pA:9, v8.26 — Education & Youth — Mountain Views News

Education & Youth

Mountain Views News Saturday, June 28, 2014

MVNews this week: Page A:9

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 28, 2014

SIERRA MADRE’S ZOË ZAWOL WINS
MULTIPLE SCIENCE AWARDS

THe recent graduate of Sierra Madre Middle
School’s Project will take her to the Rising Stars
National Science Competition in September

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Alverno High School

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Ann M. Gillick

E-mail address: agillick@alverno-hs.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 Head of School: Ethan Williamson

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 Principal: James Lugenbuehl

E-mail address: jml@bcslions.org

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809

Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaber

info@foothilloaksacademy.org

preschool@foothilloaksacademy.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 Head of School: Patty Patano

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road Pasadena, Ca. 91107

Headmaster John Higgins

626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

LaSalle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Bro. Christopher Brady, FSC

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Gilbert Barraza

barraza.gilbert@pusd.us

website: www.phs.pasadenahigh.org

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal Joan Harabedian

(626) 355-9028 website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Esther Salinas

E-mail address: salinas.esther@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd.us

ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

MONROVIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 Website: www.monroviaschools.net

DUARTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

Zoë's 2014 science project, entitled “Is the Cosmic Ray Flux Greater at Higher
Altitudes Than at Lower Altitudes?” recently earned the following accolades:

Sierra Madre Middle School: 1st Place

2014 Pasadena Unified School District Innovation Exposition 1st Place -
Scientific Inquiry

2014 Los Angeles County Science & Engineering Fair:

1st Place – General Physics (Jr Div.)

Sweepstakes Winner – 2014 Best Junior Project (>600 top projects)

Selected to attend 2014 INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair
(ISEF) as LA County's first ever Junior Observer

2014 California State Science Fair: 1st Place – Physics and Astronomy (Jr.
Div.)

Raytheon Junior Achievement Award for Demonstrated Potential to Make a
Breakthrough in Physics.

Some Background:

For her science project, Zoë hypothesized that the cosmic ray flux would
decrease with decreasing altitude. Here are some quotes from her project:

Cosmic rays are high energy particles, including hydrogen nuclei (protons)
(90%), helium nuclei (alpha particles) (9%), and electrons (<1%) that originate
outside the solar system and even outside our galaxy. It is believed that they
are accelerated to high speeds by supernova explosions and possibly by black
holes. When they strike other matter, such as molecules in Earth's atmosphere,
they create secondary
cosmic ray particles, such
as neutrons, mesons and,
positrons.

….

Says Zoë, “Before I
began my experiment, I
predicted that the flux of
the cosmic rays would be
greater at higher altitudes
than at sea level. Since the
density of the atmosphere
varies with altitude, I
think that the cosmic ray
flux, or the rate of cosmic
rays per given volume for a
given amount of time, may
vary at different altitudes.
I predict that since cosmic
rays must travel through
fewer molecules at higher
altitudes than at denser,
lower altitudes, the cosmic
ray flux should be greater
at high altitudes than at
lower altitudes. “

Zoë then set about
building a cloud
chamber to detect cosmic
rays, conducting her
experiments at different
altitudes, analyzing
the results, conducting
further research, and reaching the conclusion that her hypothesis was correct. She also uncovered evidence that the strength of the
solar wind on different days affects the cosmic ray flux and that the magnetic fields induced by broadcast antennas on Mt. Wilson may
affect the cosmic ray flux there.

SMMS & PUSD

After presenting her experiment and results to Caltech scientist-judges at school, Zoë had the highest point total for all projects in
her middle school. At the Pasadena Unified School District's Innovation Exposition, another set of judges awarded her 1st Place for
Scientific Inquiry.

LA County Science & Engineering Fair

Throughout the day at the 2014 LA County Science & Engineering Fair in Pasadena, quite a few scientist-judges considered Zoë's
abstract, project notebook, and display, and questioned her about her project – no parents or outsiders allowed.

The judges not only awarded her 1st Place for General Physics (Jr Div), they also named her the Sweepstakes Winner for the Best Junior
Project in show, beating over 600 other top projects that made it to county!

The LA County scientist-judges and officials were so impressed by her project and her interviews that they selected Zoë to attend the
week-long INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where only high school students are permitted to compete.

LA County officials told me her name kept coming up when they were trying to select high school students for INTEL ISEF. The
officials really didn't want to give up a competitive position but they said Zoë's project was clearly in the top for the entire show (Jr & Sr)
and would have been competitive at the international level. They felt she earned it, so they changed a high school competitive position
to a middle school observer position, something they said they've never done before.

CA State Science Fair

Winning at county allowed Zoë to participate in the CA State Science Fair at the CA Science Center in LA. At least 14 scientist-judges
interviewed her, and awarded Zoë 1st Place for Physics & Astronomy (Jr) for the State of California! To top it off, Raytheon gave her one
of six special Junior Achievement awards. Zoë's was for demonstrated potential to make a breakthrough in physics.

INTEL ISEF

As a Junior Observer, Zoë attended the week-long INTEL ISEF in downtown LA, where she attended various symposia (including with
several Nobel Laureates), and met like-minded current and future scientists from all over the world. (Pictured above)

BROADCOM MASTERS

Zoë's LA County and CA State awards qualified her for entry in the BROADCOM MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and
Engineering for Rising Stars) national science fair. Semi-finalists and Finalists will be named in September.

Story and photos submitted by Matt Zawol

Zoë Zawol

Do you have to many books at home? Wondering
what to do with them? Come to The Book Rack and
trade them in for a book you have not read.
We have 1000's used and New books for
your reading pleasure.
204 S. First AveArcadiawebsite: bookrackarcadia.comPhone 626-446-2525
THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

The first ‘Dragon’ movie
was a stand out in the animated
movie genre, for both
critics and moviegoers. It
did exceptionally well and
was one of Dreamworks’
best movies. I was worried
for the sequel because it had
a lot to live up to, for the audience
and its creators.

Taking place 5 years after
the first movies, dragons
and humans have found a
safe haven on he he island of
Berk. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel)
and Toothless have revolutionized
the tribe, turning
them from dragon hating
warriors, to dragon loving
riders. However, while exploring,
he makes a discovery
that may separate dragons and humans. Permanently.

When I first saw this movie, I had mixed feelings. Yes,
it was better than the original in every way. Yet, it did not feel
like a family movie. The subject matter discussed in the film is
extremely dark, even for a modern day animated movie. Very
young children should avoid the movie, but everyone else, fans
or not, should see this film. Dreamworks has yet again reinvented
the modern animated movie.

SIERRA
MADRE

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