The Newton Ligerbots had a great 2011 FIRST Robotics season. In March they competed at the WPI Regional and won the Website award for excellence in student-designed, -built, and -managed FIRST team websites. Newton North Junior and Ligerbots CEO, Paige Grody, was recognized as a finalist for the “Dean’s List” award honoring outstanding student leaders for exemplary passion for and effectiveness at attaining FIRST ideals.

At the Boston Regional this weekend, the Ligerbots were on the 4th-ranked alliance. They competed strongly in the quarter finals, but, alas, were eliminated. Superintendent David Fleishman spent a couple of hours with the Ligerbots at this event on Saturday morning and was very impressed with the team and its program. This last week, the Ligerbots also graciously hosted a team from Canada, the Cyber Gnomes, welcoming the team members into their homes, hosting evening events, entertaining them, and developing long-lasting friendships as a result. Continue reading Newton Ligerbots 2011 Update →

The results are in, and of the 132 public and private middle schools competing in the 8th-grade level of the 2010-11 New England Math Contest, run by The Mathematics League, Oak Hill’s 8th-grade team came in #2! Bella E and Daniel S were among the ten students tied for top-ranked 8th grader in New England. Ian P and Andrew S were among the 16 students in the next rank, tied for #11, just one point short of #1. Siva E and Kevin W were in the next rank, just one point back. Newton’s Solomon Schechter 8th-grade team ranked 10th, and its 7th-grade team tied for 16th among 136 schools in the contest across New England. Congratulations to all!

Another successful year for Newton’s High School Science Teams!

Out of 41 high-school teams in the 2011 Massachusetts State Science Olympiad, Newton North finished 2nd and Newton South 3rd (separated by just 2 points).  Of the 23 events in which they competed, Newton North placed 1st in 6 events and 2nd in 3 events, and Newton South placed 1st in 2 events and 2nd in 6 events.  The Science Olympiad events emphasize scientific inquiry and process, require hands-on group collaboration, and test knowledge in fields such as genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, astronomy, mechanical engineering, and technology. Continue reading Congratulations to NNHS/NSHS Science Teams! →

Congratulations to the Newton Ligerbots, who have won for the Newton Public Schools an award for Progressive Manufacturing Training & Education Mastery in the 2011 Progressive Manufacturing 100 awards. You can see the Ligerbots competing at the following events — free and open to the public:

• March 11 and 12 at the FIRST Regional Competition at Worcester Polytech Institute
• April 8-9 at the Boston regional First Competition at BU’s Agganis arena.  Supt. David Fleishman plans to be there on April 9.