Spring North Bergen Science Newsletter

North Bergen Science

Issue #6 March 2017

NORTH BERGEN SCIENCE ISSUE 6: 3-20-17 CONTENTS

Keshishian’s Message There is a lot of exciting news to share with you about the advancements and growth we have seen in the science department.

22 accepted to STEM

This growth and advancement is due to the hard work and dedication of the teachers and committee members.

Moby Max

~Jared Keshishian, District Supervisor of Science

Robotics

22 Accepted to STEM

School Garden and Greenhouse

As you read in the previous newsletter. The North Bergen STEM Academy had its largest number of applications ever, totaling

Mehdi Art

71. Out of the 71 applicants, 38 had a strong enough rubric score to be

Hackensack UMC/Palisades

invited into the Academy. Out of those 38 students invited a total of 22 students already committed to attend the Academy in the spring.

Build it Better

The STEM participants are as follows:

Exxon Mobil

Marco Malo Jr.

Robert Perez

Arleen Inclan

Andrew Carmona

Dany Montufar

Ikram Saidi

Michael Moscoso

Amanda Zerquera

Deep Patel

Natalie Marin

James Paucar

Nick Usme

Kassandra DeLeon

Briana Classen

Laisha Martinez

Adreany Sihombing

Edu Pena Rollet

Nicole Paula

Nylen Quila

Mishael Hernandez

Kevin Benavente

Science Fair

The Science of today is the technology of tomorrow. – Edward Teller

Lanaya Aziza Carbonell

Produced and Edited by Jared Keshishian

North Bergen Science

Ms. Jennie Strobel, a 5th grade teacher from Franklin School, was recently featured with her class on a commercial for a Learning Management Software called Moby Max. Ms. Strobel has been using the software for approximately two years now. Ms. Strobel came across the software because she noticed that there was not enough time to really get into a science and history lesson due to the tested subjects eating up a lot of the class time. Since using the software, Ms. Strobel has not only found a more efficient way of teaching science and history due to MobyMax’s interactive platform and data collection each child’s education is personalized.

Issue #6 March 2017

7th grade G&T students worked with Mrs. Stern-Protz and Ms. Carline on the Lego Robotics after-school enrichment program. Students learned the Core Values of the First Robotics League and worked with Lego robots and the new EV3 programs that control them for competition. Of the 19 students that participated in the sessions, 10 will be chosen to compete on a possible team in the fall. The students, along with Ms. Carline and Mrs. Stern-Protz, completed activities from binary code in math to the engineering process and the Lego way of robotics. The 7th graders were a focused group and did a wonderful job. Finally, we would like to give a special thanks to Porvenir Fund for their continued support of Robotics.

It was introduced to me last year by Ms. Strobel and I will now be piloting it throughout the district in collaboration with History, English, and Math, to bring Learning into the 21st Century.

You can see the commercial by clicking the link below or typing it into a url

By: Stephanie Stern-Protz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCfLJnZzzsI&feature=yout u.be

It is our privilege to announce that North Bergen High School will be building a School Garden by the picnic table between the gym and the Board of Education. This spot will be visible from Kennedy Blvd and the Environmental Club will maintain it. Mr. Tom Stampe was able to get the Home Depot on Tonnelle Avenue to not only supply us with the wood to build our grow boxes, but the labor as well. The Environmental club, lead by Mrs Dana Hojnowski and Ms. Jennifer Checchio, will use their funds to purchase native plants to place in the boxes.

Finally, the boxes will also be sustainable by using the greenhouse to store or grow plants for the spring and fall when the weather is not suited for them. Yet, this is only phase one of a three-phase proposal.

Phase two will start next year, in which Rutgers will help us build two rain gardens, one right by our new garden and the other down by the faculty parking lot. Finally, rain barrels will be donated for the greenhouse so we can use storm water to grow our plants instead of relying on city water. The construction and finished product will show up in the next science Newsletter.

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North Bergen Science

A gentleman named Mehdi Doumi, donated three pieces of art work that he designed and drew himself. These three drawings represent the biological sciences and the physical sciences. They will be displayed in the science wing of the High School for all students to admire and interpret. Mr. Doumi, works for a local makeup company and he does this to show his appreciation for teachers, especially science teachers. I want to personally thank Mr. Doumi for his donation to the department, and I hope you, the reader, enjoy them as much as we do.

