Local teams prep for state Science Olympiad

Valparaiso students set up their Mission Possible entry Wednesday as they prepare for Science Olympiad state tournament competition Wednesday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. From left are Allison Skadberg, 13, Nick Bluhm, 15, and Tim Henderson, 15. Middle and high school students will com…

Local teams prep for state Science Olympiad

Valparaiso Science Olympiad coach Richard Bender holds a student entry for the rotor egg drop competition Wedensday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Local teams prep for state Science Olympiad

Megan Rahn, 14, left, and Claire Bartusch, 14, move musical chimes at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. They made two instruments for the Science Oympiad competition, and will participate in the state tournament Saturday at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Local teams prep for state Science Olympiad

Megan Rahn, 14, plays a musical instrument made from plastic pipe and tube Wednesday as she practices for the Science Olympiad state tournament competition at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

VALIDOL - TJ Idol

Thomas Jefferson Middle School eighth graders dance in their T.J. Idol contest pitting homerooms against one another, Wednesday in Valparaiso.

VALIDOL - TJ Idol

Thomas Jefferson Middle School eighth graders dance in their T.J. Idol contest pitting homerooms against one another, Wednesday in Valparaiso.

VALIDOL - TJ Idol

Thomas Jefferson Middle School eighth graders participate in their T.J. Idol contest pitting homerooms against one another, Wednesday in Valparaiso.

Radio Personality John Williams

Radio Personality John Williams, shown in this 2010 promotional photo, is leaving WGN Radio at the end of 2012.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Valparaiso University sophomore Katelyn Niemeyer watches a water absorption test along with students from Valparaiso's Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on Thursday at the Thorgren Dentention Basin. Students were testing water and soil quality at the site.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Valparaiso University sophomore Kiefer Heiman shows Thomas Jefferson Elementary School fifth-graders how to test for water absorption in the soil Thursday at the Thorgren Dentention Basin in Valparaiso.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal Bonnie Stephens points out bugs Thursday at the Thorgren Dentention Basin with fifth-graders Cameron Nelson, left, and Kyle Handing.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School fifth-grader Cameron Kjelstrom holds a dragonfly larvae Thursday from the Thorgren Dentention Basin in Valparaiso. The young students helped Valparaiso University students and faculty to test soil and water conditions at the basin, which included looking at…

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Tom Goyne, left, Valparaiso University associate professor of chemistry, talks with students from Valparaiso's Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on Thursday before testing the Thorgren Dentention Basin for water and soil quality.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Goyne, left, Valparaiso University associate professor of Chemistry, explains to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School students how to use a tube to test soil water absorption Thursday at the Thorgren Detention Basin in Valparaiso. Valparaiso University students — with help from the fift…

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School fifth-graders Paulina Godoy, left, and Joana Tomas-Alfaro, right center, identify bugs Thursday from the Thorgren Dentention Basin in Valparaiso along with teacher Jeffrey Hellmers, left center, and Mia Goulding from Save the Dunes.

An Olympic competition

Thomas Jefferson Middle School English teacher Karl Keller rallies his class Friday, the Troy team, during their Greek Day Olympics. It was the school's second annual Greek Day held on their last day of studying Greek mythology.

An Olympic competition

Thomas Jefferson Middle School sixth-grader Alexis Claypool, 11, pulls herself along on a scooter with a plunger Friday during a race with classmates in their Greek Day Olympics.

An Olympic competition

Thomas Jefferson Middle School sixth-grader Cameron Smith, 12, tries to pull himself along on a scooter with a plunger Friday during their Greek Day Olympics. The Valparaiso students studied Greek mythology and then held a competition with eight different events.

Clicking on all cylinders

Thomas Jefferson Middle School students attempt to open their lockers for the first time Tuesday during an orientation day at the Valparaiso middle school.

Clicking on all cylinders

Thomas Jefferson Middle School teacher Karl Keller helps new sixth-grade student Haley Martin find her next class Tuesday during an orientation day at the school. Teachers helped students find classes, find and open their lockers, and guide them through their schedules.