The Berlin Middle and High School Science Clubs have had a very busy winter, studying and preparing for hands-on, cross-curricular Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) competitions.

Mrs. Amanda Hayes and Mrs. Mary-Lou Hunt, the Berlin Middle and High School Science Teachers/Coaches, had their classrooms buzzing with students after school and during lunches to prepare for the competitions, and their weekends were booked, bringing the Mountaineers throughout the Capital Region to compete in regional science competitions. It has been a very rewarding experience for the coaches and students, with great accomplishments and recognitions happening at each event.

Attention science club members, Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Hunt will be hosting our end of the competition season celebration on Thursday 3/26 after school. If you were in a science competition this year please come and celebrate with us.

Find the competition recaps below. Go Mountaineers!!

 

Berlin High School Science Olympiad

On Saturday January 10th, the Berlin High School Science Olympiad team competed at the Columbia High School invitational. There were 35 high school teams in attendance from all over New York State and bordering states.

Seniors Lillian von Schilgen and Charlie Young worked endlessly to achieve 2nd place overall in Write It/Do It and they also achieved 3rd place in helicopter with their double bladed helicopter. Outstanding job Lillian and Charlie!!

The rest of the team put in a great effort and are ready to use what they learned at the invitational to succeed in the Capital Region regional competition on January 31st.

The Berlin High School Science Olympiad team traveled to Ballston Spa High School on January 31st. Our team consisting of Luke Turetsky, Roddy Gardell, Nate Goodermote, Charlie Young, Lillian vonSchilgen, Mackenzie Lowell, Anthony deLaurentis, Norah Smerdon, Valentina Popov, and Penelope Haass competed in 23 different events and were competitive with many schools in the capital region. Charlie Young and Lillian von Schilgen won first place in write it/do it and fifth place in helicopter.  We will miss our seniors next year and wish them all the best!  Great job representing Berlin High School in a very competitive environment!

Berlin Middle School’s Future City Team

On January 17th, the Berlin Middle School Future City team EIEIO competed at Shaker High School in a hands-on, cross-curricular educational middle school Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition that brings STEM to life for students. 

This year’s team – Adel Derstine, Lilliana Killeen, Otis Corbett, Rosalee Riccardi, Erin Stott, Julia Turetsky, Madeline Clark, Khalani Gonzalez- Caban, Caraline Webster, Jocelyn Webster, and Clara Church – was tasked with designing a future city that eliminates food waste from farm to table while keeping its citizens healthy and safe. 

The Mountaineers showed excellent teamwork, and their presentation, design, and question-and-answer sessions impressed the judges, landing them in 4th place at the Capital District Regional Future City competition. The Berlin Middle School team also brought home two trophies: the Best Planning of Land Use and Zoning and Excellence in Community Connectivity. 

U.S. Representative for New York’s 20th Congressional District, Mr. Paul Tonko, and New York State Senator for the 43rd District, Mr. Jake Ashby, were special guests at the competition and were impressed by the way Berlin CSD, the only Rensselaer County team, was making waves at the competition. 

Senator Ashby also took a moment to present the Berlin Mountaineers, whom he was proud to see represent Rensselaer County, each with a New York State Senate Sealed Certificate of Recognition.

Thank you to Coach/BMHS Science Teacher Mrs. Amanda Hayes and Team Mentor Mr. Christopher Hayes for their time and guidance throughout the process.

BMS & BHS Capital Region Science Bowl 

The Berlin Middle School and High School Science Bowl teams competed on Saturday, March 7, at the Capital Region Science Bowl at the GE Research Center in Niskayuna. 

The BMS Middle School Team, consisting of Remington Jones, Christopher Perrotti-Sousis, Braydon Griswold, Dannie Young, and Demi Kormos, advised and coached by Mrs. Hunt, worked well together in the trivia portion of the Science Bowl and secured second place in the gravity-powered car race, where they had designed a ramp and car in the weeks leading up to the event.

The Berlin High School team – Anthony DeLaurentis, MacKenzie Lowell, Roddy Gardell, Luis Gardell, and Luke Turetsky – showed up ready to compete against the very competitive field of 12 teams from around the region. The Mountaineers gave the teams a run and ultimately came in 6th place, with each game being competitive and one even resulting in a tie. Berlin High School Advisor/Coach Mrs. Hayes will miss seniors Anthony and MacKenzie next year but is excited to see what the young team can do in the future.

Capital District Regional Science Olympiad

On March 21st, the Berlin Middle School Science Olympiad team competed in the Capital District Regional Science Olympiad at Ravena Middle School.

The Mountaineers participated in various STEM events throughout the day. The team of Mountaineers: Erin Stott, Julia Turetsky, Remington Jones, Caraline Webster, and Christopher Perrotti-Sousis, coached by Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Hunt, had a great showing at the event, placing 4th overall in the Capital Region. The Mountaineers medaled in several events:

• 1st place in Scrambler – Julia Turetsky and Caraline Webster
• 2nd place in Remote Sensing – Christopher Perrotti-Sousis
• 3rd place in Boomilever – Erin Stott and Remington Jones
• 3rd place in place Codebusters – Caraline Webster and Julia Turetsky
• 3rd place in Dynamic Planet – Remington Jones and Caroline Webster
• 3rd place in Hovercraft – Erin Stott and Remington Jones
• 3rd place in Write It, Do It – Caraline Webster and Julia Turetsky