Raider Family News
December, 2023
Science & Technology Department Updates
Each month moving forward, we will highlight the amazing things that are occurring in our school. We are starting with the Science & Technology Department.
Biology & AP Biology
An aquarium is a little ecosystem. By having a shrimp tank with aquatic plants in the classroom, Mr. Markram refers to the aquarium to help emphasize concepts such as the properties of water, types of cells, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, DNA, genetics, evolution, and ecology. The intent is to help students make connections between the content discussed in class and the real world applications of this knowledge as well as fostering an appreciation for flora and fauna.
Students have recently been learning about the cell membrane and the process of cell transport in AP Biology. Here are some pictures from a series of labs we did to demonstrate the concepts of diffusion and osmosis: We studied how different sized beetroot cubes (with different SA:V) had different efficiencies of bleach diffusion. We studied the osmotic pressure of potato cells by exposing them to various colored solutions with different sucrose molarity and used that information to predict the molarity of the different solutions and the molar concentration of the potato cells. We made slime with different amounts of solute in the recipes to study how solute concentration affected the slimes ability to retain water over time. We used dialysis tubing to create cell models and studied the effect of exposing these cell models with different NaCl molarities to distilled water.
Mrs. Oliveira’s biology class students practiced microscope techniques to begin our unit on cells. First they observed a newspaper clipping to understand the inverted orientation a microscope provides. Then, they observed plant cells from the epidermis of both a yellow and red onion. They were able to view different cell structures such as the nucleus and cell wall with the help of iodine staining. Students were also able to view animal cells - from their own cheeks!
Anatomy and Physiology and Environmental Science
Axolotls are amazing scientific creatures that have regenerative powers and are often used in medical research. These special creatures are perfect to study when discussing genetics, proteins, endangered species, and medical advancements when those topics arise in science classrooms. In Mrs. Burniston’s room we have a GFP golden albino axolotl that the students named Kai. This axolotl type is a rarity and has the ability to glow under blacklight! Students are welcome to come visit and say hi to this friendly little guy in room 210!
Chemistry
To learn more about the behavior of electrons, chemistry students burned solutions with different elements to see what color they turned the Bunsen burner flame. They used the data to make posters connecting the cool flame colors back to the concepts they studied during class.
Introductory Physics
Introductory Physics students are pictured working on gathering data for the Constant Velocity Lab. Students mark the position of a battery operated car at one second intervals, measure the position of the car at those times, create a data table, and create a graph to analyze the motion of the car. Students use google sheets to graph their data and input a line of best fit to extrapolate the velocity of the car.
AP Environmental Science
During the Land Use Unit, the AP Environmental Science students study soil properties and forestry. As part of their exploration of these topics, students collected soil samples from around the school campus in order to analyze the nutrients present and determine soil type. All the soil samples had a good pH, but were lacking in some of the nutrients required to grow a lot of plants. Most of the soil was a variation of loam.
For the topic of forestry, students took a field trip to Buffington Park to determine the amount of carbon stored in three different trees. In order to calculate the carbon content, students had to identify the trees and measure the circumference. Students also measured the height of the three trees.
Project Lead the Way: Biomedical Science
Students in Biomedical Science are seen investigating the death of Anna Garcia by learning forensic techniques like hair analysis, fingerprinting, blood analysis and autopsy reports to solve the case.
Engineering Design
Fitzroy Lewis Jr is pictured grinding a steel rod during one of many lab training days.
For a deeper look into our Engineering Design course click here.
Graphic Engineering
A former graphics design student, Bethany Curtis ’24, volunteered to update and redesign the Raider Café logo. Bethany was an Academic, Independent, Digital Citizen taking on this project on her own time, applying the skills she learned in Graphic Engineering, presenting a quality finished product and delivering before deadline! The Raider Café is featuring her redesigned logo on a banner! Great Job, Bethany!
Graphics students are beginning their Photoshop adventure by exploring image adjustments in a series of 11 tutorial lessons, culminating in editing two photos applying any/all the adjustments they have learned. One photo was provided and the other could be one they took themselves or chose online. Students also have the opportunity to reflect on their process in writing.
Robotic Engineering
Robotics students created their first game in Ozaria, The Gauntlet Game, using Python coding.
Students had to meet all the Game Goals in their design. You can see some of the Python code the students wrote to meet these goals, and an explanation of their design. Students explored what makes a good game, designed their game, played each other’s games, gave each other constructive feedback, revised and presented their finished games to the class.
Would you like to play a game?
