In August, students from Joliet Township High Schools participated in the annual “Building a Better Battery” educational event.
Eighty students and seven teachers from 23 area schools worked in teams to build battery-powered remote control cars with household materials. The event, hosted by the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, was held at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont.
“I enjoyed learning how all the different things – Coke, Gatorade, coffee, vinegar – could power a battery,” said Kora, a sophomore at Joliet Central High School.
As the students practiced building a battery, they also received advice and mentorship from some of JCESR’s industry-leading researchers. At the end of the day, teams raced their cars to see which team built the strongest battery.
“I really enjoyed how everyone worked together to build a better battery,” said Sofia, a junior at Joliet Central. “This event gave me an opportunity to learn how to communicate and work on my time management skills.”
This experience allowed students to explore and embrace the possibilities of science and engineering in an exciting and collaborative way.
Joliet Central High School science teacher Eric Jern said students who participated in the event will remember the experience for a long time.
“How do you go about getting 80 kids excited about battery science and energy,” Jern asked. “Kudos to JCESR for organizing an event that did that.”
As the Department of Energy’s batteries and energy storage hub, JCESR’s mission is to overcome critical scientific and technical barriers and create transformative battery technology for transportation and the electric grid.
Joliet’s Eisenhower Academy named top elementary school in Will County
Joliet Public Schools District 86 congratulated staff and students at Eisenhower Academy for being named the top elementary school in Will County by the Chicago Magazine.
Rankings were based on test scores, spending per pupil, student attendance, and teacher and student data from the 5Essentials surveys.
Eisenhower Academy is one of four magnet programs in Joliet Public Schools District 86. Currently, 263 students in grades 1 through 5 attend Eisenhower.
Enrollment for Eisenhower is open to students residing in District 86 boundaries.
Consideration for admission is based on students who demonstrate average or above average academic skills and exhibit positive behavior.
Parents must commit to the Academy philosophy, including the Four-Way Learning Agreement.
St. Joseph Academy introduces new Montessori teacher
St. Joseph Academy and Montessori Preschool announced that Shannon Duffy was hired as the new preschool and kindergarten teacher.
Duffy received her American Montessori Society certification at Seton Montessori Institute in Clarendon Hills and has several years experience as a Montessori teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Shannon Duffy to St. Joseph Academy,” said Jan Novotny, head of school. “She comes to us with a wealth of experience and an enthusiastic and positive attitude. We know she will be a wonderful addition to our unique school.”
St. Joseph Academy is located in Joliet’s City Center on the southeast corner of North Ottawa Street and Crowley Avenue, in the Friends of Community Public Art building. School reopened Aug. 30, but new students are still being accepted at both the preschool and elementary level.
For more information, call 815-723-4567.