GENEVA — As Geneva High School students and staff hit the halfway mark for the school year, members of the Science and Music departments get ready to start the new semester off with a bang!

Get out the model volcanoes because it’s time for the Science Fair! On Wednesday about 200 science fair projects will be judged at GHS. The Science Fair will be open to the public from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., with official judging beginning at 5:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the makeup date will be Thursday. This competition is open to Geneva students in grades seven through 12, and participation is strongly encouraged by the science teachers. This year almost 200 students are expected to participate. Each project must follow the Ohio Academy of Science standards, and must include such things as a short abstract explaining the project, a graphic display and evidence of the use and understanding of the scientific method.

The Science Department is always looking for volunteers from the community who feel comfortable judging science fair projects. This year they are hoping to enlist 25 to 30 judges.

Each participant makes a presentation to the judging team and then answers the judges’ questions. The project is then scored on the use of the scientific method, the knowledge achieved through research, the originality and creativity of the project, and the clarity of the presentation of the information. Each category is worth 10 points with a possible perfect score of 40. All students earning a superior rating are eligible to compete in the District Science Fair at Youngstown State University on March 28.

Spectators will be able to see projects ranging from biology and botany to physical science and engineering. For example, junior Zac Depp is creating a photolimeter to try to differentiate between sucrose, glucose and fructose in their crystalline forms. Depp has been involved in the science fair for the past four years. “I like formulating a difficult question and then working to find the answer,” he said.

GHS has a long-standing tradition of always sending students to the state level, and we once again look forward to congratulating our fellow classmates on another outstanding year.

Science Fair is not the only competition that GHS science students will be involved with this semester. The 15 Envirothon members meet every Thursday after school with adviser John Barbo. This organization promotes the awareness and appreciation of Ohio’s natural resources and has fun doing it. They attended a training session in the fall and during their meetings study the different plants and animals native to Ohio. They will be competing at a district competition on April 29 at Camp Asbury in Portage County.

“Envirothon is a fun way to learn about local natural resources and what we can do to help. It is also nice to spend a couple afternoons outside enjoying nature,” said Envirothon member Jill Nazor.

Group members hope to become more active in conservation issues in the school and community.

Another science event is the Science Olympiad Challenge which will be held at Case Western Reserve University on Feb. 21. The 15 members of the GHS team will compete against other schools in a display of science knowledge. The students study with their teammates and receive help from their adviser Elizabeth Lehtola.

“Science Olympiad is a fun way to challenge my mind with my favorite subject. I really enjoy preparing for the big day at Case,” comments Abby Acord.

The Music Department of GHS is also honing the skills of students who will be participating in the annual Solo and Ensemble Contest on Wednesday at Warren Harding High School. This is an adjudicated event in which both vocal and instrumental students perform pieces of music from a required list. An experienced musician scores each student as an individual on a five-point scale. Each student then receives a score sheet noting his strengths and weaknesses; and medals are granted to students who earn a rating of “one” or “two.” Seventeen instrumental students and eight vocal students will be representing GHS this year, and we wish them the same successful performances that they have had in the past.

Now that the second semester is in full swing, Guidance Department chairman Carole Thompson reminds students and parents that it is time for all freshmen, sophomores and juniors to begin planning their academic schedules for the 2009-2010 school year. Scheduling assemblies will be held on Feb. 11 and course of study booklets and scheduling forms listing all available courses and outlining course requirements, electives, etc., will be handed out. Students will then take these materials home so that parents can help them make good scheduling choices.

Parents are reminded that second semester parent-teacher conferences will be held at GHS from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24.