Curtis High School’s annual STEM Night was an enlightening experience. On April 10th, 2025, the cafeteria was brimming with students and faculty, eager to showcase their scientific and mathematical skills.
This year’s STEM Night in particular featured all sorts of stations that incorporated engaging activities, allowing people to experience hands-on learning. Stations ranged from the Tug Of War, a station intended to test out Newton’s third law, and the Recycling with Robots challenge, hosted by the Robotics Club.
A senior practical nurse, Aldrex Tabaquero, shared the Nursing Club’s intention for their manual blood pressure station. “We wanted others to see what the Nursing Club essentially offers, which is a welcome space for students who may be looking into healthcare fields,” he said. Additionally, the station provided the opportunity for people to check their height and weight. Essentially, the station teaches participants about the heart and how to best care about your body.
Similarly, another popular station, titled Paste With A Taste, drew students in with the challenge of creating their own toothpaste. It encouraged students to think about the minerals, such as calcium carbonate and fluoride, that contribute to both cleaning and protecting your teeth.
Funding for STEM Night was made possible through the STEM Night bake sale that was held in April, prior to the event. Teachers took the lead by informing students and promoting it throughout the school. They initially aimed to boost attendance among freshmen and sophomores by recruiting mainly just the juniors and seniors as volunteers.
Both Ms. Jackson and Ms. Pizzarelli shared their thoughts about STEM Night, offering some insight on the planning and preparation necessary for this year’s event. Ms. Jackson explained that planning usually starts in the fall – allowing time for the Curtis STEM departments to brainstorm new ideas for the upcoming year. Chemistry teacher Ms. Pizzarelli mentioned that, in order to make the night even more exciting, the school partners with companies to provide prizes for the students. “This is a fun night I always look forward to,” Ms. Pizzarelli said. “It’s exciting to see how STEM Night can draw students in to participate in activities that are both scientific and engaging.”
STEM Night was an exciting time filled with many educational yet fun stations. The students and faculty hope to experience the same amount of enjoyment, if not more, at next year’s event.
