2024 diocesan STREAM competition focuses on solving water problem

Elementary schools throughout the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland were invited to participate in the 2024 diocesan STREAM competition by coming up with an idea that demonstrated compassion for others and cared for creation by helping to solve a water problem.

STREAM is the integrated approach of science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math in a school’s curriculum.

Teams of two to four students at grade levels K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 researched a water problem in their school or community and came up with a solution that was presented as a persuasive, 30- to 90-second pitch. Up to three pitches per grade band could be submitted. Entry forms and video submissions were due March 8. Finalists were notified by March 22, World Water Day.

The 11 participating schools were:

• Holy Family School, Parma: Principal Tom Brownfield, Moderator Kim Tenerowicz
• Incarnate Word Academy: Principal Steffany Congelio, Moderator Anne Hribar
• St. Agatha-St. Aloysius School: Principal K. Frank Jones, Moderator Shilah Kidd
• SS. Robert & William School, Principal Martha Dodd, Moderator Teja Novak
• St. Brendan School: Principal Julie Onacila, Moderator Rachel Lammers
• St. Dominic School, Principal Maureen Covington, Moderator Patrick McIntyre
• St. Mary School, Berea: Principal Lisa DeCore, Moderator Thomas Herrmann
• St. Mary School, Chardon: Principal Julie Fedak, Moderator Sarah Allin
• St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Wooster: Principal Laura Marvin, Moderator Carla Veil
• St. Paschal Baylon School: Principal Diane Raguz, Moderator Beth Petsche and
• St. Sebastian Parish School: Principal Anthony Rohr, Moderator Cerafina Gotto

Entries were screened by diocesan STREAM teachers. A maximum of 10 finalist teams per grade band were chosen to present their projects in person on April 20 at the diocesan competition at St. Michael School in Independence.

Jennifer Miroglotta, diocesan curriculum and STREAM coordinator, said the top three teams from each grade – based on rubric scores – were awarded $250 each to help fund the idea they pitched and submitted.

Here is the list of winners:

Grades K-2 winners

First place: St. Dominic, School, The Clean Sea Group

Second place: St. Brendan School, Rinse and Repeat

Third place: St. Brendan School, Pocket Water Bottle Station

Grades 3-5 winners

First place: St. Brendan School, Water Bottle Waste

Second place: Holy Family School, Parma, Fishing for Wishes!

Third place: SS. Robert & William School, Pollinator Garden Collector

Grades 6-8 winners

First place: St. Sebastian Parish School, Grow the Flow

Second place: St. Sebastian Parish School, Don’t Stop the Symptoms, Stop the Source

Third place: St. Agatha-St. Aloysius School, Bubbler Buddy

Projects submitted from participating schools are listed below.

Holy Family School, Parma: 3-5 team: Fishing for Wishes!, finalist; 3-5 team: Getting the Gunk Out and 3-5 team: Water Savers, finalist

Incarnate Word Academy: 6-8 team: Upcycled Water Filtration System and 6-8 team: Sunsplash Skincare, finalist

SS. Robert & William School: 3-5 team: Pollinator Garden Collector, finalist and 3-5 team: Rain Barrel 3000, finalist

St. Agatha-St. Aloysius School: 6-8 Team: Bubbler Buddy finalist

St. Brendan School: K-2 team: Shower Timer, finalist; K-2 team: Rinse and repeat, finalist; K-2 team: Pocket Water Bottle Station, finalist; 3-5 team: Water Bottle Waste, finalist; 3-5 team: Never Let the Water Run, finalist and 3-5 team: Less Plastic, Don’t Stack It, finalist

St. Dominic School: K-2 team: Lake Erie Starfish, finalist; K-2 team: Talking Water Trash Group, finalist; K-2 team: The Clean Sea Group, finalist; 3-5 team: The Clean Cleveland; 3-5 team: SDS 4th Grade Water Team, finalist; 3-5 team: ProVac 5000; 6-8 team: Water Strainer, finalist; 6-8 team: Water Vacuum 3000; 6-8 team: Project Clean

St. Mary School, Berea: 3-5 team: Yellow Water; 3-5 team: The Kazzing Water Timer

St. Mary School, Chardon[CK1] : 6-8 team: The Bottle Bumper, finalist

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception School, Wooster: 6-8 team: Screwby, finalist; 6-8 team: Superhydrophobic Sponges

St. Paschal Baylon School: 3-5 team: The Pipes Are Clogged, finalist; 6-8 team: A Touching way to Save Water, finalist; 6-8 team: Epic Water finalist

St. Sebastian Parish School: 3-5 team: Tree Removal Is Animal Treason; 3-5 team: Scoop the Poop, finalist; 3-5 team: Only Rain Down the Drain; 6-8 team: Grow the Flow, finalist; 6-8 team: Don’t Be Trippin,’ Stop the Drippin,’ finalist and 6-8 team: Don’t Stop the Symptoms, Stop the Source, finalist.