First, second and third and graders from Mrs. Roosma’s elementary class at the Orcas Christian School recently built, prepped and launched rockets.

Working in small  teams of a “Launch Manager” and a “Safety Officer”   each group alerted their classmates and local airborne pilots of each launch with a loud voice and an aircraft radio.

The rockets gained altitudes of more than 1000 feet and returned to earth with a recovery parachute the students learned to pack earlier in the day.

The high school aviation class has challenged the fourth and fifth grade class, junior high and the elementary to build a high powered rocket and will have a competition in May.