Day 91 - #DeflateGate Tested at BHS - Dr. Johnson - BHS Science Department

This post originally appeared on BHS Principal Mark Sullivan's Blog

Dr. Johnson and his Physics classes wanted to test the science behind deflate-gate, check out the findings below:

It all started with a couple footballs and pressure gauges that I bought at the Sports Authority.  

My students and I tested Bill Belichick’s claim that the balls could have been “worked up” to read a certain PSI before the game and then another PSI after reaching equilibrium with the playing conditions.  

This gave me a chance to practice ideal gas law problems:

The key would be to get the ball hot before taking the initial pressure reading.  The easiest way to do this was with incandescent lamps.

But Bill said that his team did not put the footballs in an oven.  Could the same increase in temperature be achieved by friction.  To find out, I had my students use electric sanders on the balls.  The sanders had scouring pads instead of sandpaper.  No damage was done to the leather.  

After working on the footballs for about 5 (noisy) minutes.  I took initial pressure readings.  Then I put the footballs outside (it was about 20F that day) for 15 minutes.  For the last step, I took the balls back inside and remeasured the pressure.  

Results:  After several trials (with different classes) the heated footballs dropped an average of 2.5 PSI between readings and the rubbed footballs dropped an average of 1.5 PSI.

Conclusion:  Bill Belichick may have been telling the truth.

Day 78 - BHS Students Published in the Marble Collection - Mark Sullivan - BHS Principal

This post originally appeared on Principal Sullivan's Blog

Thanks to BPS Art Coordinator George Ratkevich and BHS English Department Head Ben Lally for the information below:

The 2015 edition of The Marble Collection has just come out, and we’re excited to report that three BHS writers, in addition to over a half-dozen BHS artists, have had their original work printed in the magazine. This edition marks the highest number of BHS students to appear in any edition of the magazine. There is a copy of the 2015 edition of the Marble Collection, Massachusetts High School Magazine of the Arts, in the high school library, one in the English Department and one in the Art Department office. GDT Northeast, a local technology firm, has generously sponsored a one-year subscription for the school library, the art department, and the English department.

Nineteen of the fifty-nine pieces in the winter edition of the Marble Collection are by Burlington students. Burlington students who have either writing or artwork published in the issue include:

Ryan Johnson (art) (2)

Julia Feist (art) (4)

Olivia Sheldon (art)

Amanda Gregorio (art)

Keri Cucinotta (art) (2)

Samantha Poulin (art)

Leanne Worob (art)

Kavya Sebastian (fiction)

Mackenzie Ellis (art)

Bolla Fokum (art)

Ariana Orne (poetry)(2)

Evan Holman (art)

MIchaela Catherine LaPrise (poetry)

The Marble Collection (TMC) is a nonprofit organization that publishes the only statewide print and online magazine of the arts featuring jury-selected artwork and writing by students in grades 8 to 12. They also offer innovative e-Mentoring workshops that partner teen writers and artists with college-level mentors who help them refine their voices and guide their work to publication.

Older issues of the magazine, which also include the work of Burlington students, are available for free online viewing at http://themarblecollection.org.

Congratulations to all of the BHS students who got in and all the teachers who supported them in their efforts!

Day 17 - Ed Gerety Returns to Speak to BHS Students - Mark Sullivan, BHS Principal

This post first appeared on Mr. Sullivan's Blog 

Burlington High School students were fortunate to listen to Mr. Ed Gerety today.  Mr. Gerety is a motivational speaker and leadership trainer who delivered a talk focused on key principles and skills that are essential to developing students.  Ed's message was geared to enhance our already positive school climate and remind our students how important the following traits are:  Respect, Responsibility, good decision-making, goal setting, attitude, gratitude, and being kind. 

Mr. Gerety's visit is in conjunction with BHS's Be Smart Program.  Throughout the year, BHS sponsors programs and activities that educate and promote many of Ed's messages:

• The power of respect and responsibility
• The impact and consequences of our choices and decisions
• The issues of bullying, peer pressure, and drugs/alcohol
• Appreciation for our abilities and the people in our life
• The courage to believe in oneself
• The power we have to reach out and make a difference

Mr. Gerety captured students' attention through his high energy and interactive approach. His humor, passion, and personal experiences helped drive his message home with our students - stand up for your greatness, be grateful for what you have, be responsible, be kind, and always stay passionate and positive.

Mr. Gerety, without a doubt left an impression on our students.  You can see what students posted on twitter following his visit (below):

"AMAZING Time today listening to @EdGerety. building strong ideas and bringing people higher. That's what life is all about. #BeThankful" 

"That was truly amazing. @EdGerety you are truly an amazing and inspirational man. I now realize how thankful I am for everything. God bless" 

"I made a Twitter just to thank @EdGerety for inspiring me today #bhschat #digcit"

"God bless you Ed Gerety, most inspirational speech I've heard thank you. @EdGerety #bhschat #digcit" 

"Just had the most inspirational assembly ever #bhschat #digcit @EdGerety" 

"Thanks @EdGerety for the making my day with your amazing perspective on being positive! #bhschat" 

"New chapter of life starts now." -@EdGerety couldn't be more true #bhschat 

"Today has been and inspiring day thanks to @EdGerety #bhschat #Bhsdigcit" 

"Wow @EdGerety inspirational man and great public speaker #ClassOf2018" 

"Feeling inspired by @EdGerety #bhschat #digcit"

To conclude his presentation, Mr. Gerety had the whole class of 2018 'work together' to 'make rain', you can see a short clip below from last year (the audio didn't work on this year's)! 

