In August, a number of Berkley students proudly represented our school at the Waikato Regional Science Fair, showcasing a wide range of creative and thoughtful projects. Isabella tested the strength of different types of super glue, Ammar investigated how video games affect the brain, and our budding food scientist, Finlay, experimented with proofing times, temperatures, and yeast types to discover what makes the best pizza dough. Margaret and Jayda explored the effectiveness of eco-friendly face masks compared to commercial ones, while Riley and Kayden tested how yeast impacts the foam in the classic elephant toothpaste experiment.

We also had some incredible invention projects. Xavier designed a tidal pump system to support mudskippers in captivity, and Kodi created a mechanical leg to assist people with mobility challenges. Ayzah and Emily produced informative wall charts about climate change and renewable energy, and Selina impressed with her detailed observational drawing of a Pelican.

The results were outstanding! Selina Xia, Ammar Hussain, and Finlay Opie all received Highly Commended awards for their projects — a fantastic recognition of their effort and scientific thinking.

A special congratulations goes to Xavier Lane, who not only won the Year 8 Inventions and Innovations category but also the overall Inventions category for Year 7–13, and was named the Supreme Winner of the entire Science Fair. An incredible achievement that makes the whole school community proud!

A huge congratulations to all of our Berkley scientists who embraced the challenge, put in the hard work, and proudly entered their projects into the fair. Your curiosity, creativity, and commitment to science are something to celebrate — ka pai!