don’t even realize they’re practicing their math,” Ms. Doohkie added.

At the middle school level, Project Lead the Way students showcased design and engineering projects built through hands-on coursework. The program introduces students to coding, robotics and automation concepts that become more advanced each year.

A student-built claw machine created by Cameron Dailey demonstrated both creativity and technical skill, while Ayla Clarke and Shea Truax showcased mousetrap-powered race cars designed to explore motion and stored energy.

Coding projects were also represented across grade levels. Eighth graders Teaghan Sherwood and Ife Turpin, along with teacher Jill Siruchek combined biology and computer science through interactive activities, including animal cell coloring pages and white blood cell-themed video games.

Seventh grader Ira Yarlagadda showcased a prototype version of a low-cost automated prosthetic hand she developed alongside Samantha Bailey, Julia Blais and Daniela Tabnachniuk.

Ira shared that the project required constant adjustments, including repairs during the event itself after motors failed and parts came loose.

“Our biggest challenge was connecting this motor,” Ira said. “We had three faulty motors in the beginning. We kept adjusting it, and even today I had to re-screw everything after it fell apart.”

For middle school technology teacher Jayson Escalera, those moments are an essential part of the learning process.

“Something will always go wrong, but what makes an engineer an engineer is being able to fix it,” Mr. Escalera said.
At the high school level, students expanded those skills into independent research and specialized projects connected to their personal interests.

SUPA Science Research students demonstrated a wide range of topics. Sophia Zummo presented research focused on prenatal maternal stress and fetal development. Madison Bruno explored the effects of anesthesia on Venus flytraps, while Emma Milmore examined possible links between atopic dermatitis in children and long-term cardiovascular risks.

Presenting their work to a live audience at the STEM Fair was a meaningful experience.

“It was really scary, but it was really good for me to present what I’ve been working on all year,” Madison said. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I feel much more confident public speaking now.”

As a multi-year program, Science Research allows students to develop skills over time while exploring topics connected to their interests. For 10th grader Eliot Ragland, that meant examining violence in the Neolithic Era through a literature review analyzing different causes and patterns.

“I’ve always been interested in people and how they think,” Eliot said. “I found this topic through science videos, and it connected to a lot of things I already enjoy learning about.”

Also represented at the high school level, the GEMS in STEM program returned for its second year at the fair. Students hosted slime-making and root beer float stations to demonstrate states of matter while also selling snacks and 3D-printed designs to support future events.

“I love working with the kids,” junior Sara Elarfaoui said. “It’s fun to teach them through activities they enjoy. It makes them more interested in what’s happening.”

Washingtonville High School’s Odyssey of the Mind teams also brought their creative problem-solving approach to the event. Visitors attempted to stack pennies on a folded piece of paper balanced between two textbooks, testing different strategies to support the most weight.

“This is an example of spontaneous problem solving, where you have to figure out the best approach,” OOTM Member Eva Ridgeway said.

The strongest design of the night came from folding the paper into a fan shape, which supported up to 292 pennies! OOTM members were also proud to share that younger participants often outperformed the adults in the challenge.

Across all grade levels, the STEM Fair highlighted opportunities for students to explore their interests, collaborate with others and apply their learning in different ways, from early experimentation in elementary school to advanced research at the high school level. More than anything, the event created a fun and engaging atmosphere where students and families could experience the magic of STEM together.

Check out a photo gallery from the evening here!