A group of Cambria Heights fourth graders get their solar-powered bugs activated from artificial light inside the elementary school’s cafeteria Thursday since it was raining outside. Once powered, the bugs vibrated and many of the students’ faces lit up with smiles. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights senior Mitchell Weiland (standing) helps a group of fourth graders build their solar bugs Thursday in the elementary school's cafeteria. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights second grade teacher Tasha Paronish helps her students assemble their solar bugs Thursday in her classroom. From left are Wolfgang Howlett-Oliver, John Reasbeck, William Anna and Bryson Warner. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights Elementary School Principal Eric Nagel visits second grade students in Tasha Paronish's homeroom Thursday as they learned about solar energy and built solar-powered bugs in class. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights Superintendent Ken Kerchenske speaks with a group of fourth grade students Thursday in the elementary school's cafeteria. The students built solar-powered bugs with the help of volunteers from Schneider Electric. The fifth grade class later built solar racers with the volunteers. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
A group of Cambria Heights fourth graders get their solar-powered bugs activated from artificial light inside the elementary school’s cafeteria Thursday since it was raining outside. Once powered, the bugs vibrated and many of the students’ faces lit up with smiles. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights senior Mitchell Weiland (standing) helps a group of fourth graders build their solar bugs Thursday in the elementary school's cafeteria. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights second grade teacher Tasha Paronish helps her students assemble their solar bugs Thursday in her classroom. From left are Wolfgang Howlett-Oliver, John Reasbeck, William Anna and Bryson Warner. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights Elementary School Principal Eric Nagel visits second grade students in Tasha Paronish's homeroom Thursday as they learned about solar energy and built solar-powered bugs in class. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Cambria Heights Superintendent Ken Kerchenske speaks with a group of fourth grade students Thursday in the elementary school's cafeteria. The students built solar-powered bugs with the help of volunteers from Schneider Electric. The fifth grade class later built solar racers with the volunteers. Mirror photo by Matt Churella
CARROLLTOWN — Cambria Heights Elementary School students assembled solar-powered bugs and racers Thursday morning as part of an activity with representatives of Schneider Electric, the company that installed solar panels on the school’s rooftop earlier this year.
In the school’s cafeteria, fourth graders built solar bugs with help from the Schneider Electric team and some Cambria Heights seniors who volunteered to help celebrate the district’s renewable energy and sustainability projects with the students.
Since it was raining outside at the time, students took their bugs to Drew Thomas, the district’s maintenance director, who used artificial lighting to power the solar batteries attached to the paper bugs.
One by one, as the bugs would vibrate in their hands, the students’ faces lit up with joy.
Fifth graders also put their knowledge of solar energy to the test as they built solar racers with the Schneider Electric team. As the sun came out later in the day, fifth grader Michael Hendrix was able to play with his racer outside during the district’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was held just outside of the school’s library, at the playground area where students enjoy recess.
District officials celebrated the completion of several energy-saving and renewable energy improvements that will reduce the school’s utility costs, improve building comfort and support long-term sustainability goals while providing students with opportunities to learn about clean energy technologies.
“It’s just to emphasize the project that we did here with the solar panels on the school building to get (students) to understand more about solar energy and the benefits of it as a renewable energy source,” said Donna Byrd, Schneider Electric’s regional client coordinator.
Byrd said it’s always fun to watch the students’ reaction to seeing solar energy in action with their bugs or racers.
“When it goes as planned and comes together perfectly like that, it just means a lot to see them learning about the solar measures that we have implemented here with the school system,” she said.
Mitchell Weiland, one of the seniors who volunteered to help with the day’s activities, said it was a cool experience to be a part of.
“They’re learning about new technology that’s coming around, and it’s supposed to be a big thing. So, I think it’s very important for them to get early access to learning about it,” Weiland said.
Principal Eric Nagel said it’s important to show the students how solar power works, so they have a better understanding of how it’s being used to produce energy for the school.
“It’s a great hands-on activity for the kids to understand the importance of what we have here and how it’s going to improve the school,” Nagel said.
Nagel also visited second grade teacher Tasha Paronish’s homeroom, who also made solar bugs and learned about solar energy in class. The students designed their own bugs and then had help from Paronish, who attached solar batteries to the bugs.
Shannon Crooker of the Generation 180 nonprofit organization was there to document the day and celebrate with the students.
According to Crooker, Pennsylvania is among the top 10 states with the most solar power projects, and school districts like Cambria Heights are leading the way.
“They’re really making a difference here,” Crooker said. “We want to celebrate that and lift that up to say, look what’s happening in rural areas just as much as urban areas.”
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.
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