Regional Science Olympiads have 16 winning teams from LI
A Science Olympiad team from Ward Melville High School in East Setauket placed first last month in the Eastern Long Island Regional. Credit: Bin Zhang
Teams from Great Neck South, Syosset and Ward Melville high schools have taken the top spots in this year’s Long Island Regional Science Olympiads.
A total of 122 teams participated in one of the three competitions: the Nassau East Division Regional, Nassau West Division Regional and Eastern Long Island Regional. The three first-place teams — along with 13 other top-performing teams — have qualified for the state tournament in Syracuse on March 9-10.
In total, 12 high school regionals were held statewide, with teams of up to 15 students competing in events such as “Disease Detectives” and “Mousetrap Vehicles.”
“I am thrilled that we are fortunate to have a thriving Science Olympiad program at Ward Melville,” Principal Alan Baum said. “It is so rewarding for me to see our students in action.”
In addition to Ward Melville, other teams from the Eastern Long Island Regional qualifying for the state tournament come from Commack, Half Hollow Hills East, Islip, Smithtown West and West Babylon high schools.
In addition to Syosset, other teams from the Nassau East Regional qualifying for the state tournament come from Division Avenue, Hicksville, Jericho, MacArthur and Wantagh high schools.
In addition to Great Neck South, other teams from the Nassau West Regional qualifying for the state tournament come from Kellenberg, Chaminade and Roslyn high schools.
“I feel as though we have developed an incredible bond with each other,” Syosset coach Mildred Castañeda said.
MIDDLE ISLAND
Legislative Breakfast
Longwood School District hosted students and leaders from 34 Suffolk County school districts last month as part of its 14th Annual Legislative Breakfast, which was co-sponsored by Eastern Suffolk BOCES. The event provided participants with an opportunity to speak to state and federal representatives about critical topics facing public education.
Activities included presentations by BOCES chief operating officer Julie Lutz and Charles Dedrick, executive director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. Students also asked questions about matters ranging from unfunded mandates to state aid.
“Our responsibility to educate children is constant, as is our resolve to meet these challenges head-on,” said Dan Tomaszewski, a district board member and legislative committee chair.
COUNTYWIDE
Valentine’s Day
Many local schools hosted activities last month designed to spread love in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
In Oakdale, students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ Edward J. Milliken Technical Center created metal roses using tools including belt sanders, tin snips and needle-nose pliers.
In Sayville, special needs students at Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ Sayville Academic Center learned about heroes and made cards with appreciative messages for veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook.
In Northport, the middle school’s Community Service Club made cards, shared snacks, and played board games with elderly residents at Aria East Northport.
ISLANDWIDE
Dancing Classrooms
Teams from Eagle Elementary School in Medford and John Philip Sousa Elementary School in Port Washington were the gold medal winners in the first-ever Winter Colors of the Rainbow Team Match coordinated by Dancing Classrooms Long Island, a nonprofit that strives to cultivate essential life skills in children through social dance.
Silver-winning teams came from William S. Covert Elementary School in South Hempstead and Guggenheim Elementary School in Port Washington. Bronze-winning teams came from John J. Daly, Manorhaven and South Salem elementary schools, all in Port Washington.
The competition was open to fourth- and fifth-graders who participated in the nonprofit’s 10-week fall residency program.— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
