Long Beach Middle School sixth grade students gathered in the school’s auditorium on May 20 to participate in a once in a lifetime opportunity, a live NASA Downlink event.

A NASA Downlink is a unique educational program where astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) connect with students on Earth. As part of this event, astronauts answered pre-recorded questions from the Long Beach sixth grade students live from space. It was an unforgettable moment, as the voices of our young learners echoed across the cosmos, sparking curiosity and inspiration for all in attendance.

"The success of this event is a testament to the incredible dedication and teamwork of our students and teachers, who spend a lot of time preparing and filming their questions,” said Long Beach Director of Science PK-12 Cristie Tursi. “Their excitement, commitment, and passion for science and space exploration were truly on display.”

Special thanks to Long Beach science educators Julie Brodsky, Liz Chimienti, Regina Dean, Caroline Espinet, Natasha Nurse, Rich Pellegrini and Patty Van Loon whose tireless efforts helped guide this initiative from concept to reality. Additionally with appreciation and much gratitude to the LBMS Administration, Faculty, and Staff, whose support was vital in making this project possible.

Click here to view the LBMS Students Connect with Astronauts in Space slideshow.

Click Below to See Full Video of the Event…
 

Date Added: 5/21/2025

Long Beach Middle School is thrilled to announce that sixth-grade students Edward Grossman, Sullivan Limmer, Cole O’Connor, and Sam O’Donoghue have been named Regional Champions in the prestigious Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition for their outstanding project, Visionary.

The team was honored during a celebratory assembly that was held at the school on April 10 where representatives from Toshiba Business Solutions, Major Account Sales Manager Melissa-Ann MacDonald and Major Account Executive Tom Ryan, joined students, families, teachers, and administrators to present awards and offer congratulations.

The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition invites students across the United States and Canada to envision future technologies that could improve the world. Out of thousands of entries, only 24 teams are selected as regional winners, and the Long Beach sixth graders earned a coveted spot among them.

Their innovative proposal, Enhancing Vision with Artificial Intelligence, was recognized for its exceptional creativity, scientific insight, and teamwork. During the assembly, the student team presented their project video to their peers, families, and school leadership. “This is a tremendous achievement for our students and our school,” said Walter Kramme, Long Beach teacher and project advisor to the team. “Their hard work, imagination, and collaboration truly helped get them to this stage of the competition.”

The students will now advance to the national round of the competition, where they’ll compete for the title of National Champion. The entire school community wishes them the best of luck as they continue their exciting STEM journey.

Congratulations to Edward, Sullivan, Cole, and Sam and thanks to Mr. Kramme for his dedication and guidance.

Date Added: 4/23/2025

Long Beach Public Schools is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Mission Patch Design Contest, held in conjunction with the district’s participation in the prestigious Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). Congratulations go to Zoey Pinto, a 6th grader at Long Beach Middle School, and Murphy Moser, a 5th grader at Lido Elementary School, whose designs have been selected as the official mission patches for this year's spaceflight project.

Their outstanding designs were unveiled and celebrated during the recent Sixth Grade Science Symposium Program, where they received special recognition for their creativity, artistic vision, and contribution to the district’s spaceflight initiative.

As part of the SSEP, Zoey and Murphy’s mission patches will be launched aboard a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), accompanying the 6th-grade science experiment selected to be conducted in microgravity.

The Mission Patch Contest is a tradition that honors the history of NASA spaceflight and gives students a chance to represent their school district’s presence in space. Each patch reflects the spirit of exploration, innovation, and scientific discovery.

Once again, congratulations to Zoey and Murphy for this incredible achievement. We can’t wait to see their patches soar into orbit.

Date Added: 4/23/2025

Students at Long Beach Middle School took center stage recently with two performances of this year’s school play, Superheroes: With Great Powers Comes Ordinary Responsibility.

The comedic, heartfelt play tells the story of a group of young superheroes navigating the challenges of growing up not through epic battles, but by managing school stress, friendships, chores, and homework. As their powers emerge, they quickly learn that being super isn’t always about saving the world, sometimes, it’s about remembering to take out the trash, turn in assignments on time, and be there for the people who matter most.

Long Beach English and Theatre Arts Teacher and Theatre Arts Director Leslie Kohn said, “Our students displayed remarkable talent and professionalism, and I couldn’t be prouder of their hard work, growth and dedication.” “Their comedic timing and stage presence brought each scene to life, keeping the audience engaged and captivated.” She continued, “Throughout the production, they cultivated essential skills such as blocking, voice projection, and enunciation.”

Click here to view the Long Beach Middle School Performed “Superheroes: With Great Powers Comes Ordinary Responsibility” slideshow.

Date Added: 4/23/2025

Long Beach Middle School hosted the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Finals early in March, with 16 teams from New York City and Long Island competing in three divisions. Odyssey of the Mind is a global program that promotes creative problem-solving among students of all ages. Through a mix of design, engineering and performance, participants tackle open-ended challenges, enhancing their teamwork, creativity and critical thinking skills.

Long Beach Elementary School had three teams competing in Division I, and each one claimed first place in their respective categories. The Problem 2 team built a walking, glowing robot capable of picking up objects, and they wrote a skit in which the robot aspired to grow like its mermaid counterparts. With the help of a retired octopus trainer, the robot achieved its goal. The performance featured live music, including a standout rendition of “Let It Glow,” sung by one of the team members. The team, consisting of Sadie Bergstein, Anna Chapman, Maddie Eckert, James Emery, Lexi Fink, Rowan McLaughlin, Garner Senken and Laina Sisko, was thrilled by their win.

The Problem 3 team, led by Max Sendik and consisting of Arwyn Donofrio, Eva Gonzalez, Maebry Kotula, Nila Pennant, Dylan Pinto, Summer Schaffer and Dylan Watts, created a gourmet dinner party inspired by classic literature, particularly “Through the Looking Glass.” Their performance brought characters like Alice in Wonderland, Fungi Phil, G.N.A.T. and the Mad Hatter to life. After winning first place, they are now preparing for the state finals.

The third team, competing in Problem 5, created a civilization based on legends from history, featuring famous figures like George Washington, Princess Diana and Albert Einstein. They brought creativity back to the world through constellations, wowing the judges with their skit. The teams, coached by Andie Techera and Douglas MacConnell, are now working hard to prepare for the state finals, which will be held on April 5 in Syracuse, New York.

Click here to view the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Finals slideshow.

Date Added: 4/3/2025