Arlington ISD mad about science
Craig and Tiffany Sepulveda could hardly believe the news earlier this month about their daughter, Rachel, a second grader at Hill Elementary. The two had learned that the youngster had been specifically chosen – among dozens of Arlington ISD students – to attend the 2025 Rotary STEM Day.
The four-hour long event, held each spring by the Arlington Sunrise Rotary Club, features a wide variety of science, technology, engineering and math based activities.
“We had read a note given to Rachel from the principal but didn’t really understand what it was,” said Craig Sepulveda. “Once we received an email and read that only two students from the entire grade were chosen from each school, did we understand the selectivity of this opportunity!”
A little more than 100 Arlington ISD students were invited to participate in the STEM activities conducted by representatives of the Dallas and Fort Worth branch of Mad Science Worldwide. For more than 30 years, the organization has delivered unique, hands-on science experiences for children through after-school programs, workshops, special events and summer camps, making students mad about science.
The STEM Day event offered five interactive science activities delivered in 20-minute rotations in various areas on Adams Elementary’s first and second floors. Donning white coats, the “mad scientists” conducted lessons on optical illusions, how vibrating tuning forks make various sound pitches and much more.
Rachel enjoyed a demonstration on the solar system held in the gymnasium. There, she joined a few others in raising their hands to share their knowledge about the sun, planets and moons with the lecturer.
“Rachel has always been curious, like most kids, about the moon and other heavenly bodies,” said her dad. “We have looked through the binoculars and we would watch the supermoons rise, lunar eclipses and a few comets.
“We downloaded a free app onto our tablet to help us find different constellations and planets. We even got a small, simple telescope for Christmas for her a couple of years ago. We try to use that when opportunities arise to see various celestial events.”
Inspiration for the future
It was the perfect family outing for the Sepulvedas and many others. Past Rotary Club president Sheri Hall said the event started 10 years ago, as the Sunrise Rotary Club “always looks to give back to the community.”
“I think that for kids to learn about science, technology and math and engineering, these are skills that they need for the future,” Hall said.
Hall loves that the event has grown in scope and outreach. For instance, in the past, only fourth graders were invited to attend. Today, each Arlington ISD campus can select four students – a male and female from both fourth and second grades – to represent their school. Over the past decade, she said many of the participants have been inspired by the presentations.
“I think the whole event is to show that all these things can have fun, are fun, and what they actually can do,” Hall said. “So, they come, they see, they do the paper airplane, and it’s like, maybe they’ll go home and get into rockets. Maybe they’ll work for NASA someday. You know, with this little event, it is going to trigger a kid.”
Experiments of all types
In charge of the “Fundamental Forces” station was Wesley Janvier, a science teacher in Dallas ISD.
At his station in the school library, students dropped coins into a funnel and watched it spin around a vortex, spiraling down into the center. Janvier also taught students how to use a gyroscope and to balance bolts.
Craig Sepulveda and other parents thought Janvier’s “balancing bolts” session was “very engaging” as some kids emphatically shouted, “We did it!” Others chuckled when Janvier asked students to stand on one foot before gently pushing them to show them how difficult it is to maintain their balance.
Janvier, a graduate of Florida International University, could relate to the participants’ experience at the STEM Day event, as he first became fascinated with science during his elementary school days and through the help of his father.
“I guess science is the only subject that you can always test out in some compacity and it’s all around us,” Janvier said. “I was 10 years old. My father allowed me to flourish in my curiosity. It’s really rewarding when you can possibly be one of the reasons that a child becomes inspired.”
Melissa Delk, a “mad scientist” since January 2023, echoed Janvier’s sentiments. In her third year of participating at the event at Adams, she manned a booth called “Watts Up” about static electricity. Her station was a popular one as students were able to interact with a Van der Graaf generator to create static electricity.
Delk, who holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Texas at Dallas and works as a quality control inspector at a hardware refurbishing company, praised the Rotary Club for hosting the event.
“When I was a kid, yearly events always felt special to me. Turnout is always good at this, and everyone is always engaged. And I think everyone has something to take away from this Saturday morning science day,” Delk said.
Of all the activities, Rachel Sepulveda most enjoyed a dry ice demonstration at the close of the event. It was her first time seeing how dry ice interacts with other properties to make it bubble or “steam.” She said it was “really neat!”
A community tradition
As Arlington ISD’s executive director of engagement, equity and access, Aaron Perales and his department support stakeholder engagement, including offering engaging opportunities for school district students, parents, staff and community members.
Perales said the STEM Day event has become a “tradition” and thought the turnout was “fantastic.”
“We had over 115 students that came today, which is one of the highest attendance rates that we’ve had in the last 10 years,” Perales said. “And what’s really cool about it is that we had many, many parents and families stay with them, and so I got to be engaged with the experience as well.”
Perales emphasized that the event has other benefits as well.
“Not only are students being engaged or connected to these learning opportunities and building their capacity, they’re getting to learn how the community has supported them,” he said. “During the welcome and introductions, we get to highlight that this event is put on by Sunrise Rotary, and the different things that they do for the community as other community groups do.”