Lynn English High School science students received the top position at the North Shore Science League Meet earlier this month.
The students came in first place for two events and second place in the third. This achievement is something Jeffrey Bigler, the LEHS Science teacher and coach, has seen only once since coaching in 2010.
“The LEHS Science Team always has a few dedicated students, but this year, there is a level of widespread excitement and commitment across the entire team that I haven’t seen before in my 13 years at LEHS,” said Bigler in the press release. “Needless to say, I am beyond proud of them!”
Bigler mentioned that it was a team effort to achieve its success, with a few other notable teachers to thank for such contributions. Amanda Anderson, the AP honors chemistry teacher, prepared students for the chemistry event and Derick Laverdiere, the AP biology and biotech teacher, prepared for the biotech event as well. Bigler lastly prepared the students for the invention event while keeping the excitement high that day, which he made sure was at the center of what all the students felt.
“The kids were excited about the subject, about the events, and the teachers were just as excited to help,” said Bigler.
The meet was initially supposed to be in February but had been canceled due to a potential snowstorm. This timing, Bigler said, worked out for the students.
“This gave us additional time to prepare, and it gave the kids more time to get excited about it,” said Bigler. “The students were ready and really threw themselves into it.”
All three events ended up being hands-on, which got the students even more eager.
The challenges and events Bigler described seemed no easy task either. The chemistry involved being able to accurately produce and collect 50 milliliters of gas produced by dissolving an Alka-Seltzer tablet in water. The biotech dealt with students needing to efficiently perform several actions that might be required in a bio lab. The final event was the invention section, which was about building an apparatus to deflect a bowling ball from its path as it rolled along the floor.
What mattered most to Bigler, though, was that the students were enjoying what they were doing, and if they did well, then that was even better.
The team members found out part of the good news on their bus ride home from the event and that they’d taken first already in two of the three events.
It was the next day that they found out that they came in second in the third event, meaning they’d grasped a top position.
“I could hear cheers of students from down the halls celebrating when finding out the final scores,” recalled Bigler. “I was just so thrilled for them.”
Lynn Public Schools said that this honor was a testament to the students and teachers talents here and that they’ll continue to support and provide resources and opportunities such as this to help students aim and aspire to achieve future scientific endeavors.
