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Mount Vernon STEAM Academy students begin crime scene project in Principles of Biomedical Science

Students kneeling to look at dead body.
Mount Vernon STEAM Academy students begin crime scene project in Principles of Biomedical Science

Students in Principles of Biomedical Science at Mount Vernon STEAM Academy are embarking on a semester-long project where they are examining the scene of a fictional death to learn about different biomedical concepts. This course, taught by T.J. Pufahl, is a Project Lead the Way course, which are specially designed STEM classes with hands-on, real-world learning experiences.

The project starts with a fictional character found dead in a science lab. Students begin examining the crime scenes and find out medically how she died. As they learn about different medical principles, they utilize those to develop theories about the crime scene. Some of the concepts they will learn about are hair follicles, fingerprints and testing DNA.

“It’s their job as forensic scientists to biomedically figure out how she died,” said Mr. Pufahl. “So, we analyze blood spatter evidence; we learn about blood typing, fingerprints, DNA evidence, hair samples — amongst a number of other various pieces of evidence. We learn about those things in depth using high-tech, college-level equipment. Then we apply that to the crime scene and try to figure out medically how she died. She dies differently in every single course, every single year.”

The crime scene was showcased at STEAM’s meet-and-greet night on Thursday, September 27, 2024.

Teacher around lab equipment pointing out things.
Students standing around lab equipment and taking notes.
Students kneeling and viewing dead body.


 

Student posing with mother and showing off several awards.
Scholars celebrated for academic and extracurricular merit at the STEAM Senior Awards Convocation

Families of senior scholars assembled in the auditorium of the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy on Thursday evening to celebrate their students' accomplishments and feats from the school year. During the Senior Awards Convocation, over 85 students received awards and scholarships for their outstanding commitment to academics, extracurricular activities, and community service.

View the full gallery here!

Students doing aromatherapy.
STEAM Academy wraps up Mental Health Awareness Week with the Zenbrary

To wrap up Mental Health Awareness Week, Mount Vernon STEAM Academy invited students to partake in mental wellness activities in the “Zenbrary.” For the Zenbrary, the library was lined with stations for arts and crafts and mental health and wellness exercises such as aromatherapy.

Two students posing with flower pots
STEAM kicks off Mental Health Awareness Week with therapeutic clay work and flower planting

During the week of Tuesday, May 27 to Friday, May 30, the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy is hosting a Student Mental Health Spirit Week, offering students the opportunity to decompress from schoolwork by participating in fun activities and dressing up. This week, students will create clay spring gardens, plant zinnias and marigolds, and participate in mindful yoga, culminating in a Zenbrary event on Friday.

Two students showing off certificates with the mayor.
STEAM Mock Trial Team recognized for going the distance in NYS Mock Trial Tournament

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy Mock Trial Team received certificates from the City of Mount Vernon and the Commitee on Law, Youth and Citizenship from the New York Bar Association, presented by Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. These certificates recognized the team for their success in going four rounds into the New York State High School Mock Trial tournament, which is held by the Westchester Bar Association and the New York Bar Association.

Two students looking at teacher instructing.
Ninth graders at STEAM write and read children's books for kindergarteners at NMHZ

Ninth graders at the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy presented short stories that they wrote in class to kindergarteners at Nelson Mandela/Dr. Hosea Zollicoffer School. This project-based learning assignment is titled “Little Readers, Big Authors” and is a part of a trilogy of events that allowed STEAM students the opportunity to interview younger students, learn about their likes and interests, and write children’s books tailored to what they’ve learned.