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Berkshire School Spanish course students were invited to participate in two sessions to learn the history of Flamenco and to learn a Flamenco dance. In the first two-hour session the students were taught the history of Flamenco and some of the key terms that are part of the experience. Then, students worked very hard with the instructors to learn the introduction, entrance, chorus, and closing to one dance. Students were then able to practice on their own until the second dance session two days later. On the second day, a professional Flamenco guitarist joined the group and taught them about the music and the guitarist’s job. In this session, the students then continued to practice the dance to the live guitarist’s music. At the end, the students broke into smaller performing groups and performed for each other. The event was full of rhythm in movement and sound and was enjoyed by participants and viewers.

As part of the Berkshire Local School’s commitment to providing students opportunities to explore and plan their respective career pathways, 9^th and 10th-grade students participated in career exposure-related field trips on Tuesday, February 28^th. Students traveled by bus to visit two of several local companies facilitated by the Geauga Growth Partnership (GGP). The list of participating companies included Arborwear; Geauga Mechanical; University Hospitals; Best Sand; Ohman Family Living, and Great Lakes Growers. Participating students enjoyed the first-hand career exploration experience and the opportunity to meet with and talk with professionals in their respective fields. A special thank you to the Geauga Growth Partnership for their support in making this impactful career planning experience possible.

The weather may be windy and chilly outside, but summer will soon be here! Geauga County Jobs and Family Services is now accepting applications for its 2023 Summer Camp and Enrichment Program. This program provides assistance to parents with the fee for their child to attend camp, or another enrichment activity and is funded solely through donations. Low-income families with children are eligible to apply (verification will be required) and can learn more by contacting Sara Shininger at 440-285-9141, ext. 1263. Families can also learn more by viewing the following flyer.

Berkshire High School students in Anatomy and Physiology recently completed a simulated blood typing activity. Students used fake blood to determine the blood type of our accident victim, John Phranks, and compared it to 4 individuals who were "blood donors" at the American Red Cross. The students determined that our victim needed a transfusion and identified the two possible donors that exhibited blood compatibility. Blood typing is completed by observing the agglutination or non-agglutination of the known antiserum with the unknown blood sample. Participating students did an excellent job completing the simulated lab test which is used to save countless lives each day.

Students in all levels of Berkshire Biology courses studied photosynthesis in plant cells by observing leaf tissue disks. Photosynthesis is the process of plants making their own food and creating oxygen gas as a byproduct. During the experiment, the disks are placed in a sodium bicarbonate solution which produces the carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis to occur. The air is removed from the disks by creating a vacuum using a syringe. The disks sink to the bottom of the solution and over time, with a light source, create oxygen bubbles which allow the disks to rise to the surface according to the photosynthesis chemical equation:

 Sunlight + Carbon Dioxide + Water produce Sugars + Oxygen gas

Mr. Keller's AP Biology students had to create and conduct experimental procedures using different variables to test the rate of photosynthesis. Variables include but are not limited to the effects of different plant types, temperatures, and other solutions. The leaf disk experiment is not only an engaging exploration of the process that makes life on Earth possible but has also gained popularity on social media. Stay tuned for more examples of classroom learning in the Berkshire Local Schools!