Cracking codes and launching rockets, LCPS students get their science on

The team from Pink Hill Elementary School claims its trophy from Superintendent Brent Williams as the overall winner of the fourth annual LCPS Elementary Science Olympiad on Monday. Pink Hill finished first in eight events and second in four more to dominate the 19-event competition held at E.B. Frink Middle School in La Grange. Submitted photo.

More than a hundred Lenoir County Public School elementary students launched rockets, cracked codes, analyzed compounds, categorized fossils and competed in other contests that made science the focus of their day during the fourth annual LCPS Elementary Science Olympiad on Monday.

Of the 19 events that tested STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) knowledge, the team from Pink Hill Elementary School finished first in eight events and second in four to take home the trophy as the overall winner. It was Pink Hill’s second first-place finish in three years.

Second place overall went to Southwood Elementary and third place, to Moss Hill Elementary.

The Spirit Award went to La Grange Elementary School, designated the host elementary school, and La Grange principal Lorene Bell was honored with a special Volunteer Award. The actual competition was held at neighboring E.B. Frink Middle School.

Dr. Amelia McLeod, the district’s director of middle school education and organization of the Science Olympiad called the fourth annual event “a huge success.”

“The teams have worked so well in preparation, and it’s been so much fun to see just how much our students have enjoyed the day,” she said. “They’ve really leveled up in the events, made great progress in their own competition and are being prepared to participate in Science Olympiad as they go on to middle school.”

Across the district, Science Olympiad has become a priority the past four years. All 17 schools enter teams in Science Olympiad competitions geared to their grade spans.

At the Region X Science Olympiad held at Lenoir Community College on Saturday for middle schools and high schools, North Lenoir High School claimed fifth place overall and several individual students qualified for the state finals next month.