Brendan McGann’s College Forensic Science and High School elective students recently completed studying bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA). What a bloody mess!
In this lab, students recreated actions that cause various bloodshed. They were then asked to interpret bloodstain patterns from various scenarios.
Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a forensic science technique that examines bloodstains at a crime scene to recreate events. It's used to reconstruct crimes like homicides, types of batteries, burglaries, and hit-and-run accidents.
BPA uses principles of biology, physics and math to help investigators solve crimes. In a forensic science class, students learn how to interpret bloodstain patterns to answer questions about a crime. They also learn how blood behaves when it leaves the body, including how it follows gravity and surface tension. Additionally, students learn how to categorize bloodstains into types like gunshot spatter, cast-off, and arterial spray.
• BPA helps investigators determine the nature of the force used in the attack.
• It helps determine the type of injuries sustained by the victim.
• It helps determine how long ago the crime occurred.
• It helps determine whether the victim died immediately or after some time.
• It helps determine the position of the victim and the perpetrator.
The varsity girls and boys indoor Track & Field programs opened their postseason schedule with the Section IX Class A Championships, hosted by the United States Military Academy at West Point this past Saturday. The Minisink Valley squads each competed in 18 event areas against the 13 other largest districts in the section, with the boys' placing fifth and the girls' finishing 8th! Well-done to everyone!
The boys amassed a total of 40 points and crowned three individual sectional champions, earning event area victories from:
• Samuel Anderson (600-meters, 1:22.35)
• Robert LaBarbera (300-meter dash, :36.03)
• The 4x400 meter relay team of Anderson, LaBarbera, Jon Mausling and Benjamin Spevak (3:26.50).
Also turning in top-six, point-scoring performances were Tyler Cloidt (second-place, pole vault), LaBarbera (fifth-place, 55-meter dash) and the 4x200 meter relay team of Vaughn Hill, Rogan Lynch, Jordan Mabra and Angel Mendez (sixth-place).
With a total of 24 points, the girls team scored podium finishes from the 4x400 meter relay team of Ferrah Hill, Lyla LaBarbera, Kaleigh Murphy and Zoey Terpak (second-place), the 4x200 meter relay team of Chloe Beck, Kessler Hirsch, Olivia Sierra and Julia Kronimus (third-place), Delila Kronimus (third place, pole vault and fifth place, 55-meter hurdles) and Beck (fifth-place, long jump).
Prior to contesting the Section IX State Qualifier the first weekend in March, the teams will prepare for the peak of the winter season with a pair of invitationals at The Armory Track & Field Center. SEE MORE PHOTOS on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD
Hopefully everyone remembers that Senior amd Varsity Flag Football quarterback Vanessa Tepper was selected by the New York Giants organization as its 2024 "Heart of a Giant" award recipient! As part of her award, the district is receiving a $10,000 grant for its Flag Football Program. And...Vanessa was given a trip and tickets for two to the game! She took her dad, Varsity Flag Football Coach Mike Tepper with her! We know they had the best time at the game and represented Minisink Valley with distinction!
Congratulations and best wishes to the senior members of the Girls Varsity Wrestling Team: Patricia Deslandes, Giavanna Gangi, Shelby Potter and Vanessa Tepper! They were honored for the many contributions to the team’s success during the team’s Feb. 4 Senior Night!
Vincent Napolitano’s High School Earth Science classes are learning about dew points and relative humidity.
As part of their studies, a recent lab tasked them with determining determine the dewpoint and relative humidity of different locations to understand how different conditions can influence weather variables. They undertook testing in their classroom, at high school’s natatorium and outdoors using pool water, a beakers of water, infrared thermometers and strips of paper.
They held paper at each location for two minutes, and used infrared thermometers to record the dry temperature. The same procedure was repeated after dipping the paper into their water source, waving it for a minute and then recording the wet temperature.
Their findings reinforced that in air which has very few water vapor molecules (dry or arid air), evaporation will greatly exceed condensation and cooling will exceed heating. As the amount of water vapor in the air (humidity) increases, more and more condensation occurs and the net energy loss decreases until at saturation, there is no net cooling.
