By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – While they help to combat the growth of an invasive plant species in their community, a group of elementary school pupils in Millstone Township has been invited to attend an international competition.
The 19 pupils in grades three through five at the Millstone Township Elementary School who call themselves the Phearless Phragmites Phighters are scheduled to appear at the Future Problem Solvers International Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from June 7-11.
The pupils have also been invited to attend the World Science Festival 2017 in New York City, May 30 through June 4.
Teachers Beth Topinka and Jennifer Modula are the pupils’ advisers.
To help cover registration fees and travel expenses for the Future Problem Solvers International Conference, an online fundraiser seeking $8,000 for the pupils has been set up. The fundraiser can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/PhearlessPhragmitePhighters
As part of a project for their Community Problem Solvers Club, the pupils were tasked with determining an area of concern that affects their community, researching the problem and developing a plan of action to address the problem and help the township.
The area of concern as determined by the pupils was the presence of Phragmites australis in their community.
Phragmites australis, according to Topinka, can reach 18 feet in height. The plant grows in thick patches with dense root systems that spread and push out native plants and animals.
The plant is difficult to remove once it has become established in an area. It harms diversity in ecosystems, does not provide a food source for native animals, interferes with marsh food webs, affects the supply of water needed by plants and animals, and produces seed tops that can bother individuals with grass allergies, according to Topinka.
The pupils identified locations in Millstone Township where Phragmites australis is growing. They were subsequently recognized by the Township Committee and the Environmental Commission for their work.
According to a press release written by pupils Anna DePinho, Charlie Duffy, Ethan Bailey, Evangeline Huey and Thomas Maltese, the group had a strategy meeting with members of the Environmental Commission in April.
At the meeting, the club members and the commission members discussed action plan steps moving forward and the commission is going to develop a plan for constructing and installing a Phragmites sign to identify the target problem area to the community, according to the press release.
In March, the team placed first in the Junior Team Community Problem Solving Division at the New Jersey Problem Solving Program State Bowl. The pupils’ victory earned them an invitation to the international competition in Wisconsin.
According to Topinka, the Future Problem Solvers International Conference will draw teams from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Great Britain, Turkey and India.
“From the first day our club met, my co-adviser, Jennifer Modula, and I have been blown away by the Phearless Phragmites Phighters’ curiosity, passion, creativity, work ethic and determination to solve this challenging environmental problem in their community,” Topinka said.
“They approached their project with boundless enthusiasm, reaching out to interview scientists, presenting a compelling case to the Millstone Township Environmental Commission and pursuing their project with even greater enthusiasm after their state bowl victory.
“Even on the most beautiful spring days, many problem solver students will come to the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) lab during lunch and recess to work on their project. As (pupil) Tia Bajaj remarked one day, ‘We’re not a club, we’re a team.’
“Through their effective outreach to residents, government and scout groups, they have honed problem-solving skills that will continue to serve them well throughout school and into adulthood,” Topinka said. “I could not be more proud of their stellar effort and accomplishments.”
