At TPMS, learning extends far beyond the classroom—and sometimes, even beyond Earth.
On September 14, 2025, TPMS Elementary students traveled to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to witness the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket. The students were invited guests of Portland State University (PSU) and NASA, attending a moment that marked the culmination of years of collaborative scientific work.
The Falcon 9 launch carried student-supported experiments to the International Space Station, bringing TPMS learning into orbit.
A Moment Captured
Pictured from left to right:
Maria Caballero, TPMS Elementary Guide; Natalie Frank, PSU Graduate Student; TPMS student Maxwell Laws (age 10); Bayoan Cal, Professor of Mechanical and Material Engineering at PSU; TPMS student Charlie Peters (age 10); TPMS student Io Cal-Fornier (age 9); TPMS student Gemma Axline (age 9).
TPMS Upper Elementary Program Partnership with Portland State University
Particle Geometry Effects on Clustering Dynamics
A Multi-Year Research Timeline
Winter 2023
TPMS Upper Elementary students began a partnership with Portland State University’s Department of Mechanical and Material Engineering to study the movement of microplastic particles in water. Guided by PSU graduate students and professors, children in the Wolfpack Classroom participated in hands-on experimentation, data collection, and analysis over the course of more than a year.
The project, titled “Uncovering Transient Dynamics and Equilibrium States of Particle Aggregation in Fluids,” explored how particles of different sizes behave under varying wave frequencies in water. Students worked with real scientific instruments designed specifically for this research, including cameras that recorded particle movement for later analysis.
After weeks of experimentation, the children carefully documented their observations, recording how particles clustered, dispersed, and responded to changing conditions. Their findings were shared directly with Natalie Frank, PSU graduate student, contributing meaningfully to the research process.
November 2024
Four TPMS Upper Elementary students—Gemma, Io, Maxwell, and Charlie—were invited to present their findings at the 77th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Traveling with their guide, Ms. Caballero, the students presented to scientists, researchers, and academics from around the world. Their presentation was well attended and warmly received, highlighting both the depth of their understanding and their confidence as young researchers.
September 2025
The journey reached an extraordinary milestone when the same four students were invited to attend the Falcon 9 rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center. Their experiments—refined through months of inquiry, collaboration, and reflection—were launched to the International Space Station, where they will continue contributing to ongoing scientific study.
Learning That Matters
This partnership reflects the heart of TPMS education: deep inquiry, real-world relevance, and trust in children’s capacity to engage with complex ideas. Through collaboration with PSU and NASA, our students experienced science not as a textbook subject, but as a living, evolving process—one that values curiosity, persistence, and collaboration.
We are incredibly proud of our students, guides, and partners who made this journey possible. Their work is a powerful example of what can happen when children are given meaningful opportunities to explore, question, and contribute to the world around them—and beyond it.