By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Northborough – St. Bernadette School Principal Deborah O’Neil was thrilled to welcome Dr. Drizzle, also known as renowned STEM educator Dacia Jones Feb. 12 when Jones was the featured presenter at the schools “Day of Science Technology Engineering and Math.”
Jones primary message conveyed through her alter ego, Dr. Drizzle, was one of was inspiration through engagement and information.
O’Neil shared that Mary Anne Jezierski, a member of the school faculty, has had a professional relationship with Jones for many years and was instrumental in bringing her to the school.
“We are very, very excited,” noted Advancement Director Megan Kelleher. “The students are very excited and they’ve been looking forward to it and just the honor of having her at our school is unbelievable.”
Jones and her husband Steve own their own company which takes them all over the world to share her innovative approach to integrating STEM into everyday teaching.
“This is ‘High Adventure STEM’ and it’s in partnership with our company and BEYOND 7/2. BEYOND 7/2 is the non-profit for Colin O’Brady. He is a 10-time world record holder in adventure and he and his wife (Jenna) wanted a non-profit to promote positive choices and STEM,” Jones explained before her presentation
The day began with a school-wide assembly where Jones engaged with the students and held their attention as she demonstrated the science behind high adventure. The assembly was followed by two hands-on engineering classes for the school’s fourth- and seventh-grade students. After school, she held a professional development seminar for faculty.
Her 45-minute presentation was filled with information and humor. She introduced the students to Colin O’Brady and his foundation through a series of short videos highlighting his adventures. She also demonstrated hands-on science principles using faculty and students as her assistants.
Some of the topics she covered included dry ice, Sir Isaac Newton, air pressure and rocket science. She brought a drone that flew through the gymnasium to the delight of the students who kept it aloft by waving their arms.
Jones closed her presentation with an important message of being kind to one another and taking the impossible and making it possible.
“What’s your impossible?” she asked. “What is something that you have wanted to try? I’m here today to tell you that nothing is impossible – within the word impossible you will find the words ‘I’m Possible.’ My challenge to you is to soak up every bit of knowledge that your teachers give to you every day.”
Photos/Melanie Petrucci