Day 144 - Mock Crash at BHS Sends Important Message to Students - Mark Sullivan, BHS Principal

Thanks to the organizational efforts of BHS Associate Principal Deb Deacon, Health Teacher Amy Doughy, the Burlington Police Department and Safety Officer Bernie Schipelliti, the Burlington Fire Department and Lieutenant Mark Saia and our partners at Lahey Clinic and Boston MedFlight BHS was able to successfully pull of it's 5th (biannual) mock crash.  Students observed a staged crash to remind them of the importance of making positive and constructive decisions.

With the prom Friday, senior activities a couple weeks away, and the summer season fast approaching our team put this together to remind students that bad decisions can have serious consequences.  Not intended as a 'scare tactic', it's our hope that today's mock crash opened some eyes to the reality of what poor decision making can lead to.

Check out some pictures from the scene below:

Day 134 - BHS Art Department Welcomes Guest Artist Randy Garber - Mark Sullivan, BHS Principal

This post originally appeared on Principal Sullivan's Blog

Thank you to Ms. Chang for organizing and securing a grant from The Burlington Education Foundation to allow for Randy Garber to work with students at BHS. The following information about Randy's residency is from Ms. Chang's Blog:

Local artist and printmaker, Randy Garber will complete a five day artist residency with all of my Design and Drawing and Painting students. During her residency students will learn how to create a wide range of prints using the intaglio press.

The Cambridge Street Gallery is currently displaying seven of Randy's works. She will be at BHS on Friday, April 4, April 11, May 2, May 9 and May 18.

Randy Garber has exhibited prints, paintings and mixed media installations nationally and internationally and is included in numerous public and private collections including The Boston Museum of Fine Arts; the Decordova Museum, Boston Athenaum, the Boston Public Library; the Karp Cancer Research Building, and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in Portland, ME.

She is a 2011 recipient of the Traveling Fellowship from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and has received grants and awards from the Puffin Foundation, the St. Botolph Foundation, the Capelli di Angeli Foundation, Somerville Arts Council and several other sources. She is a published author of articles in Arts Media, the Journal of Communication Arts and Contemporary Impressions, the Journal of the American Print Alliance.

Her most recent solo exhibition, Made in Translation, was at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2010 she had two solo exhibitions, which were reviewed in Art New England among other publications. She has been a guest artist at Princeton University and currently teaches Printmaking at the Massachusetts College of Art.

http://www.randygarber.com/

Thank you to the Burlington Education Foundation for funding this project.

Day 60 - Chris Herren Returns to BHS to Share Amazing Story - Mark Sullivan, BHS Principal

This post originally appeared on the Burlington High Principal's Blog

Chris Herren Speaks to BHS Students

BHS students sit through a number of assemblies over the course of their high school years, but rarely do they make an impact like today's assembly with Chris Herren did. Mr. Herren, a former high school All-American from Fall River who went on to be a star in college and eventually play for the Celtics, shared his struggles with addiction and his road to sobriety in a talk that had students captivated.

Chris Herren with Senior Max Bressi after the assembly

Chris Herren, the focus of an ESPN Special titled Unguarded (check out a clip below), and the author of the book Basketball Junkie, got many positive reviews from students.   He opened the presentation by sharing a short video of his journey through Durfee High School, his college years, his professional career, his battle with addiction  and his road to recovery.   He spent time recounting his high school experience when speakers came into his school to talk about drugs and  alcohol and thinking "come on man, I don't need this." He followed by recounting his unbelievable journey from hoop star to drug addict to today where is closing in on almost 6 years of being sober.

One of the most important messages that Chris shared was to be happy with who you are and the need to "not be somebody different on Fridays and Saturdays". He encouraged students to have the courage to be happy with who you are and not turn to substances to be cool, tough, or fit in.  Chris also focused on how students could help their friends who may be struggling with addiction, self-harm, or other dangerous behaviors by speaking up.  "True friends will knock on doors, I wished someone knocked on my door and said, hey Mr. Herren you better help Chris".  "The code for me growing up was not to rat on each other, but that's Hollywood, true friends step up and intervene, they don't just standby."

Herren also mentioned a project he has started called Project Purple. PP encourages students to stand up against substance abuse and to also preach acceptance for students who do the right thing. He wants to help put an end to environments where students who make good choices and get mocked by classmates. "It's not right that kids run their mouths because some kids are going to do the right thing." 

Thank you to Health teacher Amy Doughty and Associate Principal Deb Deacon for their hard work in bringing Chris Herren to BHS and for also promoting and running our Be Smart Program that consistently hits on the following themes throughout the year:

The power of respect and responsibility
The impact and consequences of our choices and decisions
The issues of bullying, peer pressure, and drugs/alcohol
Appreciation for our abilities and the people in our life
The courage to believe in oneself
The power we have to reach out and make a difference

I am hopeful that the positive energy from today's assembly will further promote positive decision making and broaden our levels of acceptance.