The Science of Recruitment: SJND’s Kristina Taylor Science Fair
Written by Hannah Niu ‘27
Each year middle schools around the Oakland Diocese choose their top six candidates to display their work at SJND’s Kristina Taylor Science Fair. Kristina was a beloved teacher at SJND. The fair is typically hosted at the gym and February 10th of this year was no different. Lines of middle schoolers and their parents streamed out of the door and down the concrete stairs.
Every winter, Oakland Diocese middle schools run their school-wide science fair and finalists are chosen to advance to SJND’s fair. Only six students are chosen from each school. Attending the SJND science fair is required to advance to the County Fair, but it is also a great recruiting tool for the high school. SJND is one of the main schools that many middle schoolers in the Oakland Diocese choose to attend. Thus, this event is a wonderful opportunity for SJND to share its offerings in STEAM and other aspects of the school.
How does SJND do this? To ensure the middle schoolers attending are kept engaged, the school hosts a variety of activities that day. There are hands-on demonstrations led by science teachers, tours of the school, opportunities to meet high school students, and hear the staff speak about the school.
SJND math teacher Ms. Fahy chairs the fair and is in charge of both planning and coordinating the event. She informed me of the origins of the Science Fair and its purpose:
“In 2010 Kristina Taylor, whom it is now named after, she felt like SJND would be a good showplace. She was very passionate about students learning about science and she thought it would be great if we could offer it for the middle schoolers.”
Not only is the science fair an opportunity for middle schoolers to display their winning projects and to learn more about high school science, but it also benefits SJND school and its students.
This event benefited the high school students in many ways. Volunteering at the fair gave students a chance to complete their service hours. For some, it can be difficult to find service opportunities. The feeling of school spirit and pride brought on by the fair also brings the SJND community together. The volunteers are spending time on the weekend to host the event and get to witness all the work put in to make the fair happen. Another positive of the fair is that high school students can appreciate how far they have come. Many students have participated in a science fair in elementary or middle school, and this event gives them a glimpse into their past experiences. All of the fair’s benefits culminate into an enjoyable and informative event for all who attend, simultaneously bringing the SJND community together.
As Mrs. Graybeal, the Admissions Director at SJND relates, “Yes, we benefit as a community because SJND takes a lot of pride in hosting this event as it is a great day of spirit. All the students are excited and nervous and they dress professionally and get to boast about their projects. Faculty and staff participate, student leadership supports the students, and we come together as a community to host it.”
Families attending the science fair are presented with what SJND has to offer as a high school. There have been cases in which a family will go to the fair with no intention of attending SJND only to be completely swayed and apply. This makes the fair not only a showcase of students’ projects but also a recruiting tool.
Ms. Fahy tells of one of these times: “This happened last year. After the science fair, the parent called and said SJND wasn’t a place that her daughter ever considered and after participating in the science fair, she was wondering if it was too late for her to apply.”
The Kristina Taylor Science Fair has been created to be a place for students to be able to share their projects while also giving families an example of SJND’s strong school community. Another valuable point of view is from one of this year’s participants.
Kaleb Condez, an 8th-grade student, said, “The fair allowed me to see the strong community of students and faculty that SJND has. It was nice that SJND students were walking around the science fair to welcome and greet participants.”
SJND has succeeded in its mission to host a science fair that showcases student ingenuity while also promoting the school. The original idea for the fair was to fuel students’ interest in science, as the founder Kristina Taylor was passionate about science, but has since turned into so much more. Families feel welcome on the campus and even those who do not plan on attending SJND can get to know the school, participate in activities, and benefit from the environment. The science fair benefits many people including SJND, its students, and the families involved. It is clear from the participants and staff alike that this enriching event will continue to bring young scientists together.
