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Up, Up and Away — On Take Two

Initial Weather Balloon Launch Failure Provides Valuable Lesson For Wheeling Country Day Students

By SHELLEY HANSON 3 min read

WHEELING -- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

That's the lesson Wheeling Country Day School students learned during their annual weather balloon launch Friday in the grassy field in front of their building.

The first attempt to launch the giant white balloon failed because there was not enough helium to carry the container and camera attached to it. The tank used to fill the balloon froze over the winter and school officials believe the helium was compromised or leaked. Facilities Manager Caleb Cronin offered to make a dash to Matheson Gas in Martins Ferry for a new tank.

"I can make it there and back in 18 minutes," he said.

Meanwhile, Luke Hladek and his crew of teachers and volunteers waited while he held onto the balloon, making sure the existing helium did not escape. Some students returned to their classrooms for a snack while others played on the playground.

When Cronin arrived with the new tank, the crew got to work adding more helium. Once they decided the balloon was filled enough, students were called back outside to witness the launch.

The second attempt was a success, with the balloon easily lifting the container and camera into the air. The children cheered and craned their necks toward the sky, watching the balloon rise until it disappeared into the clouds.

Past launches have tracked the balloon as far as Pennsylvania. A table posted outside the school gave students a chance to guess how high into the atmosphere it would travel and how far it would go from the school.

Fifth-grade teacher Katie Wallace said 14 students were involved in the launch project. She said the initial failed launch became another lesson for the children.

"It's a great lesson and one they're used to," she said. "We talk a lot here about failure and it's OK to fail and mess up, and you get back up and do it again. So this was an accidental, wonderful lesson for them. When they went back inside, their teachers started telling us that they were saying, 'It's OK they're going to try again.' It's actually pretty par for the course for this place. We make mistakes. We learn from mistakes and we can keep moving."

Student Ethan Redd, who helped with the launch's public relations, said the balloon could reach space heights.

"It's pretty cool to be honest," he said.

Redd said this year's launch was named "JoJo 12" in memory of the late Josiah Titus-Glover, a former student who passed away before getting to see the first balloon launch 12 years ago.

Student Audrey Ilovar, who also helped with the public relations campaign, said Josiah's family annually awards the Josiah Titus-Glover Innovation Scholarship to a Wheeling Country Day student in his memory. This year's recipient was fourth-grader Willa Saxe. The scholarship was presented by Josiah's father, Philip Titus-Glover, and brother, Gideon Titus-Glover.

"Through this scholarship, Josiah's impact and legacy will always remain a part of Wheeling Country Day School," said Stephanie Skadra, director of enrollment.

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