We were delighted to learn that four GSNZ Middle School learner's Science projects had earned awards at the recently held WITT Science Fair.

The WITT Taranaki Science Fair is the longest running regional Science Fair in New Zealand and is open for all learners from Years 7-12 in the region.

The Fair has eight different categories so appeals to a wide range of learners. The most hotly contested sections are those of Scientific Investigation and Technological Development which require learners to produce a large display board of their project, outlining their enquiry, methodology, results and conclusions. GSNZ entered 12 of such projects after a term's work with Whaea Ros and Matua Nick. Four of these were selected to have earned awards.

Awards are given either by the Science Fair itself, such as Seoirse Keegan's entry, 'Natural Sustainable Paints', or by private sponsors from the community which support the Fair. Three of our winners earned these 'Special' sponsorship prizes:

• Calypso Maddox-Rowe and Samantha Perrett won a New Plymouth District Council prize for projects that demonstrate a circular economy approach for 'From Starch to Finish' where they made their own plastic out of potatoes

• Lucas Morett won the Australasian Corrosion Association prize for best study or innovation in material durability for 'We Will Rust You'

• Bonnie Newland and Frankie Gaddum won a Curious Minds prize for the most engaging communication of Science

We are delighted with all of our learner's for their mahi on their Science Fair projects in this, the first ever, year that we have entered projects. The fact that many of the awards have come in the form of Special sponsorship prizes is testament to their ability to engage with Science in meaningful, practical ways that have an effect on the community, and their ability to employ the Green School Skills of Think, Act, Reflect.