White Pine's STEM Portfolio

On February 27th , White Pine students Abigail Skipper and Jersie Barry showcased their research and analytical skills at the Eastern Idaho Science & Engineering Fair , earning runner-up honors for their outstanding project, "Comparing the Percentage of Mammograms in Idaho to the Rest of the Nation."   Their project explored an important public health topic, analyzing data to highlight differences in mammogram screening rates between Idaho and the rest of the country. Their hard work, critical thinking, and dedication to scientific research impressed the judges and earned them well-deserved recognition! We are incredibly proud of Abigail and Jersie for their commitment to STEM and for representing White Pine with excellence. Their success is a testament to the power of curiosity, research, and problem-solving! A huge thank you to the Eastern Idaho Science & Engineering Fair for providing this opportunity for students to explore and present their scientific disco...

On February 27th , our talented White Pine students showcased their creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills at the Idaho Community Science & Engineering Fair at Idaho State University . Competing alongside students from across the region, they impressed judges with their scientific research and engineering designs! We are thrilled to celebrate their achievements: 🥉 Paxton Purser – 3rd Place in Chemistry & Food Science 🏅 Duncan Pickett (not pictured) – Best Engineering Design for S.P.O.T the Robotic Dog 🤖🐶 🏅 Jennet Leonard – 4th Place in Chemistry & Food Science (She amazed the crowd with a Mentos and Coke geyser! 🌋) 🏆 Nate Barrett – Teacher’s Award for outstanding support and mentorship From robotic innovations to explosive chemistry experiments, our students proved that STEM is alive and thriving at White Pine. We are so proud of their hard work, curiosity, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of science and engineering! A huge thank...

Last week, a group of our White Pine students had the exciting opportunity to attend Bengal STEM Day at Idaho State University ! This hands-on event brought together young minds from across the region to explore the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering, and math through interactive activities, experiments, and demonstrations. From building circuits to coding challenges , and even testing engineering designs , our students engaged in real-world problem-solving while connecting with ISU faculty and STEM professionals. The experience gave them a glimpse into future careers and the impact of STEM in everyday life. A huge thank you to ISU for hosting this amazing event and inspiring the next generation of innovators! We can’t wait to take what we learned back to our classrooms and continue exploring the power of STEM.

Last month, our talented students traveled to Boise to compete in the Future City Competition , showcasing their innovative ideas and engineering skills alongside teams from across the state. We are so proud of all our students for their hard work, creativity, and dedication to designing cities of the future! A special congratulations to Ilu Omni , who won the Special Award for Best Teamwork and Communication , and to Octo City , who placed 4th in the entire state!  Their efforts in problem-solving, collaboration, and futuristic design truly stood out. This competition was an incredible opportunity for our students to think critically about sustainability, infrastructure, and community planning—skills that will help shape the world of tomorrow. Thank you to our mentors, teachers, and families for supporting these young innovators!

This week, our 4th and 5th grade students had an exciting opportunity to participate in STEM with a Friend in our brand-new MakerSpace! With the guidance of the EcosySTEM Ambassadors , students explored how engineers think outside the box to solve real-world problems—specifically, how to bring light into dark buildings to help communities in need. Through hands-on challenges and teamwork, our young innovators experimented with creative solutions, developing a deeper understanding of how science, technology, engineering, and math can make a difference in the world. A huge thank you to the EcosySTEM Ambassadors for leading this engaging experience and to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for their generous grant that made it all possible! We are so excited to continue fostering curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving in our MakerSpace!

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of White Pine’s very own MakerSpace —a hands-on, creative hub where students can explore, build, and innovate! This new space is designed to spark curiosity and encourage problem-solving through STEM activities, engineering challenges, coding, robotics, and more. From crafting and tinkering to experimenting with circuits and 3D printing, our MakerSpace gives students the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. Whether they’re designing solutions to real-world problems or simply exploring their creativity, this is a place where learning happens through doing. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this dream a reality, especially Mrs. Heather Smith! She put in countless hours to clean it up, organize it, and make it ready for use. We can’t wait to see what our students create, discover, and invent in this exciting new space. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming MakerSpace projects and activities!