Science Olympians at Dormont Elementary

students have conclusive evidence that science is, in fact, a lot of fun.

The school’s first Science Olympiad, a day of science-based activities that challenged students both physically and mentally, was held Monday.

has done a Science Olympiad for the past two years. Dormont Elementary principal said former Keystone Oaks Superintendent William Urbanek wanted to hold the event district-wide.

So, when teachers Lori DeMartino and Kim Puffer said they were willing to organize it at Dormont Elementary he was happy to let them do it.

Students from science classes at , former Keystone Oaks teachers and parents volunteered to help with the event.

It took a full year for DeMartino and Puffer to put the event together.

DeMartino, a fifth-grade teacher, and Puffer, a third-grade teacher, went door-to-door to local businesses to get sponsorships for the event. Xerox, Michael Baker Corp., Olive Garden, , ING, Walgreens and several more local and corporate organizations sponsored the Olympiad.

Putting the groups together was the most challenging thing, DeMartino said, because each group included students from each grade in the school.

The teachers said the hard work it was worth it.

“What’s interesting is that all the groups are different,” DeMartino said. “The big kids are really helping the little kids, and we haven’t had any problems. The kids are really enjoying this.”

DeMartino said with the success of this year, she’s already beginning to think of how to do the event again next year.

“We might change a few things, and maybe have different activities,” she said. “But we’re definitely doing this again next year.”

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