Monday, January 25th, 2021—Does it get any better than welcoming back the Hybrid Learning Atoms and new SMARTBoards in the classroom? We think not! The Syracuse Academy of Science elementary school students had an incredible welcome back gift awaiting them in the classroom, SMARTBoards. To say the students were excited is an understatement. But we can say, there were more volunteers than usual to answer and solve math problems at the board. I think the Atoms were eager to try out their new gift. Please note the markers were sanitized and changed between each student’s use.

Tuesday, January 19th, 2021—Syracuse Academy of Science is excited to share its very own elementary school Atom, Amelia has won the 2021 Virtual Geography Bee. On Tuesday, January 19^th, students Amelia and Chakiir both competed in this year’s competition. Participants were asked a series of questions that would progressively get more challenging each round. Students flexed their geography muscles and knowledge and their hard work certainly showed off. Congratulations, Amelia on winning the 2021 Geography Bee!

Friday, January 8th, 2021- Drop the mic, it’s time for our next Syracuse Academy of Science high school Senior Spotlight. We had the chance to interview the one, the only Aliyah Elliott-Felder, who shared with us her favorite memory at Syracuse Academy of Science, advice she would pass along to future Atoms, if she could have dinner with one person dead or alive who it would be, and so much more. Check out our interview below with Aliyah Elliott-Felder.

Interview with Aliyah Elliott-Felder

• What is one major accomplishment you had in your senior year of high school? To complete my work on time.
• What are your goals for after high school? Pass every class. Complete my work on time. Study hard and graduate on time.
• Name one person that inspires you? My parents and all my teachers.
• What advice would you give to the next senior class? You may be who you are now but it's not too late to change.
• Where do you see yourself in five years? In college or going to classes for hair, makeup, and nails. 
• If you could have dinner with any person living or dead who would they be and why? I would have dinner with my uncle and grandmother because I have lost the two most important people in my life. I have learned so much from them and I would talk about all the stuff I've done for them, and I knew I would make them proud. 
• Name three traits that describe you? Outgoing, Hard working and Joyful.
• What is your favorite hobby? Doing makeup and dancing.
• What is a hidden talent that no one or only a few people know about you? Everyone knows I love to sing and that's the only talent I have 
• What is your favorite memory of SAS? Getting to know my favorite teachers and making great friends that help me throughout my years.

Friday, January 15th, 2021—It's time to shine that spotlight again on another one of our esteemed science teachers. Let us please give a warm welcome to Mr. Altindis who is the Physics, Engineering and Astronomy teacher at Syracuse Academy of Science high school. We had the opportunity to interview Mr. Altindis and asked him a few questions such as: his greatest accomplishment, advice he would pass along to the Atoms, favorite book to read and so much more. Check out our interview below!

Interview with Mr. Altindis

• What three traits define you? Honest, just, and patient.
• What is your greatest accomplishment? Marrying my wife.
• Best book you have ever read? Semerkand by Amin Maulof
• What is one thing you cannot resist?(food/dessert/candy/etc.) Doner Kebap
• If you could have dinner with one person living or dead who would they be and why? Mohamed Ali, he is a cool dude.
• What advice would you give to kids who are struggling at school? Work hard and ask for help.
• Tell us, what is something that might surprise us about you? Not much of a surprising guy.

Monday, January 11th, 2021—In the fall of 2020, Syracuse Academy of Science high school welcomed virtual guest speaker Adrian Sims who spoke with the band students about his piece titled Champions Rising. This piece is one that resonated well with the students as it invites the listener to take a journey of overcoming obstacles, struggles and ultimately a triumph.

Over the past few months, the band students have been working hard and practicing over Zoom the piece Champions Rising, composed by Adrian Sims. We are excited to share that they recorded their performance for you to listen and watch. 

Monday, December 14th, 2020—There may be a lesson or two in this Virtual Story Time with News Channel 9’s Dan Cummings. Today, Dan read some of his favorite Aesop’s Fables to the 2nd grade Atoms. Before we settle in for this story time, let’s take a look at the history behind these well known short stories or fables.

