Students in ninth grade living environment classes at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School recently visited Stony Brook University to work in some of the DNA labs on campus. Students learned about the different aspects of forensic science and practiced some of the techniques investigators use when working to solve crimes.

DNA profiling was the focus behind most of the activities. Students carried out an authentic gel electrophoresis experiment and created DNA “fingerprints” to help solve a fictional crime.

Date Added: 3/24/2023

P.J. Gelinas and R.C. Murphy junior high schools’ students recently competed in the Suffolk County MoMathlon presented by the National Museum of Mathematics with support from Brookhaven National Laboratory. The tournament takes place during the course of one school day. Students put their thinking to the test with three rounds of mathematical problems – an individual round, a team round and a mix-up round. Following the competition rounds, an educator leads students through a discussion of the solutions to explore new ways of reaching answers. At this time, participants can share their problem-solving strategies with their fellow student mathematicians.

The Gelinas Junior High School team made up of Amanda Liang, Valentina Trajkovic, Terrence Wang, Jason Yin and Victoria Ye came in first place in the team competition. Additionally, there were noteworthy achievements in the individual rounds. Yin placed second in the upper division of the individual round and Liang placed fourth. Wang also placed third in the lower division of the individual round.

Murphy Junior High School’s team made up of Alan Fagan, Bonnie Fagan, Harry Gao, Lawrence Sun and Gabrielle Wong placed fourth in the team competition. However, Gao came in first place in the individual round.

Not only does the tournament engage students with mathematical challenges and brain teasers, it introduces them to new friends while experiencing an exciting yet competitive environment.

Date Added: 3/23/2023

Two P.J. Gelinas Junior High School students were selected as winners in the ninth annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award. Congratulations to ninth grader Julia Hou, whose book “Boston Santa” was selected for first place and to eighth grader Caroline Qian whose piece “Cutie the Duck” was named second place.

The Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award invites secondary students to create a children’s picture book. The annual award is in memory of Helen Stein Shack, a teacher who was committed to educating children and loved literature written for them. She was a frequent visitor to the Emma Clark Library and her children established an endowment with the library to sponsor the award each year.

Both Julia and Caroline will have their entries published and added to the Emma Clark Library’s Local Focus Collection. They also received monetary prizes.

Date Added: 3/22/2023

Eighth graders at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School are making maple syrup from trees in their own backyard. In the farm to school elective, students work on growing food using various methods throughout the year. They learn how to harvest their crops and ultimately cook and eat them.

Each fall, students head out to the small patches of woods surrounding the school building and mark any maple trees they find. Come February, they return to the marked trees and apply the proper techniques for maple tapping. The eighth graders collect sap for a few weeks before boiling it down into pure maple syrup. The culmination of the project is a waffle breakfast, eaten with their own syrup.

Date Added: 2/21/2023

Six eighth graders recently scored extremely well in the AMC 8 Math Contest. At P.J. Gelinas Junior High School, Jason Yin placed first, Valentina Trajkovic placed second and Austin Chen came in third. At R.C. Murphy Junior High School, Harry Gao came in first in the school and Gabrielle Wong and Bonnie Fagan tied for second.

The AMC 8 is a 25-question, timed multiple choice examination. It is given to middle school-aged students to promote the development of problem-solving skills and positive attitudes toward analytical thinking.

Date Added: 2/8/2023