Suffolk School Notebook: Long Island teams compete in Science Olympiads
A team from Great Neck South High School, pictured here competing virtually, took the top spot among high school teams at this year's New York State Science Olympiad. Credit: Great Neck School District
Teams from Great Neck South High School, P.J. Gelinas Junior High School in Setauket and R.C. Murphy Junior High School in Stony Brook are advancing to the national level after being among the top finishers at the New York State Science Olympiad.
This year's state olympiad, which was held virtually last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic, consisted of 68 high school teams and 53 middle school teams that qualified after participating in one of 24 regionals statewide. Teams vied in 15 events, such as "Disease Detectives" and "Sounds of Music," the latter of which challenged students to take a test on the physics of sound and build instruments.
Great Neck placed first among high school teams, while P.J. Gelinas and R.C. Murphy placed first and second, respectively, among middle school teams. The national tournament is on May 21-22.
To reach the state level, teams competed in one of five regional tournaments across Long Island. The high school regionals were won by teams from Great Neck South, Hauppauge and Syosset high schools, while the middle school regionals were won by teams from Great Neck South and Port Jefferson middle schools.
Other high school teams that reached the state level were from the following schools: Bay Shore, Bayport-Blue Point, Chaminade, Division Avenue, Earl L. Vandermeulen, Friends Academy, Half Hollow Hills West, Hicksville, Jericho, Kellenberg, MacArthur, Manhasset, Roslyn, Smithtown East, Smithtown West, Ward Melville and Wantagh.
Other middle school teams that reached the state level were from the following schools: Bro. Joseph C. Fox, Carrie Palmer Weber, Commack, Hauppauge, Hicksville, Manhasset, P.J. Gelinas, R.C. Murphy, South Woods, West Hollow and Wisdom Lane. SAIL, a home-school team, also advanced.
BRENTWOOD
Esaia Bell, left, and Katrina Theologitis were among Elwood-John H. Glenn High School's World Language Honor Society members who recently spearheaded a collection of more than 200 pairs of gently used shoes for those in need by partnering with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization. Credit: Elwood School District
SourceAmerica Design Challenge
Brentwood High School's The Quick Stamper team was one of five groups nationwide to achieve finalist standing in the 2021 SourceAmerica Design Challenge, an engineering competition that asks students to develop assistive technologies for disabled individuals in their work environments.
Brentwood's team — Javier Garcia, Cecia Martinez, Nicole Olekanma and Katie Torres — created a label-placing device that increases the accuracy of positioning labels onto the center of boxes.
Projects were assessed on their potential impact in professional working environments.
In Lake Ronkonkoma, students in Lauren Gonzalez's studio art class at Sachem North High School explored what is needed to successfully learn through a community mural. Credit: Sachem Central School District
JERICHO, NORTHPORT AND SMITHTOWN
Coca-Cola Scholar
Richard Ren of Jericho High School is one of 150 high school seniors nationwide named a 2021 Coca-Cola Scholar; he will receive a $20,000 college scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Students were selected on such factors as leadership skills, academic achievements and community service from among more than 99,000 applicants.
Smithtown High School West senior Shannon Alptekin and Northport High School senior James Connor were among 251 regional finalists nationwide. Peter Thais of Hogansburg, who attends Saint Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, was also a regional finalist.
ISLANDWIDE
In Shirley, William Floyd Learning Center students recently participated in an inaugural "living wax museum" as a fun way to learn about historical and contemporary figures who have made significant contributions to their chosen fields. Pictured here with students are Principal Gary Bretton and Assistant Principal Camelle Person. Credit: William Floyd School District
Schools to Watch
Jericho Middle School, Oceanside Middle School, Sayville Middle School and Longwood Junior High School in Middle Island are among 16 schools statewide redesignated as 2021 Essential Elements: Schools to Watch by the New York State Education Department in partnership with the New York State Middle School Association and the Statewide Network of Middle Level Liaisons.
The program recognizes schools that demonstrate continuous improvement and excel in four areas: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and organizational structure. Schools hold the designation for three years and then must be reevaluated.
"The middle school years represent a period of personal growth and development for young adolescents," Interim State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said. "These educators are helping the children they serve to prepare for success in high school and thereafter."
— 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.
