Colton Student Wins Gold at 29th Annual CJUSD Science Fair

COLTON>> On Monday, Feb. 6, Grant Elementary School’s fourth grade student Norissa Rendon won the gold medal at the 29th Annual CJUSD District Science and Engineering Fair. The fair had 200 kids compete and the requirements to compete focused on students using the scientific method to complete their experiments. The students then presented detailed documents and data of how their experiment was performed and the results it produced. The SIMS Science Fair included students from home schools, public, private, and charter schools competing in the fair. Rendon choose to do her science project on the growth of bacteria on household products and comparing anti-bacteria products. “I was just curious and wanted to know that even though we can’t see (bacteria), I wanted to know if it was still there,” Rendon said. Rendon began her research during her Christmas Break, but also had help from her teacher Mr. Jon Yeyna, a fourth-grade teacher at Grant Elementary School, who helped her choose her project and use the scientific method. “We worked with the science fair workbook and watched different videos. She picked out one she was curious about and then did the work mostly on her own,” Yeyna said. Rendon took different household items, such as a doorknob and a phone, and swabbed them. After collecting her swab samples she created an agar solution to put in a petri dish with her collected samples. After five days, the petri dishes began to sprout white spots and after the tenth day they showed growth of black mold. “She did all of it by herself. We only had to help her with the agar solution since it involved using the microwave,” said Erick Rendon, Norissa’s father. Bernadette Pedroza, fourth-grade teacher at Grant Elementary School, said Norissa’s parents were supportive throughout the entire process and always asked her teachers questions as Norissa continued through her experiment. Since winning the gold medal at district level, Rendon will be competing in the San Bernardino County level SIM Science Fair in April. Rendon said she is excited to see what the other students did for their experiments and plans to focus on having fun. “This is awesome and one of the best things to happen to Grant Elementary,” said Kathy Jackson, Principal at Grant Elementary School. “We are just all so excited and proud of her, and wishing her the best of luck at the next science fair.” Rendon’s mother, Lindsey Rendon, said that she and her husband are both proud of their daughter and will both be attending the county level science fair with her. “I’m really grateful to my teachers, Mr. Yenya and Ms. Pedroza, for helping me throughout my experiment. I had a lot of fun and hope I will do well in the next part,” Rendon said.