Discovery Ridge Celebrates Discovery Days

Students at participated in their second annual Discovery Days the week of Sept. 19-23.

The event, conceived by faculty members before construction on the new elementary school was even completed last year, focuses on discovery in the physical world around us. 

Activities include experiments like “bubble rockets” that help students to understand the principals of force, motion, and physics.  

“It’s really fun and we learn a lot about the sun, rocket ships, and what space is all about,” said 11-year old Maddy Linnemeyer, a fifth grade student at Discovery Ridge.

Students also had the opportunity to look through telescopes set up by members of the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri and witness a helicopter land right outside their building! St. Louis County police officers Ryan Schieler and Dan Cunningham with Metro Air Support landed their police helicopter on the school parking lot, and explained to students how the helicopter works, and how it helps local law enforcement officers. 

Music, PE, computer and art teachers also integrated elements of science into their lessons. The week-long celebration concluded Friday night with a dinner, a demonstration by the award-winning Wentzville Robotics Team, followed by a hayride and astronomy viewing at in . 

“Discovery Days provides students with a week of highly-engaging opportunities to learn more about the STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, and math) with a special emphasis on astronomy, aerospace, and the earth,” said Discovery Ridge Principal Laura Bates. “We hope that student interest in these areas will extend into their college and career paths. As a new school, we have embraced this positive tradition which combines the best of both rigorous and relevant learning."