For 10 years, the 5th graders at Wheeling Country Day School have taken time to invest in science and remember our friend, Josiah, with a weather balloon launch to the stratosphere.
After months of research and prep, of designs and builds, of experts and predictions and experiments and promotions, fifth graders at Wheeling Country Day School will take to the campus field and release a weather balloon to the stratosphere. Within minutes the shimmering payload rises out of sight and the second half of the day begins with a chase. The small chase and recovery team made of two teachers and three students will set off on the inevitable daylong adventure tracking the flight path and searching the landing zone until JoJo X is brought home. But before the stunning photos and jaw-dropping flight data are shared, there is or one brief but ever-valuable moment when the entire crowd, from preschoolers to parents and everyone in between, collectively adjusts its gaze and looks up.
In 2024, we mark 10 years of weather balloon flights with 10 JoJo payloads, 10 mission patches, and 10 launches with just about every kind of weather we could’ve imagined. But this year also marks 10 years of missing our friend, Josiah, and 10 years honoring him the best way we know how.
