catholic schools
The Valley Catholic
CATHOLIC EDUCATION INSPIRES
Canyon heights students exhibit science projects
Six students from Canyon
Heights Academy exhibited projects at the Santa Clara County
Synopsis Science Fair, and all six
won awards in their categories.
Students presented their projects
to a panel of judges in March at
the San Jose Convention Center,
and awards were announced in
April.
Sixth grader Shannon Miranda received honorable mention in Chemistry for her project: Canyon Heights student scientists (l-r) Alexander Vu,
“Beet It! Reducing Road Corro- John Ghantous, Anthony Vu, Shannon Miranda, Matsion with a Greener Solution.” thew Wong and Marie-Therese Chahrouri.
She also received a $75 check, a
Popular Science magazine subscription
and Kohlberg’s theories?”
and a Certificate of Achievement from
John Ghantous, honorable mention
ASM International, Santa Clara Valley
in Chemistry for “The effect of different
Chapter.
liquid acid concentrations and different
Sixth grader Anthony Vu received
anode materials in a water-based salt
a first place medal in the Earth/Space
battery and the efficiency of the anode
Sciences category for his project: “The
material.”
Disintegration of Great Rome: A Study
Eighth grader Alexander Vu, after
of the Effects of Different Soils on the
winning the Best in Show award at
Biodegradation Rate of Organic Matthe Canyon Heights Academy Science
ter.”
Fair in January, received second place
Seventh grader Matthew Wong rein Chemistry for his project: “Splitting
ceived a first place medal in Physics for
Sugar: A Study of the Effect of pH on the
his project: “The Effect of Varying Wing
Rate of Hydrolosis of Sucrose.”
Angles on the Lift Produced.”
Middle School science teacher TeThree eighth graders received
resa Lesieutre said, “The science fair
awards: Marie-Therese Chahrouri,
has always been a way for students to
first place in Behavioral/Social for her
explore the world around them and
project: “What is the effect of the redesign a project to answer their quessponses from the test subjects on Piaget
tions about it.”
Saint Francis students press for social justice in state
Members of the Saint Francis High
School (Mtn. View) campus club,
Catholic Youth for Legislative Action
(CYLA), witnessed the power teens can
have in government. In March, they
traveled to Sacramento to lobby elected
officials, advocating for legislation that
serves the poor and vulnerable.
Eighteen juniors and seniors met
with legislators or their aides to voice
support for bills that address homelessness, education, and human trafficking. By participating in this day
of student advocacy, young people
made a statement, senior Sana Allam
said. “The elected officials valued the
fact that teens made the effort to be
educated on the issues and to come
and talk to them.”
At this one-day event in Sacramento
students attended presentations given
by their peers. Sana and three of her
classmates were among the teams
responsible for educating about the
issues, and they prepared a workshop
on human trafficking, in preparation
for speaking with the politicians.
The experience taught students the
complexities of the American political
system, as well as concepts they learn
in their government classes. It also
showed that these social problems can
occur anywhere. “We all know about
problems that happen globally, but we
never realized the drastic effect they
can have on our own lives,” said senior
Megha Agarwal.
Sal Chavez, CYLA moderator, commended the students for pursuing
social justice. “These kids were very
articulate, committed and fearless,”
he said. “They experienced something
very special -- the democratic process
in action and the Catholic Church’s
social justice principles coming to life.”
knowledge .
May 13, 2014
9
St. Lawrence fourth graders pan for gold
As part of California history curriculum, St. Lawrence’s (Santa Clara)
fourth grade class studied the Gold
Rush of 1849. To bring the lesson to life,
fourth grade teacher Ms. Eagleson and
a team of volunteer parents turned the
Community Center into Gold Country,
using materials borrowed from History
San Jose.
Students, working in four teams of
seven, spent the da