STEM Fair at GHCDS: More Than Just Science
At Good Hope Country Day School (GHCDS), the STEM Fair is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. As future leaders, today’s students must be critical thinkers, planners, and doers, and the GHCDS STEM Fair fosters these essential skills through hands-on, project-based learning.
“As long as there are unsolved problems in the world, we need to cultivate problem-solving skills in tomorrow’s leaders,” says Jane Coles, Middle School Science Teacher and Science Fair Coordinator.
This event challenges students to go beyond textbooks, asking their own scientific questions and designing experiments that reflect real-world challenges. Upper School students compete for a chance to advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)—GHCDS is the only ISEF-affiliated fair in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
STEM Fair Highlights:
- Real-World Learning: Students research, experiment, analyze data, and present findings in a public exhibition.
- Cross-Disciplinary Skills: Projects incorporate writing, organization, communication, graphic design, and presentation skills.
- Middle & Upper School Presentations:
- Middle School students will deliver oral presentations to their peers.
- Fifth and Sixth graders will present their projects to STEM professionals from Ocean Point Terminals, UVI, and the Department of Agriculture.
- Judging Day: March 5, featuring 25 professionals from St. Croix’s STEM community.
- 132 Projects on Display: Covering topics from animal behavior to alternative energy solutions.
Why STEM Matters at GHCDS
The STEM Fair is an opportunity for students to discover that learning isn’t just about memorization—it’s about problem-solving and innovation. Along the way, they develop critical life skills like:
- Time management & planning
- Collaboration & compromise
- Resilience & adaptability
- Hypothesis-driven thinking & data analysis
Through this hands-on learning experience, students also recognize that not everything can be found on Google—they must engage with experts, ask meaningful questions, and develop their own solutions.
“I love this fair because it allows students to choose their own topics of study,” says Coles. “As a teacher, I get to work with each student individually, helping them push their personal limits.”
Join Us! Public Viewing Times
We invite the community to explore 132 student projects during our public exhibition days:
Tuesday, March 4 | 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 6 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For families with younger children, we’ve marked select projects that may be of special interest for a shorter, kid-friendly tour.
Join us in celebrating the next generation of innovators, scientists, and problem-solvers!
For more information, contact GHCDS at 340.778.1974
—Jane Coles, Middle School Science Teacher, GHCDS Science Fair Coordinator