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REPULSE BAY
Tusarvik School wrapped up another successful science fair in Repulse Bay earlier this month.

The Grade 4 class's elementary winner is judged by local district education authority chairperson Uluta Ivalutanar as class representatives Melanie Ulluliyarnat and Kendra Kringayark, left, are on hand to answer any questions the judges may have during the Tusarvik School Science Fair in Repulse Bay earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Sarah Williams

Grade 10 student Anita Kopak took top honours with her work on the adverse effects of smoking, while Grade 11 students Pauline Kridluar and Lucy Siusangnark took second place for their project, Sneaky Snacks, and Grade 9 students Benoit Sateana and Shelly Iquptaq took third for their look at qamutiiq runners.

Teacher Jennifer Perry said this year's fair went quite well at Tusarvik.

She said the teachers were pleasantly surprised by the number of projects entered in the event.

"We didn't really think we'd have very many when we started, but we ended up with 22 projects to be judged from grades 7 to 12," said Perry.

"That's a pretty good number for the size of our school.

"We also held an elementary fair for students in grades 3 to 6 to six."

Perry said the senior students did the vast majority of work on their projects in class.

She said the students began preparing for the science fair at the beginning of November.

"Interest in the science fair seems to be growing in our younger grades.

"It can, sometimes, be difficult to motivate the high school students to come up with an original idea.

"But the elementary and junior high students were really interested this year.

"Our Grade 9 students didn't enter any projects this past year, but they have a new teacher this year (Jennifer Roop) who's really into it and they produced three really good projects this year, including the third-place winner and two tied in fourth."

Perry said the five students advancing to the Kivalliq regional fair in Coral Harbour this coming year are very excited.

She said the group is made up of the top three winners at Tusarvik's fair.

"The students will make many, many changes to their projects before they go to the regional.

"Our Grade 9 project was on a qamutiiq, and how to make the runners faster using things like wax and tinfoil.

"But, before heading to Coral, they're going to make their project more cultural by using seal oil and whale fat, just to show one example of putting the time before the regional to good use."

Perry said the regional fair tends to be as much a social event as a competition.

She said that's an important aspect of the whole science fair process.

"There are some competitive students, of course, but it's as much about going to another community and meeting with friends you know from across the region.

"There are times that outweighs going south to some of our kids - having the chance to spend time with their Kivalliq friends in another community.

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