Math & Science
At our school, it's cool to like math and science.
Mathematics
At Black Pine Circle, learning math is both challenging and fun. The elementary and middle school years are essential for building math literacy and proficiency, while maintaining enthusiasm for mathematical thinking. Your child’s math abilities will be understood and nurtured, whatever level they are starting from. Students who excel in math are inspired to grow. Students who need extra support are coached toward deeper understanding.
Math Faculty
Our school has been fortunate to have had an outstanding math faculty since its inception. Your child’s math teacher will be familiar with their learning profile, screen them for challenges, guide them to draw on their strengths, and keep them at their learning edge. Our lower and upper school math specialists also work with classroom teachers to differentiate, plan curriculum, evaluate student progress, and provide additional scaffolding for those who need it.
Carwai Seto
Eighth Grade Math Teacher and Dean of Upper School Curriculum and Instruction
Loves to travel
Why are our students so good at math?
The discipline and attention to detail it takes to learn a musical instrument provide excellent preparation for the practice of building strong math skills. The link between the physical practice of music and strong mathematical abilities has been demonstrated in studies that show that children who play a musical instrument can perform more complex arithmetical operations than those who do not play an instrument. At our school, it’s not uncommon for the star of our volleyball team to excel on the Math Team....and be a wizard on saxophone.
Math Team and Math Clubs
After school, students in 5th-8th grade can join one of our three Math Clubs to pursue their passion for solving high-level math problems. Our Math Teams compete in a number of Bay Area competitions annually, and some of our students participate in the Berkeley Math Circle, as well as other local math organizations. Other students simply looking for a challenge enjoy extra problems in addition to regular math homework assignments.
Math Awards 2025-2026
MAA/AMC 8 School Certificate of Honor 2026
The BPC School Team scored 65 points out of 75 and has been certified as an Honor School Team among the top 5% of over 2,500 middle schools in the USA and abroad. Oscar Holzman-White, a 7th grader, scored 23 out of 25 points. Ji Hoekman, a 7th grader, scored 22 points, and Anika Ohm, an 8th grader, scored 20 points. They were awarded the Honor Roll Certificates.
Mathcounts American Club Program - Gold Level Club Status
The BPC Math Club has achieved Gold Level Status since 2008. In 2026, the club submitted the Art in Math Project.
BPC Mathletes Awarded 1st Place in the East Bay Chapter Mathcounts Competition 2026
The BPC Math Team (Anika Ohm, Oscar Holzman-White, Owen Gettell, and Ji Hoekman) came in 1st place in the Chapter Mathcounts Competition 2026, among nine middle schools in the East Bay Area.
Oscar Holzman-White was ranked number 1 among all competitors, Anika Ohm ranked number 2, Owen Gettell number 4, Ji Hoekman, number 6, and Jay Lee ranked number 10. Jay advanced, along with the team, to the State Mathcounts Competition, which was held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at The Harker School in San Jose. The BPC Team placed #15 out of 40 teams, which was a great achievement.
Our competitors Faaris Muhamed-Bangerter, Teo Metcalf, Lucas He, Rami Mazniker, and Andrew Liu also placed among the top 25% of over 100 participants.
California Math League Contest (CMC) 2026
Our upper school students were strong contenders in all math competitions this year and were highly ranked in the California Math League Contest (CMC) 2026.
Our 7th grade team came in 3rd place in California and 1st in Alameda County out of 42 schools.
Ji Hoekman, Oscar Holzman-White, and Faaris Mohamed-Bangerter ranked #1, Sebastian (Teo) Metcalf ranked #16, and Jay Lee ranked #32 in California out of 210 participants. The 7th grade team has been awarded an engraved plaque.
The 8th graders also had great achievements. The 8th grade math team placed 8th in California and 3rd in Alameda out of 44 schools.
Anika Ohm ranked #1 and Owen Gettell ranked 8th in California and 1st and 2nd respectively in Alameda County out of 220 participants.
The 6th grade team came in 23rd place out of 40 schools.
Congratulations to all our young mathematicians!
Science
Design thinking, computational tinkering, maker education, deep inquiry, and sharing our work with the wider community
Exploring Science Everywhere
We believe science is not about memorizing big words. Instead, we nurture students’ natural curiosity, challenging them to make careful observations, to ask thoughtful questions, and to make connections in their world. Every BPC student participates in hands-on science weekly - facilitated by our lower school science specialist and our upper school science faculty. We prioritize deeper investigation rather than attempting to cover ever more content. From nearby Aquatic Park and Strawberry Creek to our school garden and chicken coop, BPC students learn science everywhere.
Our K–5 Science Program
Our K–5 science program nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the world. Students explore core disciplines—life, earth and space, and physical sciences—through hands-on investigations, collaborative projects, and real-world applications.
Engineering is woven throughout the curriculum, with students applying scientific principles to design and build solutions, from kindergarteners creating hand-pollinators to fifth graders engineering safety helmets after studying the human brain.
Field trips to the California Academy of Sciences and the Tech Museum of Innovation complement classroom learning, while visits from expert guests—including a geologist and a neurosurgeon—offer students a window into scientific careers and inspire them to see themselves as future scientists and engineers.
Six Essential Practices for Science Education
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Using mathematics and computational thinking
- Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)
- Engaging in argument from evidence
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
The Q Lab - A Space for Science & Inquiry
Opened for students in 2016, our Q Lab is like an exclamation point on our experiential and inquiry-based program. On an average day, in the earth and physical sciences classroom upstairs, you might see students measuring the energy generated by windmills or building pneumatic judo-bots.
Downstairs, in the makerspace classroom, 6th graders might be engaged in 3D design or printing, or 8th graders might be building a bench in Workshop. In the evenings, the space might be hosting one of our Family Maker Fridays, where K–8 students and their families gather to enjoy both high-tech and classic maker activities in our makerspace.
Dissecting Owl Pellets (3rd)
As part of their study of ecosystems, 3rd grade students step into the role of ecologists during an exciting owl pellet dissection.
Human Anatomy and Physiology with Dissections (7th)
This course offers an exciting, immersive experience that brings anatomy to life!
Making Solar Ovens (5th)
As part of our science unit on thermal energy, 5th grade students explore the principles of heat transfer, thermal conductors and insulators through a hands-on solar ovens project.
Science Week
Students choose their projects, and work to find a scientific answer to their hypothesis.
Maker Club
(info coming soon)
Family Maker Fridays
(info coming soon)
Lower School Engineering Club
The Lower School Engineering Club is an optional after-school program for students in grades K–3, led by our lower school science teacher. Held in the upper school science lab, the club invites young engineers to explore the properties of materials and tackle hands-on design challenges. Students build creations such as stomp rockets, catapults, skateboard parks, and doodle-bots while investigating scientific concepts like gravity, friction, energy, electricity, and air pressure. They also learn about the engineering design process and draw inspiration from iconic structures around the world. Through creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, students experience the fun and discovery of real-world engineering.
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem-solving competition that challenges students to think imaginatively and work collaboratively. Our lower school team, coached by our K-5 science teacher, is made up of seven 4th and 5th graders selected through an application process each fall. Meeting weekly in the upper school science lab, the team chooses a long-term design challenge, builds a solution, and prepares for a spontaneous problem component. Students bring their ideas to life through writing, engineering, art, and performance, culminating in a regional tournament in late winter—with the potential to advance to state and world competitions.
Science Faculty
Nicole Lockwood
Lower School Science and Second – Fifth Grade Garden Teacher
Apprenticed at the National Theater of Croatia
