GARYVILLE – On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, the Garyville-Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School teachers stood in the school’s courtyard testing and charting wind speeds using tools made with everyday objects: straws, balloons, pencils and paper clips. The entire GMMS faculty participated in a three-day workshop for JASON Science: Education through Exploration.

Jennifer Williams, a lead trainer for the JASON project, was slightly disappointed at the nice weather. “It would have to be a gorgeous Louisiana day,” Williams said.

Despite the great weather, the teachers were able to chart the wind speed and wind direction on their data sheet and test other aspects of the weather. Williams then had the teachers log on to Weather Bug or the Weather Channel to confirm their data.

JASON Science, a non-profit component of the National Geographic Society, came to GMMS through a $12,000 grant. The grant included professional development, teacher supplies, classroom supplies and follow-up support. The grant also pays for teachers to set up accounts on the JASON website for students and parents to also have access to all of the resources online.

“One of the greatest components of the project is that students and parents can work on the site together from home or at the public library. The project contains hands-on, interactive, higher order activities that will really engage the students,” said GMMS principal Kelli Joseph.

Joseph stressed that her administrative team originally applied for the JASON project because the program had a direct connection to the school’s focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Clearly, all four components were evident during the workshop; the curriculum they practiced was entitled “Operation Monster Storms.”

In addition, Joseph saw the project as an excellent way to teach the required curriculum as all components of the The JASON Project curriculum mesh with the National Science Education Standards and the Louisiana Science Grade Level Expectations. Since the program is also interdisciplinary, all GMMS teachers — from kindergarten through eighth grade including special education — attended the training.

“Over the past year, GMMS has made great strides in improving the academic success of their students as evidenced by the 95 percent of the fourth-grade students and 91 percent of the eighth grade students who met the LEAP promotional standard. Through the hard work of Joseph, the principal, and administrators, teachers and staff, and the recent grant award, we believe that the potential is even greater in the areas of math and science for the upcoming school year,” said Dr. Courtney P. Millet, St. John the Baptist Parish School District superintendent.

The JASON Project was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert D. Ballard, the oceanographer and explorer who discovered the shipwreck of RMS Titanic. Within months, he received thousands of letters from middle school students asking to join his next expedition. Ballard knew his discovery had tapped a wellspring of curiosity and excitement about science and was determined to feed it. The result was The JASON Project, named for the mythological Greek explorer. Since then, JASON has connected more than 10 million students and teachers with real scientific exploration and discovery. More information about The Jason Project can be found on the website www.jason.org.