[CharterSchools] After-school science work pays off for Kenilworth students

Thu Apr 23 13:17:23 EDT 2015

April 23, 2015                                                                                                 News Release

After-school science works pays off for Kenilworth students

Kenilworth science teacher Kate Williams

Back in September 2014, Kenilworth Science and Technology School teacher Kate Williams thought she might get a few students to agree to stay after school twice a week, 
two hours a day, to learn a little more science and put a team together to participate in the Louisiana Science Olympiad.

The third-year teacher from Utah was surprised at the students' reaction.

"The kids love being here after school. I was not expecting that at all," Williams said. "Now, I've become really passionate about opportunities for students outside of the classroom."

Williams' dedication and the students' love of science paid off last weekend when the 15-student Kenilworth team made a strong showing as the only middle school representing East Baton Rouge Parish at the Louisiana Science Olympiad. Kenilworth finished in second place in the "robo-cross" category, a team competition using robotics.

"We were first-timers at the Olympiad, but even placing in one category is great," Williams said. "The kids were so excited. They're already talking about next year."

The Louisiana Science Olympiad features teams of students that must execute a gauntlet of science experiments, tests and demonstrations. This year's event was held on Saturday, April 18 at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. St. John Berchmans Cathedral Catholic School in Shreveport finished first in the overall middle school competition.

Williams credited her fellow teachers and the Kenilworth administration for supporting the students in its first year of competition at the Olympiad.

"I had a lot of help," Williams said. "A lot of the science teachers are willing to put in a lot of extra hours, and Mr. Suzuk, our principal, really trusts his teachers. We're all working toward giving the kids a place where they feel successful."

Kenilworth is an open-enrollment public charter school that offers free tuition and free transportation for students entering the 6-8 grades in East Baton Rouge Parish. For more information, go to www.kenilworthschool.org, or to enroll, click here.

The Kenilworth Science and Technology School student team took second place in the robotics competition at the Louisiana Science Olympiad at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School is a state-sanctioned charter school with an academic focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Formerly a part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, Kenilworth has demonstrated consistent academic growth since its conversion to a charter school in 2009.

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