Windsor's An-Noor Private (Islamic) School - with the traditional assistance from St. Clair's Chemical Laboratory Technology program - outdid itself this year, as its elementary students dominated the 47th annual Windsor Regional Science, Technology and Engineering Fair in March, held at the University of Windsor.

For the past several years, An-Noor students have been "picking the brains" of the college's Chem Lab Tech staff, and using St. Clair's fourth floor labs to conduct research and supervised experiments as they worked on their science fair projects.

And, with each passing year, the relationship between the elementary school and the postsecondary one has proven to be increasingly successful.

This year, An-Noor's young scientists captured a couple dozen awards during the regional fair, including the pictured medal winners:

• Grade Four: Sarah Elalem and Jenna Elkateeb, a silver medal for "Toxic Touch" (a study of bacteria);
• Grade Six: Abeer Al-Mahdi, a silver medal for an examination of Vitamin C; and Sarah Haidar, a gold medal for "Drink At Your Own Peril" (a study of drinking fountains);
• Grade Seven: Umama Jutt and Hanan Hjjih, a silver medal and the Essex Regional Conservation Authority certificate for the effect of gas stations on surrounding soil;
• Grade Seven/Eight: Esraa Aradi and Mohamed Aradi, a bronze medal for a study of Windsor's drinking water quality;
• Grade Eight: Amira Hjjih, a bronze medal for a study of mold; and Mohammed El-Timimi, a bronze medal and a couple of certificates for research into the polluting effects of phosphates and nitrates.

An-Noor's widespread excellence across the grade spectrum saw it receive the University of Windsor's Faculty of Education Award of Excellence for the elementary category.

And teacher Shatha Mohammed - who instructs all of the grades' Sciences classes at the school - was also recognized with an award of excellence at the fair.

In late-April, the medal-laden students and An-Noor staff dropped by the college - with a card and bouquet of flowers - to thank Chem Lab staffers Florry Lang and Nejat Abdu for their involvement and assistance with the students' research projects.