Wantagh Elementary School fifth graders could actually call themselves rocket scientists as a popular end-of-year tradition continued with the rocket launch on June 15 and 16. Students constructed their rockets from kits and then gave them custom designs. 

Two classes went out at a time to the baseball diamonds across the street at Jim Duffy Memorial Field to launch the rockets, while parents stood just outside the fence to watch. Each student came up to the launch pad, placed the rocket, hooked up a few wires and then hit a button to send it flying. 

Students went sprinting across the field to try and catch the rocket as it came gently down after the parachute opened. The science activity was spearheaded by teacher John Hobbes, who started an afterschool model rocket club about three decades ago, and eventually it evolved into an annual tradition for the entire fifth grade.