Co o l at Sc h o o l
By Lauren Bertovich
Something Fishy at West Greene
Austin Crouse, Jud Meek, Avery Berdine, Jade Rittenhouse, Jeremiah Miller and Brock Bedilion with the Aquaponics system at West Greene High School.
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quaponics is a plant cultivation system similar to hydroponics but including Aquaculture, or life forms that live in water. West Greene’s Aquaponics project began last year under science teacher Mr. Kurt Jones but what’s been learned reaches far beyond the boundaries of any classroom. The three parts of an Aquaponics system are highly dependent on each other. A large tank is needed to house fresh water fish; often used are salmon, blue gill, carp, trout and tilapia. A decision must be made about whether the fish will be pets or used as a food source. Smaller, decorative tanks can house ornamental fish species such as goldfish, tetras, angelfish and betas. These small systems are good for beginners and can grow flowers, houseplants and herb gardens. After that, just add food! The fish eat, swim and produce waste in the fresh water that will flow into a large basin via gravity or pumps depending on system design. Here’s where you get to see nature doing something truly amazing. Within a large basin, plants are housed in individual baskets and supported in the water using tiny pebbles of extruded clay. These
pebbles support the plants and increase surface area within the basin, tor, Mr. Eric Armstrong, supplied the students with a “Raspberry Pi” allowing the growth of good bacteria and providing shelter to aquatic device, a single board computer that teaches students how to build and red worms. These worms and bacteria feed on waste, converting it to program a computer. The “Pi” was used to create a temperature gauge nitrate, a key nutrient in plant growth. Another key ingredient is sun- to ensure a constant water temperature between 75 and 80 degrees light, and indoor Aquaponics systems often require artificial lighting. Fahrenheit. Students also used a 3-D printer to create custom brackets The types of lamps used in at West Greene are LEDs and operate using that aided in project construction. minimal electricity. This project teaches important lessons to these young adults soon Under the artificial lamps the plants grow, absorbing the nitrate entering a working society. Just like the relationship between the fish, created by the bacteria and worms. The plants complete the third step plants and bacteria, we are all responsible for specific contributions in the Aquaponics cycle by filtering nitrates and providing fresh, ni- and if one is eliminated an entire system could fail. The participants trate free water that is pumped back into the first tank, supplying the go above and beyond by sharing their knowledge and involving the fish with clean water. The process repeats. elementary students. When a student becomes the teacher it solidiThe collaboration not only in creating the project but also within fies what is learned and knowledge is always better when shared. For it is important. The project combines life sciences, chemistry, agri- West Greene, it has been a journey of exploration; they’ve learned that culture, and engineering and emphasizes the importance of teamwork with collaboration, communication and problem solving, anything is and problem solving. Pollinating the plants indoors was a problem: possible. “There are no bees or birds in the classroom so we used q-tips to pollenate our plants,” said Brock Bedilion, a student at West Greene. Communication throughout the project was vital, not only within West Greene but also other school districts. The Tilapia used in the project were donated by McGuffey High School. Tilapia, native to the Nile River need warm water. Construction supplies were donated by Intermediate Unit 1. The Tilapia used in the project reside in the first tank and West Greene Engineering instruc- The plants receiving artificial light from the LED system. are the first step in the Aquaponics system.
SUPERHERO SCHOOL
1st grade student Juliette Rahuba (green), 3rd grade student Miranda Rahuba (red), and Kindergarten student Tucker Rahuba (blue).
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n August 21 Waynesburg Central Elementary School hosted a Back to School Superhero Game Night. Students and their families had the opportunity to enjoy an evening of fun with school principals and staff members from Waynesburg Central Elementary School, parent volunteers, substitute teacher volunteers and a retired teacher volunteer. Approximately 100 students and their families participated in a variety of
OCTOBER
2018 • GreeneScene Magazine
games and activities that related to superheroes. The Waynesburg Elementary School PTA purchased snacks for the event that included Heroade, Kaboom Punch, Magnificent Munchies and Hero Rope. All students were able to choose a Superhero themed prize as they left the event. This kick-off event introduced the theme of Superheroes for the 2018-2019 school year at Waynesburg Central Elementary School.
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