NASA Scientists Visit OLA

At Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School (affectionately known as O.L.A.), we are known as the Angels. We take our mascot so seriously, that we made it into an acronym to help stress our goals for our students. A.N.G.E.L.S. are students who are Active Catholics, who Never Give Up, are Global Citizens, Effective Communicators, Life-Long Learners, and individuals who Serve Themselves and Others. To help our students develop these skills, we strive to provide unique experiences for our students that will help them grow both in their faith, and in their knowledge of the world around them. Whether it is having members of our local community (including the New Mexico United Soccer team, Orbit and the Albuquerque Isotopes staff) read to our students, or having the devoutly Catholic astronaut, Tom Jones, share his faith and experiences in space with our students, we know the value of reaching out to both our local and global community in order to reinforce curriculum standards and enhance our students’ educational experience.

Recently, we had two scientists from NASA, volcanologist, Tracy Gregg, and geologist, Sara Port, come to our campus to do projects with our middle school students about volcanoes on Venus. The students watched a slideshow about Venus and how volcanoes were formed, and then they were divided into two groups. Half of the students did an art project where they sketched the surface of Venus and the other half of students used playdough, baking soda, and vinegar to create a volcano and see how multiple eruptions cause different layers over time. They then “drilled” through the playdough with straws to see how scientists determine how old land samples are. 

In a world where so many people place science and religion at odds with one another, here at O.L.A., we want to show the bridge between the two. In 1996, St. Pope John Paul II said that in terms of faith and science, true science and true religion were compatible because “We know that truth does not contradict the truth.” O.L.A. strives to use these experiences and testimonies of our guests to help our students understand that science can in fact, enhance our faith, and help us grow a deeper love, appreciation, and understanding for God’s creation.

When possible, we also have our guest speakers share their faith with us. Astronaut Tom Jones shared what it was like when he was a Catholic school student and how that prepared him to be an astronaut later on in life, what it was like receiving the Eucharist in outer space and how his faith gave him a deeper appreciation for God’s creation, particularly of the universe. He also shared a little bit about his favorite saint who happened to be his patron saint, St. Thomas More, and how St. Thomas More inspired him and has helped him throughout his life.

Similarly, Ryan Lavarnway, the announcer for the Colorado Rockies, a member of the professional Israeli baseball team, and a former World Series winner and player of the Boston Red Sox, shared the book he had written about how his Jewish faith helped him find his identity, and how it helped him both on and off the baseball field. 

These special guests are not only educating our students, but are an inspiration to our students and staff and serve as wonderful, positive role models. We are grateful for the opportunities these special guests play in helping our students realize that they too can accomplish their dreams if they work hard, persevere, and rely on God in the good times, and the bad. It is our hope that through these efforts and community outreach, we can enhance the lives of our students, and help produce students who truly represent what it means to be O.L.A. Angels.