St. Ignace Middle School
Students Raise Funds for New Laboratory Coats

Sixth grade students Kristi Gustafson and Dakota Obeshaw of the St. Ignace Middle School conduct a science experiment Wednesday, September 19. They are wearing laboratory coats purchased with help from the Parent Teacher Organization, money raised at a school talent show January 11, and a recent pickle sale conducted by sixth grade students.

"It is fun doing mixtures," said sixth grade student Kristi Gustafson, as she stirred up a solution Wednesday, September 19, with her laboratory partner, Dakota Obeshaw.

"Science is fun," he said. "It is one of my favorite subjects."

Students in the class had just donned their new white lab coats and went to work in Heather Brady's science laboratory at St. Ignace Middle School.

A combination of funding from the district's Parent Teacher Organization, money generated by seventh grade student Zack Major's school talent show last year, and a recent pickle sale conducted by sixth graders added up to more than $600, which covered the cost of buying the middle school's 30 science coats, Mrs. Brady said.

Sixth grade science can include messy experiments, including dissections, and students do not always come to class planning to get dirty. Prior to the purchase of the lab coats, students sheathed themselves in plastic bags when doing experiments, Mrs. Brady added.

The coats were embroidered with the St. Ignace Area Schools logo just in time for school.

The coats will also help St. Ignace students look professional at a winter science fair in Sault Ste. Marie, Mrs. Brady said, and they will get a lot of use at school, as sixth grade students do experiments in science class at least twice a month.