North Bergen Science
Issue #4 October 2016
NORTH BERGEN SCIENCE ISSUE 4: 10-25-16 CONTENTS
Welcome Back Everyone! Over the summer months the Science Department has been very busy! We have introduced a new after school program sponsored by the Stevens Institute of Technology, we are piloting a college curriculum from Rutgers University, we introduced our New STEM Cohort 2020, and the big news: Starting in 2019-2020, the North Bergen High School will relocate to the current High Tech High School – complete with its facilities! 7th 8th and 9th grades will be located in the current high school, and we will be planning a very comprehensive program to go with the new digs! Two of our STEM Academy students spoke at a press conference, as they will be the first graduating class of the new North Bergen High School STEM Academy. I hope you enjoy issue four of the Science newsletter.
Welcome Back!
Piloting a Diabetes Curriculum
NJECC Monthly Meeting
Green House up and Running
North Bergen STEM Academy Update
FDU Cyber Security
~Jared Keshishian, District Supervisor of Science
North Bergen High School Pilots Rutgers Curriculum Through the dedication of Mr. McEntee, a North Bergen science teacher, and devoted dog volunteer, North Bergen High School is piloting a diabetes curriculum, which focuses on the protein database, in a few of our science classes. Each Student will take a pre test as to determine the students knowledge on the lesson at hand, then Rutgers prescribes lessons and materials and then a post test is given to the students to see if there is a change in the knowledge. I will update you in the next Newsletter to share the results.
The Science of today is the technology of tomorrow. – Edward Teller
North Bergen Science
Issue #4 October 2016
NJECC Monthly Meetings On October 20th, Mr. Keshishian and Ms. Trabucco presented at the October Monthly meeting of the NJECC conference held in Montclair State University. The topic was about assessments in the digital age, and the two of them presented on the use of the LinkIt platform that the North Bergen School District is using to ensure we make data driven decisions on instruction.
The Green House is Up and Running! The North Bergen Greenhouse is back up and running and with the donations of seeds from the faculty, we will hope for a bigger harvest this year along with attempting to coordinate a fundraiser with the Environmental club to do a plant sale for Mother’s Day. Thanks goes out to Mr. Lacera and Mr. Eagleson for ensuring our plants receive enough water and Mr. Tom Stampe for donating milkweed seeds to help the butterfly population.
News From The North Bergen STEM Academy The North Bergen S.T.E.M. Academy Cohorts hit the ground running “through the muck” this year. Cohort 2019 went back to the Meadowlands, this time to take a core with Dr. Dorothy M. Peteet, a NASA Scientist who works out of the prestigious Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University. The cores are now being held in the LDEO repository – the largest Earth Core Repository in the world - and as our students continue to analyze the cores, their work can possibly be contributed to a peer-reviewed article in the future!
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North Bergen Science
Issue #4 October 2016
• Cohort 2020 has also started out the year, being instructed by Dr. Eljabari, senior computer science professor at NJIT on how technology crosses paths with many other careers. • BIG
NEWS! Two of our students in
Cohort 2020 were on hand to speak at the Press Conference held at High Tech High School to announce that our STEM Academy, and grades 10, 11 and 12 will be moving to the High Tech Building and Facility in time for Cohort 2020 to graduate North Bergen! Bethel Adewale and Michael Said spoke beautifully to the audience and reporters from Hudson and Bergen Counties – and were interviewed on television! •
Two of our STEM students, Max Quevedo and Riya Jain, were busy this summer volunteering at Hackensack Hospital on the Palisades, learning about how the hospital works, and obtaining real–life experience in the field of medicine.
• The Cohort 2021 open house was a tremendous success with Mr. Keshishian speaking to prospective students and parents about the STEM Academy. There were over 65 family members in attendance, along with the elementary guidance counselors, the North Bergen Academy STEM Committee and our superintendent Dr. George J. Solter, Jr. The interest in the Academy grows every year because of the dedication and support of the committee members and the board of education. Written by Jared Keshishian jkeshishian3@northbergen.k12.nj.us With Stephanie Stern-Protz sstern@northbergen.k12.nj.us
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North Bergen Science
Issue #4 October 2016
FDU Cyber Security Program North Bergen STEM Academy Students, along with students from North Bergen High School’s advanced math and science classes, were invited to participate in a specialized program in Cyber-security at Fairleigh Dickinson University at the Metro Campus in Teaneck, New Jersey. Professors of different computer science disciplines have introduced the students to college level programming in robotics, networks and programming. In addition to the lectures and hands-on learning, students were treated to lunch at the student center and a glimpse of campus life! This program was underwritten by a grant from Verizon, and we wish to thank Verizon and Fairleigh Dickinson University for their generosity and investment in our students.
We are seeking resources and partnerships with universities, corporations, and scientific organizations. Please feel free to contact us about opportunities for our students! Mr. Keshishian, District Supervisor of Science (jkeshishian@northbergen.k12.nj.us), Mrs. Stern - Protz , STEM Academy Specialist (sstern@northbergen.k12.nj.us), and Ms. Garcia-Velasquez, Director of Mathematics (nvelasquez@northbergen.k12.nj.us).
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