Understanding dew points and relative humidity in Earth Science class is crucial because they are key indicators of the amount of moisture in the air, directly impacting weather patterns like cloud formation, precipitation, fog, and even our perceived comfort levels, making them essential tools for interpreting and predicting weather conditions. These factors help us understand how much water vapor is present in the atmosphere and when it might condense into liquid form, like dew or rain.
The High School Science Speakers Series continued on Feb. 3, where speakers who excelled in science, graduated college, and transitioned to the workforce come in and speak to students who are enrolled in the college level science classes.
Thank you to Nathaniel Garcia, manager of the Pfizer School of Science in New York City, for visiting the high school today! Mr. Garcia is a scientist and educator with Pfizer, and developed Luminex-based antibody quantification immunoassays in support of SARS-CoV-2, RSV, Pneumococcal, and other vaccine programs. He’s a holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Manhattan University.
More speakers are planned for this Science Speakers Series. Please join us in thanking Mr. Garcia for taking the time to meet with students and show and talk to them about the wonderful possibilities that can become a reality with hard work and determination.
Congratulations and best wishes to the senior members of the Boys Varsity Swimming and Diving team, who were honored for their contributions to the team during the team’s Jan. 30 Senior Night:
• Anthony Cucuzza
• Drew Jashembowski
• Christopher Rickard
• Lukas Struble
And....they're off!
Thank you to everyone who took part in tonight's CLAP OUT to wish our Section IX Boys Varsity Dual Meet champions good luck, best wishes and much success at Saturday's NYSPHSAA Dual Meet Championship meet!
You got this, gentlemen! We're rooting for you!
The Girls Varsity Wrestling Team competed fiercely at the recent, inaugural New York Girls State Dual Wrestling Championship, earning third place! They continue to be a powerhouse! Well-done to all!
It’s always great when former students come to visit! That was the case when High School Sophomore Elijah Zittel visited Otisville Elementary and read to Cynthia Muccari’s and Tasha Buchler’s second and third-graders, as part of the class’s recent National Compliment Day activities. Elijah read Kevin Henkes’ “Chrysanthemum,” the story of a little mouse who is teased because of her long name. With the help of a music teacher who also has a long name, Chrysanthemum learns that her name is special and she should be proud of it. It's a wonderful book about self-esteem and acceptance. Afterward, students shared compliments about each other in a scoot writing activity. They also learned more about Elijah and the high school! WELL-DONE, Elijah!
Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Freestyle Wrestling Team, which delivered a standout performance at the recent "Dame of Thrones" Tournament, showcasing their skills and determination. The team won first place with a total of 317 team points!
Individual Achievements
●Patricia Deslandes was the star of the day, earning first place in the A Bracket. Her powerful wrestling and tactical skill on the mat were unmatched, as she dominated her opponents to secure the top spot in her division.
●Jaida Macaluso wrestled her way to a strong third place finish in the A Bracket. Her tenacity and resilience were evident throughout the tournament, as she fought hard in each match and earned a well-deserved spot on the podium.
●Sara Pauls won second place in the A Bracket. Her determination to wrestle through tough competition paid off, and she showcased a blend of technical skill and grit. opponents.
●Kiera Filip also earned third place in the A Bracket. Her ability to keep her composure under pressure and execute her techniques effectively led her to a spot among the tournament's top wrestlers.
Varsity Coaches Dan Gallo and Travis Edwards said these collective achievements are solidifying the team's reputation as one of the top regional wrestling teams!
High School families: Reminder:
The deadline to pre-order the High School Yearbook is Saturday, Jan. 25. Don't miss out!
Support the Class of 2025 and stop by Chipotle on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. 25% of all proceeds will be donated to the Minisink Valley Senior Class!
Kudos to the Girls Varsity Wrestling Team, which won the team trophy at the Jan. 20 Frank Giampaolo Tournament on Long Island!
In addition to the team trophy, there were also six individual highlights:
•Zoe Ford, 94 lb. weight class finalist
•Keira Filip, 114 lb. weight class champion ho also was also named“Most Outstanding Wrestler”
•Madyson Thorpe, 120 lb. weight class finalist
•Avery Wingen, 126 lb. weight class champion
•Jaida Macaluso, 145 lb. weight class champion
•Patricia Deslandes, 235 lb. weight class champion
“Looking to face new competition, our team proved once again that all the hard work they have been putting in is paying off,” said Varsity Head Coach Dan Gallo. “On top of our six finalists, the team had place winners in nearly every weight and won the team trophy for first place.”
