A scientific revolution in Seaford

A group of more than 30 science-minded students at Seaford Middle School will soon be testing their knowledge, as they prepare for the upcoming Science Olympiad regional competition.

There will be 22 events at the March 7 tournament at Wisdom Lane Middle School in Levittown. Seaford Middle School is sending two teams, each with 15 students, as well as seven alternates.

Science teacher Roseann Zeblisky, in her 18th year advising the club, said the competition is a great experience for the students, as they get to bond with each other and learn more about the sciences.

Events include tests and lab experiments. Students will also compete in events using objects they build ahead of time, such as bridges and an elastic-launched glider. Zeblisky said that with a variety of events, there is something for every student.

Eighth-grader Lauren King is looking forward to the Robo-Cross event. She and her teammate had to design and build a robot capable of performing certain tasks outlined in this year’s rules. King said that she is modifying the robot she used last year, changing how it moves and lifts objects.

Eric Schneider will be participating in four events, and is most excited about the Bottle Rocket competition, which is being brought back this year. Teams can build two rockets, and launch each once. They will be judged on how long the rockets can stay in the air.

“I’m a science guy,” he said. “I just like to challenge my brain.”

Seventh-grader Sean McCosker will be taking part in the fossil event, in which he will have to identify various specimens. To get ready for the competition, he and his partner have been doing a lot of research on fossils.

“It’s something that my friend and I can do together,” he said. “We can have fun with it while still learning.”

Danielle D’Ambrosio, an eighth-grader, has three events lined up and says she likes to try different ones each year. Melissa Schoenig will be participating in air trajectory, and has to build a machine to launch a projectile onto a target. She said getting it just right takes a lot of trial and error.

For Sean Lochner, the Entomology event will be his favorite. Simply put, he will have to identify bugs. Emily Stark, who wants to be a forensic scientist, will be taking part in Can’t Judge a Powder, where she will analyze various substances and collect data. Katie Crawford’s main event will be Road Scholar, in which she will study maps.

Jackie Galison, an eighth-grader, likes solving mysteries so she signed up for Crime Busters. To get ready for the competition, she has been doing research and conducting practice experiments.

Zeblisky said that Science Olympiad gives students the opportunity to take what they learn in school and apply it. “It teaches them to be real scientists in so many different ways,” she said.

The students have been getting ready for the competition since November. Since then, they have been working hard, whether it is at the club meetings after school, during free periods, or at home.

Last year, Seaford Middle School took home two medals. Zeblisky said with a solid group of eighth graders on this year’s team, including many who have been part of Science Olympiad for the past three years, she is confident they can do even better.

“I know that we’ll walk away with some medals,” she said. “These are the type of kids that look at mistakes and learn.”