FITCHBURG — Sizer seniors proudly showed off their hard work during the recent project exhibition night at the public charter school.
Thirty-one students showcased the projects they spent months preparing, topics ranging from video games, electric vehicles, mental health, social media, and more. Each of them had a table set up in the gymnasium at the May 13 event with large laminated posterboards featuring detailed information about their projects and some had resources, stickers, handouts, and other things available for attendees to take with them.
Emiliani Mojica Melendez posed the question ‘How do stereotypes towards domestic violence affect the likelihood of a domestic victim being able to seek help and access resources?’ through her undertaking. Her posterboard had information on the why, claims, impact, and research, and types of abuse — physical, emotional, religious, reproductive, verbal, economic, and sexual.
Lyla Vigneau brought an adorable bunny with her, which aligned with her project’s focus on animals, particularly how diet and exercise shape allergies in dogs. She reported that identifying allergy triggers early can help owners make targeted dietary changes that reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms from becoming severe or chronic and created a podcast on the subject as a way to bring awareness to it.
Some of the projects were interactive, such as Josiah Cornier’s where people could try their hand at being a surgeon through a virtual reality headset – what he plans to do as a career. Fellow senior Jacob Harris built a robot ball launcher as part of the question he addressed, how do robotics contribute efficiency and productivity in everyday and work environments, a field he will be pursuing as a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Ethan Ray did his senior project on how pets positively affect the physical and mental health of humans. As a pet owner himself of a rescue dog from Puerto Rico named Mocha, the inspiration behind his endeavor came from a personal place.
“I chose this topic because I have always felt a strong connection to animals and I wanted to share my love of animals with others,” the 18-year-old said.
Ethan was instrumental in bringing Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education to the school ahead of exhibition night, much to the delight of the students and staff members who were able to pet and interact with the dogs and cats organization founder and City Councilor Sally Cragin brought with her. Going forward the four-legged friends will be regulars at the school thanks to Ethan’s efforts, with Sizer being added to Cragin’s schools visit schedule.
“My favorite part about doing this project was being able to bring animals into the school so others could experience how much animals impact us,” Ethan said.
Prior to the project exhibition there was a potluck for students and their families and afterwards students were presented with certificates noting that that demonstrated the content knowledge and skills to successfully complete their senior project and exhibit. The school held a cording ceremony for the seniors last week and now the members of the Sizer Class of 2026 are onto their next adventures following the close of their high school chapter – graduation on May 29.