By Dale McGarrigle
Special to The Weekly
HERMON — There are some innovative students at Hermon Middle School. This was proven again May 17, when sixth- and eighth-graders from the school captured five of the six places at the Maine Invention Convention state competition, held at the University of Maine. The event included more than 100 students from 15 middle schools and homeschooling.
Principal Jerry Kiesman said that a unit on inventing has long been part of his school’s science
curriculum, with lessons in technology and English incorporated into the unit as well.
“It gets them to think outside the box,” Kiesman said. “Also, since they develop products they could use in their own lives, the assignment is authentic to them. Since they have to present their products, it teaches them communication skills as well.”
First overall in the competition was eighth-grader Nathan Raymond for his product, the Lazy
Fisherman. The motorized, battery-powered, remote-control device jigs a fishing rod so that the
fisherman doesn’t have to. Raymond said he came up with the idea for the device after getting tired and cold while fishing.
Neily Raymond, Nathan’s cousin, won the sixth-grade division with her Chickadee Catrium. The enclosure for cats hooks to the outside of a window. There’s a scratching post and cat toys inside and a bird feeder outside, so the cat can enjoy watching wildlife. Raymond explained that she had two indoor cats who always are trying to escape outside, and this way they can go outdoors without risk.
Andrew Howes took third place in the eighth-grade division for a safety device he developed which would sound an alarm if a boat’s swim ladder is left down, which could potentially save money and maybe injuries. Howes said his family enjoys water-skiing, and has had the problem of accidentally leaving their swim ladder down.
Rachael Balmas won second place for sixth grade after creating a product that would keep cool
catchers such as herself. A pouch sewn into the catcher’s padding for baseball or softball holds two refreezeable gel packs, enough to last for an entire game on a hot summer day.
Third place for sixth grade went to Evan Staples, for his dog-toy organizer-dispenser. The four-
compartment container, about 30 inches wide by 18 inches high, holds the toys which the dog itself can dispense by hitting a lever.
The students developed their products, step by step, since the first of this year, under the watchful eyes of sixth-grade science teacher Amanda Lovejoy and eighth-grade science teacher Jim Fratini.
Lovejoy pointed out that the new Next Generation Science Standards call for a focus on the science and engineering practices, which is nothing new to Hermon Middle School.
“Since I started teaching in Hermon five years ago, my colleagues and I make these practices
embedded in our curriculum,” Lovejoy explained. “The NGSS website says it perfectly, ‘The actual doing of science or engineering can also pique students’ curiosity, capture their interest, and motivate their continued study; the insights thus gained help them recognize that the work of scientists and engineers is a creative endeavor — one that has deeply affected the world they live in.’“