Science Newsletter #14 - March 2020

NB Science Fair Teams Revamped

This year for the first time in over a decade, the Science Department held a district-wide science fair to determine our top seventh grade students. There were over 50 participants, and the top ten students were selected to participate in the Hudson County Science Fair, now referred to as the STEM showcase. It was an amazing event with parents, administrators, and teachers stopping in to see the students’ work. A special thanks goes out to the judges (Mr. Aguiar, Ms. Sekkas, Mrs. Abdelhadi, Mrs. Hojnowski & Mrs. Maldonado) for volunteering on a Friday night. I am proud to announce the winners.

Winners: Luca De La Colina - H.Mann Mia Diaz - H Mann Benjamin Diaz - H. Mann Gabriel Domenech - H. Mann Amr Mohammed - H. Mann Gianfranco Agosti - Fulton Rina Mintz - Fulton Emanuel Almanzar - H. Mann Emma Wadleigh - Kennedy Amy Rosado-Giraldo - Franklin Lucas Rodriguez – Fulton

Elementary/Middle School students compete for a chance to go to County.

Dr. Keshishian and Mrs. Abdelhadi listen to Aisha Roman and Jianna Yan Francisco give their presentations for the Showcase)

Dr. Keshishian and Mrs. Abdelhadi listen to Aisha Roman and Jianna Yan Francisco give their presentations for the Showcase)

The winners, along with the STEM Academy Independent Scientific Research class, competed on March 9th for a chance to win/medal in the STEM showcase. Prior to the Science Fair we wanted to prepare our students for what they would face, so a few days before the competition we invited all teachers and administrators to stop by the Media Center and ask questions about the students’ research. This was an amazing opportunity for all involved, as the students received the practice that they needed and got a chance to showcase their amazing work.

For the first time in a very long time, North Bergen received its first gold medal and was invited to super judging for a chance to go to the national Regeneron Science Fair. Jonathan Blaya received that honor after he presented his study on self-perception using a personality test. Along with the first gold medal two other students earned bronze medals, Bethel Adewale with her study on the insanity plea defense and Michelle Carzola whose study was on the Empathy Quotient in STEM students vs. Humanities students. Also, this year we had three bronze medals in the elementary division won by Rina Mintz, Grade 7, Robert Fulton School, Benjamin Diaz, Grade 7, Horace Mann School, and Lucas Rodriguez, Grade 8, Robert Fulton.

Gold medalist Jonathan Blaya stands in front of his poster.

The high school and middle school teams at Liberty Science Center's Entrance

Jianna Yan Francisco and Mario Gonzalez Tapanes being interviewed by Hudson TV

Bronze Medalist Bethel Adewale – Bias In the Eyes of the Public

Hats off to Mrs. Stephanie Stern-Protz, Dr. Krista Welz, Mr. Robert Aguiar, and Ms. Vicky Sekkas on the amazing job facilitating and preparing the students’ research for the showcase. The dynamic Jianna Yan Francisco and Mario Gonzalez Tapanes are interviewed for Hudson TV.

Bronze medalist Michelle Cazorla with her project on STEMpathy