Breakers event to aid Marana schools
The Marana Foundation for Educational Excellence is hosting a fundraiser at Breakers Water Park Sunday to benefit Marana schools.
The event, dubbed Summer's Last Splash, will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $11 per person at the gate, and children under 3 are free.
All park attractions and water activities will be open. Clifford, Elmo, Mama Bear and other storybook characters will also be on hand.
Breakers is at 8555 W. Tangerine Road.
The foundation is a non-profit dedicated to supporting the Marana Unified School District through recognitions, service, fundraising and distribution of grants to teachers on an annual basis.
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Free ACT practice test for high schoolers
College Nannies & Tutors is offering a free ACT practice test for college-bound 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders.
The test, scheduled for Saturday, will gauge the students' current achievement level and readiness for college entrance exams.
Most colleges require every candidate to provide results from either the ACT or the SAT test.
College Nannies & Tutors personnel will score the tests. Suggestions for study plans will also be provided to students interested in increasing their scores.
The exam will be given at 7619 N. Oracle Road, Suite 113, beginning at 8:45 a.m. It is scheduled to conclude at 12:30 p.m.
Registration closes Friday at 3 p.m. To register, call 404-9861 or email cnickel@collegetutors.com
Students take part in science study
Students at St. Gregory College Preparatory School have been conducting a study for the National Science Foundation.
The students - Naomi Banister, a recent St. Gregory graduate, and St. Gregory senior Tess Carter -Â are working to help scientists and engineers understand more about smart polymer - a new-generation material.
They worked much of the summer with St. Gregory chemistry teacher Scott Morris and are in the process of documenting their findings in a scientific report.
The St. Gregory team has studied how the polymer reacts to a variety of electrolytes, including solutions of potassium, lithium and ammonium. The research supports a larger study by a University of Arizona master's student.
"This is a real-world project, and the students can see they are contributing to this effort," Morris said.
The smart polymer is being used at a local startup company, Medipacs Inc., which is developing the first non-mechanical drug infusion pump.
The new, expandable polymer was invented by Tucsonan Mark Banister -Â Medipacs' chief technology officer.
Vail hosts community transformation talk
The Vail School District, in partnership with the Vail community, is hosting a free conference on community transformation Thursday.
The conference will feature Wes Moore, a New York Times best-selling author who will speak about choices, consequences and the importance of supporting youths to guide them into the right choices.
The Vail School District worked with area churches, the Vail Community Action Board and the Vail Education Foundation to put on the event, which will be held in the Cienega High School dining auditorium, 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, at 6:30 p.m.
Compiled by Alexis Huicochea. Contact Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