Issue #6 March 2017

Chemistry

Physics

Biology

Pictured Left to Right: Dr. Solter, Jared Keshishian, Mehdi Doumi, Mayor Sacco, and Stephanie Stern-Protz

See more of Mehdi’s art at http://www.blehdi.com/ click the education tab in the top corner

The North Bergen STEM Academy, in conjunction with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) hosted a Build It Better competition at the Media Center of the high school. Special guests included Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco, Superintendent Dr. George Solter Jr., Tom Stampe from the North Bergen Municipal Authorities Union, Al Orlando, former North Bergen District Science Supervisor, Grace Lynch – partner at L+C MLA of Secaucus, Tom and Dayna Sessa of Porvenir Fund, Michael Marchetti of NJIT, STEM Committee Members Theresa Rabelo, Heather Carline, Steph Stern-Protz, Nelly Velasquez, Jared Keshishian, and Media Center Specialist Krista Welz, and our Media Center Assistant, Roula Sekkas. All hands were on deck for this exciting program.

Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 each formed two teams, and each team had to design, test and execute a rubber-band racer capable of carrying an open bottle of water. In addition, the car had to go as straight as possible. If this was not difficult enough, the teams each had a cash budget to purchase supplies, and produce a marketing program complete with a video commercial.

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North Bergen Science

Issue #6 March 2017

Build It Better Continued…

Ultimately, team “TECHTONICS” – Cohort Class 2 – graduating 2020, were victorious and were awarded bragging rights and, of course, a pizza party!

Tom Stampe (NBMUA), Grace Lynch (L+C), Al Orlando (Ret.), and Mike Marchetti from NJIT confer during the Build It Better Competition in February

Mayor Sacco, Superintendent Dr. Solter and Principal Tennaro below, with Cohorts 1 and 2 of the North Bergen STEM Academy at NJIT’s Build It Better Challenge.

Congratulations to Max Quevedo - Cohort 1/2019 - for being accepted into the Lebanon Valley College summer medical program.

Congratulations to Christina Morocho – Cohort 1/2019, and Bryan Gomez, NHS Nominee and FDU CEOP graduate, on being accepted into the Stevens Institute of Technology Summer for Engineering and Business, respectively.

Congratulations to Siddharath Patel on being accepted to Stevens Institute of Technology Summer for Chemical Engineering and the Columbia University Summer program for Chemical Engineering.

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Congratulations to Bryan Gomez, and Abigail Espinoza, both NHS Nominees and FDU CEOP graduates, for being accepted into the Harvard Summer Program for high school students. Bryan was accepted for Financial Accounting and Japanese.

By Stephanie Stern-Protz

(CEOP is Fairleigh Dickinson’s Cybersecurity Program we ran for talented STEM Academy students and technology-minded juniors and seniors this past fall. Details are in the January Science Newsletter)

North Bergen Science

Issue #6 March 2017

Thanks to Hackensack UMC/Palisades North Bergen STEM Academy students who are interested in medical careers were treated to a career information day at Palisade Medical Center – now Hackensack UMC/Palisades Hospital.

Veronica Morocho, a healthcare worker at the hospital and mom of our own Cristina Morocho – Cohort 1/2019, greeted the students (she really came out to give her daughter a hug, but we’ll take that as a greeting to all the kids!). Officially welcoming the group was Mrs. Nikki Mederos, Director of External Affairs, Patient Relations at Palisades Medical Center, along with Eurice Rojas, VP of External Affairs.

Kicking off the day was a special treat because Mayor Nicholas Sacco opened the day of “Student Professional Development” by imparting great hope with our STEM Academy students, and their desire to pursue medicine. Also present to give the students a good morning and wise words in following their dreams was Dr. George J. Solter, Jr., Superintendent of Schools.