Aesop’s Fables are a collection of short stories that were designed to teach moral lessons. These fables are credited to a Greek story-teller named Aesop who may have lived around or between 620 and 560 BCE. These fables are well known and have been translated into a variety of languages. Some of the fables are popular in many cultures and have been made into animated cartoon versions and are inspiration to some architecture. 

Thank you Dan for taking the time to share these historic fables with the Atoms. To listen to this Virtual Story Time of Aesop’s Fables, please click here.

Monday, December 21st, 2020—Charismatic. Friendly. Talkative. With a passion for singing and a hidden talent of doing a Cher impression, this can only mean one Syracuse Academy of Science high school Senior Atom, Jacob Toledo! Check out our interview with Jacob and find out what are his goals after graduation, his advice to pass on to future Atoms and so much more. Without further ado, let us shine a spotlight for the month of January on Jacob Toledo.

Interview with Jacob Toledo

• What is one major accomplishment you had in your senior  year of high school? Independently applying for college.
• What are your goals for after high school? My goals are to graduate from college, so I can be the first generation to graduate from college.
• Name one person that inspires you? AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)
• What advice would you give to the next senior class? Some advice I have for the next senior class is to do your FAFSA right away, ASAP! It is a race & you want to be the first to catch the bag.
• Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself either writing for a magazine or a blog while living in NYC.
• If you could have dinner with any person living or dead who would they be and why? I would have to choose Malcolm X to have dinner with because I want to get his opinion on the direction. The BLM movement is going & he was an intellectual person so I'd love to just converse with him.
• Name three traits that describe you? Charismatic, Friendly & Talkative
• What is your favorite hobby? Singing
• What is a hidden talent that no one or only a few people know about you? A hidden talent that not many people know about is that I can do a mean Cher impression
• What is your favorite memory of SAS? My favorite memory has to be hands down when all the languages would go down to NYC. It was my favorite part of the year & every time we went I felt so alive.

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020—Do you ever catch yourself wondering or imagining what life may be like in a different town or city (or planet)? Maybe it’s a place where you can make all the decisions? If you have ever caught yourself dreaming or imagining this place you are certainly not alone.

The 6^th and 7^th grade Project Based Learning (PBL) classes teamed up to complete a project together where they were tasked to create a society. They had to determine not only what this place would look like, but the rules, the government, the behaviors, the societal norms and so much more. Once their town was complete they were put into a 'mock world' where they were given the following scenario.

Society 1 has experienced a drought this year and has had massive wildfires throughout their society. They have relied heavily on Society 3 and Society 5 to help feed their people. Two days ago Society 2 invaded Society 3 and cut off the trade route that Society 1 has been using and is now occupying that land and has claimed it as their own. The groups then had to form alliances, work together or stay neutral to decide how to help Society 1. What would you do?

Needless to say, groups formed an alliance to work together to try and help the other societies but inevitably a war was declared and Societies 1, 2, and 3 were victorious over Societies 4, 5 and 6. Societies 7 and 8 stayed neutral.

Monday, December 21st, 2020—We are all passionate about various events, current or in our history. The Syracuse Academy of Science 7^th grade Atoms of Mrs. Mathis' class are about to learn how propaganda and the media can be a means of persuasion, and how it was influential in historical events such as the Chinese Culture Revolution. The Atoms will be preparing to learn about this revolution in history through the eyes of a 12 year old named Ji-Li Jang.

To get ready for their upcoming lesson about the Chinese Culture Revolution, the students were tasked with creating propaganda artwork of events or issues they are passionate about. Please head to our Facebook page to view more works of art from the 7^th grade students of Mrs. Mathis' class.

Friday, December 18th, 2020–Syracuse Academy of Science elementary Atoms learn a new computing language and skill that allowed them to crack a very impressive code. That language is one none other than Binary Code! Our Binary Buddies used the numbers 2, 1 and 0 to convert their names into Binary Code for this fun STEM and computing activity. The first grade Atoms remembered to ‘save often’ when writing their code by creating their very own necklaces. The beads on the necklace correspond to the numbers in the Binary Code and the alphabet. Keep up the great work, Atoms!