2026-2027 Digital Theater Shows are posted!

The 2026-2027 Digital Theater Shows are posted! Check the SPARQ calendar online or download the flyer below.

2026-2027 DIGITAL THEATER SHOWS

2026-2027 STEM Café Events are posted!

The 2026-2027 STEM Café Events are posted! Check the SPARQ calendar online or download the flyer.

2026-2027 STEM Cafe Schedule

2026 STEM Symposium

2026 STEM Symposium at Piner High School’s SPARQ Center celebrating our STEM Level II & III students. Also recognized were the 2026 STEM Prospect Awards for students who completed all STEM Levels. We also honored our 2026 SPARQ Center Foundation Student Representatives.

The projects covered a wide variety of topics including health sciences internships, community internships, food science, civil engineering, high powered rocketry, photometry, and more.

Congratulations to the 2026 Judy Barcelon Excellence in STEAM Award winners Kaylee Ross and Lyn Standley! These students embody passion, perseverance, and excellence in the area of STEAM. They also each received $500 scholarships from the SPARQ Foundation.

Photos by Mindy Breslin. Full gallery available by clicking the link.

Summary reel available on our YouTube Channel.

Download the 2026 STEM Symposium Program.

2026 Judy Barcelon Excellence in STEAM Award winners Kaylee Ross and Lyn Standley.

2026 STEM Symposium Highlights

2026 Senior Awards - GIS & HSB

2026 Senior Awards - GIS & HSB. Congratulations to the Seniors!

Watch the presentations on our YouTube channel.

People & Places of Piner - 2026 High Powered Rocketry

This past March, Level 2 & 3 Rocketry students tested and launched a variety of rockets and motors. You can watch highlights on our YouTube channel.

Level 3 students made and tested their own rocket motor formulas. Students worked in pairs and made 3 different formulas; 5%, 7%, and 9% Aluminium (the “fuel” part of the motor). The goal was to make a motor that out performed an off the shelf Aerotech motor. They tested their motors in two groups. Motors were put on test stands that had pressure sensors on them to judge engine performance. One group went to Lake Pillsbury and the other group to Ukiah on top of a mountain. We then took the motors and flight tested them at Misfit Flats in Silver Springs Nevada just outside of Reno. Each rocket had electronics so record speed, altitude, G-force to use as their data. They compared their data to the Aerotech pre-made motor.

Level 2 students built their own rockets. They were testing fin stability. Each pair used a different sized fin (same fin geometry). Lg, med, and small. To qualify their data, each rocket had a video camera attached so they could judge stability of flight. All three rockets made two flights with two different motors again, at Misfit flats in Silver Springs Nevada.

All rockets and motors successfully flew and a good time was had by all on a beautiful day in Nevada. Parent involvement was greatly appreciated as we transported 16 High Powered Rocketeers to the dry lake bed. We met at Piner at 4:30 am and arrived back at 9:15 pm that night. Tired but happy crew.

Thank you Dr. David McCuan

The SPARQ Center at PHS thanks Dr. David McCuan for his presentation at the April 8th STEM Cafe. Dr. McCuan is a professor at Sonoma State University. He is an expert in both international and national politics, international security and terrorism, state and local politics, campaigns and elections, and political behavior. Just as he did previously he gave a very interesting talk about the science behind the upcoming midterm elections as well as providing insight into the current political landscape.

The full presentation can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

We also thank Piner Culinary for the delicious brownies!

STEM Cafe Recap - Thank you Dr. McCuan

People & Places of Piner - Field Trip to Bodega Marine Lab

People & Places of Piner - Field Trip to Bodega Marine Lab

On April 2nd 41 students and three chaperones traveled to Bodega Bay to tour the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab. During the visit, students had the opportunity to explore various areas of the campus and learn about oceans and ocean life. They learned about sea purple urchin overpopulation caused by rising ocean temperatures.

Check out a highlight video on our YouTube channel.

People & Places of Piner - Field Trip to Sonoma State University

People & Places of Piner - Field Trip to Sonoma State University (SSU).

On March 13th 41 students and three chaperones participated in a tour of SSU. During the visit, students had the opportunity to explore various areas of the campus and learn about the many programs and resources SSU offers. They also attended informative presentations from the Nursing and Kinesiology departments. We extend our sincere thanks to SSU for hosting this valuable experience.

https://www.sonoma.edu/

Check out a highlight video on our YouTube channel.

SPARQ Foundation Board Update

The SPARQ Center at Piner High School Foundation is pleased to announce pleased to announce a leadership transition within our organization. Effective January 6, 2026, Ian Carpenter will assume the role of President, and Mindy Breslin will assume the role of Vice President.

We extend our gratitude and thanks to outgoing President, Michael Papaik, for his valuable contributions and service the past two years.

Please join us in welcoming Ian Carpenter and Mindy Breslin into their new roles.

STEM Cafe presentations on our YouTube Channel

SPARQ Center STEM Cafe presentations are available on our YouTube Channel. Check out the three videos from the start of this school year.

Students - make sure to schedule to attend one of the four remaining presentations from January to April 2026. Seats fill up fast so don’t procrastinate.

The videos are posted for you as an after-the-fact resource. Your instructors will not accept them for STEM Level 1 without the stamp you receive at the live event. Questions? Please see Mr. Kruger.

Thank You Caprice Disbrow

Thank you, Caprice Disbrow, SRJC Professor of Biology and Botany, for giving us insight into rewilding and SRJC projects to promote biodiversity in urban spaces. If you are interested in working with the SRJC team on a project please contact Caprice Disbrow.
#sparqcenter #stemcafe #stemeducation

We thank as always Piner Culinary for the delicious snacks!

You can watch the presentation on our YouTube channel.

STEM Project Profile: Living with Wildlife

STEM Project Profile: Living with Wildlife

by SPARQ Board Student Representative Riley Kobler

“Living with Wildlife is a STEM project at Piner High School that provides students with the opportunity to study the animals that inhabit the campus. With the support of the Living with Lions organization, three Barn Owl wildlife cameras were set up at the Youth Community Park, which is across the street from Piner High School. Every month, the SIM cards are collected and swapped with a blank one, ensuring that more photos can be taken. The photos are then uploaded to Google Drive, where students can catalog them, noting details such as date, time, temperature, moon phase, and which animals appear. We can then use this information to observe which species frequent the park and how often they’re spotted. Besides animals, the wildlife cameras also capture photos of people walking their dogs or playing frisbee golf. This project teaches students how to conduct research in a hands-on manner, developing skills in data interpretation and scientific communication.”

A variety of interesting nocturnal and diurnal, wild and domestic visitors. We even got an appearance by our Cross-Country team!


Thank You Kent Porter

Thank You Kent Porter

We extend a big thank you Kent Porter for his presentation at the Sept 17th STEM Cafe on photojournalism with a little storm chasing and climate change observations thrown in for good measure. Kent showed his work, shared his process and observations, and told stories from an award-winning career. Thank you to our students for their engaging and thoughtful questions

Please follow Kent on Instagram or look for his work in the Press Democrat.

We thank Piner Culinary for the delicious cookies 🍪.

You can watch the presentation on our YouTube channel.