While some schools have STEM programs, the "A" in our STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) initiative recognizes our belief that students need to be creative thinkers to succeed in today's technology-based world, and that a creative mindset is often best developed through exposure to the arts. (Example: Steve Jobs's direction and focus at Apple where he combined his interest and knowledge of technology, science, design and art to create products that have changed our lives.)
As part of our STEAM initiative, Lower School students this week used a 3D copier to transform their hand drawings into cookie cutters (see photos or watch a short video)
On Sat., February 21st, Berkeley Carroll will launch our 1st annual STEAM Fair with more than a dozen activities for students of all ages, ranging from soldering circuit boards, learning origami, creating computer programs and architectural designs, upcycling, picklemaking, taking on the Rube Goldberg Machine Challenge, as well as designing, constructing and racing miniature cars on a large track.
SENIOR SPEAKERS
Our latest Senior Speakers were (left to right) Luke Oldham, Lucy Moulton and John Allman and they welcomed the entire 8th grade as their special audience guests!
John shared his belief that we should be concerned not just with the pursuit of happiness but the happiness of pursuit, mentioning many happy memories of BCS and a chance encounter with Olivia Wilde. Lucy spoke of her appreciation of the jam band Phish and the opportunities she's had growing up have influenced her decision to go to college in the city. Luke gave 5 tips from his own "School of Living the Good Life" and explained how these have benefited him over the years. Read more.
WHAT IS MOVEMENT-INSPIRED VISUAL ART?
Third graders created movement-inspired visual art Thursday morning, influenced by dancer and movement artist Heather Hansen. After a short presentation in the Athletic Center, the grade split into three groups to create "a visual record of movements they experience in their daily lives at Berkeley Carroll."
One group made pieces based on the breast stroke in cool colors, another used typical dance movements such as the plié to draw in warm colors and the third used the movements of their hinge/ball and socket joints to create a piece in all the colors of the rainbow. More photos. Watch the short video.
TAKING THE MUSIC CHALLENGE: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Middle School students recently completed a Practice Challenge to see how many minutes they practiced their musical instruments over 3 weeks and the totals are truly amazing.
8th Grade Total minutes: 8,492
7th Grade Total minutes: 12,241
6th Grade Total minutes: 20,896
5th grade Total minutes: 25,228
17 students practiced at least 600 minutes each, with 5th grade violinist Haley Clark practicing an astounding 2352 minutes! Congratulations to all students who participated on their hard work! We are so proud of you.
ATHLETICS NEWS
The girls' varsity basketball team had a convincing win over Avenues this week,
38-15. Berkeley Carroll's Upper School basketball teams will host Friends Seminary in a rare Saturday triple-header. What a great opportunity to catch all of BCS's teams in action! Read more. Important: there's a possibility these games may be postponed due to inclement weather. Please call the sports hotline, which will be updated by 10:30am Saturday, for the latest: (718)789- 6060 x 300.
BOB VITALO TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Head of School Bob Vitalo will present at the 2015 CASE/NAIS Conference in New Orleans this Sunday! He'll speak at a session called "Success Reexamined: Subtle Strategies of a Successful Capital Campaign."
SCIENCE RESEARCH & DESIGN TESTS POPULAR BEAUTY 'MYTH'
Do cucumbers really reduce puffiness around your eyes? Science Research and Design students just investigated this long-held beauty myth as part of their unit on investigating consumer claims. And the result of the experiment showed: they don't (sadly)!