👾Play some student Gauntlet Games here:
https://www.ozaria.com/play/game-dev-level/1fhcapstoneb/650c36a8aeaf5f00189c1506
https://www.ozaria.com/play/game-dev-level/1fhcapstoneb/650c3bb139700c00196b0116
https://www.ozaria.com/play/game-dev-level/1fhcapstoneb/650ee493fdf8960019ab07a9
Python is a language commonly used to program robots and drones. Students will be using Python to code both robots and drones later this year.
Do you want to learn some Python coding, too?
🎮You can play the first chapter of Ozaria for free here: https://www.ozaria.com/
Check out Eric's Robot!!
Intro to TV Media Production
The Intro to TV Media Production students explore filming and video editing techniques through hands-on practice. Students have created a variety of video projects and are currently working on writing, filming and editing a short film.
TV Media Production
The TV Media students wrote, filmed, and edited their first round of news stories. They filmed reporter stand ups, interviews, a variety of b-roll shots, and recorded voice overs. Students utilized the TV studio to bring their news stories into a complete news show.
Blue Raider Studios
Past and present TV Media students collaborate to film a Raider football game. The TV Media students cover many school events, such as music performances, sports, for our school YouTube Channel, Blue Raider Studios.
Basketball Season Passes on Sale Now
This season we will be offering digital regular season passes and single game tickets to girls' & boys' basketball games at SBRHS. Digital season passes will permit the holder to attend all regular season home girls' and boys' games.
Season passes to home regular season games and individual game tickets can be found here at GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/MA22193
- The cost per student pass for the regular season is $30.
- The cost per student ticket per game at Somerset Berkley is $4.
*Note that for the single game tickets GoFan will charge a $1 service fee per ticket per game. There is no service fee for the season passes.
Single game tickets for January and February will be added to GoFan soon. Tickets can still be purchased with cash at our home games for the time being. We intend to transition to digital tickets only in the foreseeable future.
SBRHS Scholarship Winner--James Phenix
Ryan Rose---SBRHS Francis W Gallishaw, Jr. Award Winner
SBRHS congratulates Ryan Rose who was chosen as the 2023 Francis W. Gallishaw, Jr. Award recipient for his academic excellence. This award is presented each year by the Southeast Educational Collaborative to one student in each of its member school districts.
Attention Class of 2024--Future Plans
As you decide on your future plans, SBRHS would like to celebrate your future plans. Please click on this link and tell us what you plan on doing next year (college, branch of military or workforce/career path). We will celebrate these successes in various ways, including X (Twitter,) our website, etc. as we get closer to the end of the year. We realize this request might be a bit early for some of you so expect emails in the future regarding this. All seniors must complete this form. We are so excited to see all the "places you will go"!!
Students Performing at our Winter Concerts
John & Abigail Adams Scholarship Awards
Based on their MCAS scores, the following students were awarded the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship. If a student decides to go to a Massachusetts state college or university, this award provides credits towards cost. This is a four-year award. Students who qualified for this award were honored with a breakfast last week in our student dining center. Congratulations to all!
Karissa Albin, Emily Amancio, Owen Andrade, Hannah Arruda, Nathan Bellanti, Naomi Berman, Teresa Borges, Sashah Bosse, Madison Brophy, Catherine Brownell, Richard Buote, Derrick Camara, Kayla Caruso, Nicholas Chasse, Kyle Comeau, Elizabeth Costa, Brooke Crombie, Bethany Curtis, Claire Daigle, Abigail Davis, Isabel Desrosiers, William Dionne, Jules Donoghue, James Doucette, Jack Fredette, Evan Furtado, Camden Hoyle, Makenzie Jacob, Annabella Karpicz, Ashton Kulpa, Alissa LaFrance, Julia Lanczycki, Cole Lema, Morgan Machado, Alex Madeiros, Adyn Marcos, Billie Martel, Drew McGarry, Marissa Medeiros, Cole Megna, Jack Millar, Benjamin Miller, Aidan Nasrallah, Darren O'Brien, Logan Pacheco, Olivia Pacheco, Dante Papaleo, Nathaniel Pavao, Calvin Perrotty, Joseph Ramos, Lily Raposo, Roman Raposo, Maya Rezendes, Jose Rodriguez, Adison Rogers, Lauren Roosa, Camden Rose, Ryan Rose, Asante Sanders, Ethan Santos, Will Santos, Mikayla Seymour, Hailey Shea, Nicole Simons, Kayleigh Soares, Alyssa Sousa, Chase Stilley, Aidan Sylvia, Austin Thurber, Samuel Trenholme