Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Homewood was well represented at the 2026 GEMS (Girls Engaged in Math and Science) Expo in Birmingham, recently at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The event included STEM exhibits and hands-on activities designed for girls. Hosted through the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), the expo encourages students to explore opportunities and careers in STEM fields.

The school’s fifth-grade teacher Abigail Pratt and fourth-grade teacher Mary Helen Camata led the team of fourth- and fifth-grade girls at the event. The GEMS program is designed to inspire girls to grow in confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving through hands-on science and math experiences.

This year, the school’s team of eight girls, through research and collaboration, explored Newton’s Laws and designed three different model spacecraft to land astronauts safely on Mars. The girls creatively named themselves the Gemstronauts.

The Gemstronauts traveled to Barber Motorsports Park for the expo, where they heard from women working in various STEM careers, presented their work, and participated in hands-on STEM activities.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School fosters the religious, academic, and social development of every child, recognizing that knowledge enlightened by faith and lived through service is at the heart of Catholic education. Accredited by Cognia, the school offers a curriculum that blends Catholic teachings with academic excellence. In partnership with parents, it nurtures each child’s spiritual growth in a welcoming, family-friendly environment, preparing students to become productive citizens and future leaders. To learn more, please visit olsschool.com.