This team tournament win follows other team and individual successes at the Eastern States Tournament! The team travels to Albany this weekend for the NYSPHSAA Dual Meet championship. Minisink is in the “Red Pool” and opens with matches against Phoenix and Rocky Point. Good luck to all!
Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Indoor Track team, which won the OCIAA Division II title this past Saturday at West Point!
“The boys track team put in a lot of hard work leading up to the division championships,” said Varsity Coach James Beck. “They stepped out of their comfort zones, competing in events they don't typically participate in, and chasing every possible point. Their efforts paid off as they brought home the win.”
Athletic Director Tim Bult added: “We’re so proud of our track program, as both the boys and girls teams have been building each season to become a perennial powerhouse across the OCIAA, Section IX and beyond.”
CONGRATULATIONS AND KUDOS to the High School's December "Students of the Month": Faith Carpena, Charlotte Curabba, Audrey Defazio, Shyanne Dennison, Allison Gerson, Jermorie Gibson, Audrey Guido, Colin Hansen, Curt Hedberg, Melanie Jans, Brianna Lopez, Jordan Mabra, Meadow Monaco, Dan Oenga, Yuvia Portugal, Areli Sanchez, Luke Sande, Abigail Schulz, Isabella Soto, Malachi Stephenson, Mickian Swift, Christopher Tulp, Jolene Vargas and Michael Zechewytz!
Cayla Tangney’s High School Sculpting class students are in the midst of some creative clay sculpture work! Perhaps some of these are future gifts in-the making!
Clay sculpture work fosters creativity, develops fine motor skills, encourages problem-solving, allows for self-expression, and provides a tactile learning experience that can even engage students who might not connect with traditional art mediums. Plus, students have a understanding of form and design through the manipulation of 3D objects.
Reminder! Minisink Valley has partnered with Paper, an online tutoring service, to provide students in Grades 6 through 12 with the ability to access live tutors seven days a week, 24 hours a day. High School students and family members have unlimited access to trained tutors so every student can ask questions, work through problems and grow their confidence at no cost to families. Learn more: https://www.minisink.com/page/paper-online-tutoring-for-grades-6-12
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit Neptune, Mars or the Moon?
With imaginations and Internet-based resources, Vincent Napolitano’s High School Earth Science students recently produced advertising campaigns and acted as solar system tour guides to entice their peers --- aka “space tourists” ---- to want to visit these paired planetary places:
• Mercury and Venus: The “Hot, Hot, Hot! Interior Planets”
• Moon and Mars: “Marvelous Missions Unraveling Mysteries”
• Jupiter and Saturn: The “Gorgeous Gas Giants”
• Uranus & Neptune – “Paradise Planets Beyond our Vision”
• Pluto and Dwarf planets: “Wonders at the edge of the Solar System”
• Asteroids and Comets: “Good Things in Small Packages”
• Exoplanets Beyond our Solar System: “Newly Discovered Worlds”
• Moons of Other Planets: “Wonderful Worlds around other Planets”
Their “campaigns” were creative and filled with scientific facts and figures! We’re not certain how many tours were booked, but students learned a lot and had some fun!
Studying the solar system in Earth Science provides students with the context for understanding Earth's complex systems and phenomena, including its unique characteristics, forces that shape it and conditions that allow life to exist.
Kimberly Jordan’s High School Biology students could be the next contestants on the BBC’s “The Great British Baking Show!”
In championship baking style, students recently had two periods and whatever edible baking products they wished to use to create an animal or plant cell "cake"---either solo or with a group of peers.
They are all “Star Bakers” in how they handled Mrs. Jordan's “Showstoppers Challenge!” Take a look!
Studying animal and plant cells in biology is crucial because these cells are the fundamental building blocks of all living organisms. They allow students to understand the basic processes of life, such as growth, reproduction, metabolism, and response to stimuli, which are essential for comprehending the complexities of multicellular organisms and developing solutions to biological challenges in medicine, agriculture and environmental science.
Look for more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD
