The East Meadow School District is pleased to announce that four W.T. Clarke Middle School students enrolled in the seventh-grade Honors Science Research Program will compete in the finalist round of the Christopher Columbus Foundation Competition in Orlando, Florida this June. Under the direction of teachers Cindy Dale, Donna DelVecchio, and Wendy Wansor, student-scientists Ryan Abraham, Zachary Boccio, Matthew Rubenstein and Pavit Suri will present their project “Mission Insaltable,” which studies the problem of too much sodium in the teenage diet.
This is only the second year that the seventh-grade Honors Science Research Program has entered this nationwide competition that encourages students to identify and solve a community problem. The students worked in groups of three or four, interviewed experts, conducted research and proposed solutions. In addition, each group submitted an entry that included a 10-page paper and visual presentation.
“We are extremely proud of both the effort and fine work of the students and staff,” Principal Stacy Breslin stated. “The students problem-solved in the interest of their community.”
In the first year of the program, W.T. Clarke Middle School boasted three semifinalist teams. This year, four teams, including Mission Insaltable, made it to the semifinalist round of competition. They include:
“Let It Rain” – Anaha Babu, Olamaide Bakare, Alexia Huang and Kate Su“Just Relax” – Dean Frucci, Melanie Hock, Bradley Seltzer and Samantha Vicari“The Mold Squad” – Melissa Batenga, Gabby Torrento, Natalie Zaba and Natalie Zuniga
Assistant Principal Linda Lynch also commented on the students’ achievements this school year. “Teamwork is very important here at Clarke Middle School, both at the student and teacher level,” she said. “This competition fosters both higher-level thinking and working together on so many levels.”
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