LMK Scientists and Engineers Present at the LMK Science and Technology Fair

LMK sixth, seventh, and eighth grade scientists and engineers presented their experiments and technological designs at the first annual LMK Science and Technology Fair on March 5th.  The LMK science and technology teachers devoted time, outside the class, to advise and guide these budding scientists and engineers and funding for this inaugural event was made possible through a grant received from the Harrison Educational Foundation.

“The Foundation was excited to partner in such an innovative night that encourages students to explore the fields of science and technology,” said Harrison Educational Foundation Vice-Chairman Jodie Freeman.  “Our goal as a foundation is to supplement the work of our District’s teachers and administrators in their mission of preparing students to be college and career ready.  Anytime we can get such a large number of students participating in science and technology outside of the classroom in “hands on” projects, the whole community benefits.”

The following is a list of award winners in each grade:

6th Grade
Charles Sheffield  (Teacher Ms. Pastor) – Supercooling of Liquids – First Place
Ryotaro Homma (Teacher Mr. Kinisky) – Electromagnets – Second Place
Julia Kindler (Teacher Ms. Diecidue) – Chewing Gum & Bubble Size – Second Place
Lara Schechter (Teacher Mr. Kinisky) – Different Balls & Bounce Height – Second Place
Reo Kawana (Teacher Ms. Diecidue) –  Expanding Gases – Third Place
Natalie Marques  (Teacher Ms. Pastor)– Airplane Mass and Flying Distance – Third Place
Jefferson Silvia (Teacher Mr. Kinisky) -Incandescent vs LED Lamps – Third Place

7th Grade
Ashley Medina (Teacher Mr. Recktenwalt) – Alternative Energy – First Place
Caroline Wong (Teacher Ms. Sardilli) – Type of Salt and Melting – First Place
Caitlin Policarpio (Teacher Ms. Sardilli) – Alum Crystal Growth – Second Place
Suraya Ortiz (Teacher Ms. Sardilli) – Mold Growth on Bread – Third Place
Andria Scaglione (Teacher Ms Sardilli) – Types of Fabric & Water Resistance – Third Place
Caitlin Alcoba (Teacher Ms. Sardilli) – Age & Flexibility – Honorable Mention
Michael Bartletta (Teacher Mr. Recktenwalt) – Airplane Shapes – Honorable Mention
Nutsa Beradze (Teacher Mr. Recktenwalt) – Dissolving Rates – Honorable Mention
Paul Glenn (Teachr Mr. Recktenwalt) – Astronomy – Honorable Mention
Izzy Szymura (Teacher Ms. Sardilli) – Presence of Chlorophyll in Fallen Leaves

8th Grade
Nanami Hariguchi (Teacher Ms. Langlitz) – Liquids & Electricity – First Place
Carl Spana (Teacher Ms. Langlitz) – Text Color & Memory – Second Place
Lauren Barbulescu (Teacher Mr. DePalma) – Solar Energy – Third Place
Tommy McAdam – (Teacher Ms. Flynn) – Computer Cooling: Water vs. Air – Third Place
Henry Alvarado (Teacher Ms. Langlitz) – Electric Fruits – Honorable Mention
Ryan Fink (Teacher Ms. Langlitz) – Toughness of Materials – Honorable Mention
Sarah Karkout (Teacher Ms. Langlitz) – Text Color & Memory – Honorable Mention
Anna Kennedy (Teacher Ms. Flynn) – Salt Water Concentration & Electrical Conductivity – Honorable Mention

FASE Program
Adin Bernstein, Erin O’Connor & Chris Sandell (Teacher Ms. Lane) – Acids & Bases Volcano – Honorable Mention

The new LMK Science and Technology Fair is sandwiched among other science and technology objectives within the District.  The elementary schools held 5th grade science fairs that encouraged students to not only present their own projects but to analyze their peers’ work and offer feedback.  At Harrison High school, one of the key components of all junior and senior level International Baccalaureate classes is the written presentation of ideas and expression and explanation of those ideas in Socratic seminars.

The Harrison Central School District has multiply offerings in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses and groundwork begins at the elementary school level.  Skills and interest are honed at the middle school level, and multiple pathways offer high school students numerous opportunities to explore interests.  In addition to the mathematics courses that range from College Algebra to a Syracuse University curriculum of Multi-Variable Calculus, Harrison is one of a handful of schools in Westchester County to offer a complete pathway in Computer Science and IB Technology and Design.