What a blast! GCPS students participate in annual Rocket Day event
![Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda Rocket Day]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761166337/gcpsk12org/ulcp1ptb060uiwam5rvt/arm-and-hammer-rocket-day-FS.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761166337/gcpsk12org/ulcp1ptb060uiwam5rvt/arm-and-hammer-rocket-day-FS.png","width":350}])
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Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students “took off” this October for the second annual Rocket Day!
Elementary school students across Gwinnett County spent a week learning about and building rockets, then watched them launch outside their schools. Students from all Kindergarten through grade 5 levels and their teachers wore goggles to watch the rockets blast into the air. Inspired Consumer provided the rockets made of soda and baking soda. Kara Gazaway, a Baldwin Elementary School teacher, says the event was educational and inspiring.
“Our biggest hope, our biggest takeaway for our students is that they see themselves in science, in the future,” Gazaway shares. “We had several 1st graders today say, ‘Hey, I want to be an astronaut when I grow up’. And just getting them interested in science is one of our biggest motivators as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and computer science teachers.”
Rocket Day aligns with GCPS’ commitment to providing quality STEM education opportunities to students at every grade level. Through daily engaging learning experiences that promote curiosity, problem-solving, and innovation, students are being prepared to become future leaders in STEM.
“At Gwinnett County Public Schools, our commitment to STEM education is rooted in the belief that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are essential for preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world,” GCPS Director of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Sallie Holloway shares. “Events like Arm & Hammer Rocket Day bring STEM to life in exciting, hands-on ways that spark curiosity and inspire innovation. These experiences not only reinforce classroom learning but also align with our district’s strategic directive to cultivate future-ready learners equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We are proud to support initiatives that empower students to explore, experiment, and envision their role in shaping tomorrow.”
This year, the following schools participated:
- Anderson-Livsey ES
- Annistown ES
- Arcado ES
- Baldwin ES
- Berkeley Lake ES
- Bethesda ES
- Centerville ES
- Chesney ES
- Duncan Creek ES
- Ferguson ES
- Freeman's Mill ES
- Graves ES
- Hopkins ES
- Ivy Creek ES
- Jackson ES
- Knight ES
- Lawrenceville ES
- McKendree ES
- Meadowcreek ES
- Norcross ES
- Norton ES
- Partee ES
- Rockbridge ES
- Rosebud ES
- Stripling ES
- Suwanee ES
- White Oak ES