Mayor Sacco kicks off the day with Mr. Eurice Rojas, VP of External Affairs

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Future medical professionals, Cristina Morocho, Nidhi Parekh, Max Quevedo, Yahira Herrera, Abhiram Dawar, Sebastian Tapia, Marianna Said, Ludwin Chavez, Michelle Cazorla (whose dad came to say hello too!), Michael Said, Aisha Roman, and Angifer Rojas. Accompanying the trip were Steph Stern-Protz, Jared Keshishian and Susan Ramadan (photographer for this pic!)

North Bergen Science

Ready for surgery!

Michele and Angifer with Surgical Specialist, Carlos Sanchez.

Issue #6 March 2017

Where snoring is serious business: The Sleep/Wake Center at HMC Here, Director Sylvana Serrano and Senior PSG Technician Oleida Fajardo demonstrate the science of healthy breathing and the studies done at the Center.

Mr. Tom White – Asst. Director of Radiology taught our students about both the medical and working aspects of Radiology. And Tom’s nephew graduates North Bergen this June! Great to seeing a family/community studying and working in North Bergen.

Dedicated Community. Mr. Keshishian, Mrs. Medeiros, Dr. Jesus Alfonso, first speaker of the day, Mr. Rojas, Mayor Sacco, Thomas Sessa, member of the HMC Palisades Outreach Committee and Chairman of Porvenir Fund, and Mrs. Stern-Protz.

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North Bergen Science

Issue #6 March 2017

In addition to the above pictured professionals we’d like to deeply and sincerely thank the following doctors, staff and professionals who took the time to present their careers to our STEM Academy students: Adrian Rojas – Pharmacy, and his intern, Gibi Philips Mr. James Damore - Head of Security and Coordinator of FEMA Drill Rev. Suleima Rosario-Diaz, Parish Nurse; Nurse Practitioner who does testing in the community.

Dr. Matthew Shatz, Head of Anesthesiology Nikki Mederos, Director of External Affairs/Community Outreach - you of course!

Eurice Rojas, VP of External Affairs Coordinator of Sonograms: Odalys Rodriguez and Technician Jenna English) Rev. Elliott Cruz, Director of Pastoral Care And Ana Jimenez, Unit Secretary for the Maternity Ward, and learner of cultural baby names.

THANK YOU Hackensack UMC/Palisades!

Back Row: Jonathan Blaya, Nikki Mederos, Susan Ramadan, Jared Keshishian, Stephanie Stern-Protz, Abhiram Dawar Middle Row: Max Quevedo, Christine Adewale, Cristina Morocho, Angifer Rojas, Michael Said, Michele Cazorla, Aisha Roman Bottom Row: Nidhi Parekh, Riya Jair, Yahira Herrera, Sebastian Tapia, Marianna Said, and Ludwin Chavez Written by: Stephanie Stern-Protz

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North Bergen Science

Issue #6 March 2017 Science Fair Cont: The students representing North Bergen are:

North Bergen Science won its first grant. While it may be a small one, it is still a victory. North Bergen Science department received a $500 dollar Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance grant. CrossAmerica Partners and Exxon Mobil made this award possible.

The money will aid in purchasing supplies for the laboratory procedures. Such as a digital Ph meter and other various other instruments/supplies.

Mohammed Elmzaghi – High School Johanna Gonzlaez – High School Alejandra Aguilar – High School Emily Guevara – Franklin School Grace Nodarse – Franklin School Brandon Ortega – Franklin School Lyna Bacha – Robert Fulton School I want to personally thank all the students that participated and special congratulations to Brandon Ortega from Franklin School for winning the Dubby Shulman Young Scientist Award

The Next time you are purchasing gas at the 76th street Exxon Mobil or stopping in the tiger mart, please give a thank you to the workers there and if you happen to meet the owner please thank him from North Bergen science department.

Johanna This year at the First Annual STEM showcase, previously known as the Hudson County Science Fair, North Bergen sent three high school students and four elementary school students. These students were selected from a large number of applicants, as each elementary school in the district sent us their medal places in the individual schools science fair.

Yet the Science Fair committee consisting of Dana Hojnowski and Jared Keshishian selected only four elementary students, as their projects were exceptional.

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Grace

Mohammed

Emily

Lyna

Alejandra

Brandon