They call it Shaolin, an homage to the Wu-Tang Clan. Today, it’s Staten Island time here at the Circle. All this week, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is proud to present the finalists for the Minecraft Education: Battle of the Boroughs. Below, we present Staten Islands’ elite competitors.

Additionally, the Circle’s Playing With Purpose Program is part of the Battle with its own Minecraft Writing Challenge. On June 8, the Circle’s Ryan O’Callaghan will announce four Minecraft Writing Challenge winners at 12:30 pm during the Mayor’s Cup Finals on June 8, presented by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, at the recently-renovated Brooklyn Public Library. The event takes place all day long and is free to all. The lucky winners of the Minecraft Writing Challenge will get a cash prize – and bragging rights for the year.

For months now, students across the boroughs have been busily competing to win the big battle. According to the Mayor’s Office, here’s more detail: “Building on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done (GSD), the city’s strategic climate plan, and the Mayor’s Digital Gaming Initiative, student teams will compete to create the most inclusive future-ready city spaces. Mayor Adams’ video message is right here.

Each borough has determined 3 teams (one K-5 grade team, one 6-8 grade team, and new this year a 9-12 grade team).”

We are super happy to present these superb Staten Island finalists! 

STATEN ISLAND FINALISTS: 

• Division: Elementary School
  • School: P.S. 054 Charles W. Leng (31R054)
  • Principal: Karen Catanzarolarosa |
  • Coach: Dora Schaffer & Christina Salters  |
  • Team Name: The Redstonez
  • Location: 1060 Willowbrook Rd, Staten Island, NY 10314
  • NYVGCC response from student Konstantia Skiadopoulou-Azcue:
    • We chose to focus on a solar powered community center. The center had a community garden and shopping area. We used redstone to power the lights and other electricity which is why our team name is Redstonez!

Team photo:

• Division: Middle School 
  • School: IS 49 Berta A. Dreyfus (31R049)
  • Principal: Natalie Lawrence |
  • Coach: Lena Apostol-Graniela |
  • Team Name: The Wardens
  • Location: 101 Warren St, SI NY 10304
  • Response to NYVGCC questions:
    • We chose our team name, The Wardens because Minecraft added a new boss called The Wardens. It is a very strong title and we wanted to be strong and confident in ourselves to win this Minecraft tournament.
    • Alan Shao reflected on the team’s Round 1 build:
      • We made this map for the first round because we were thinking about how all the people will fit into the building to serve multiple purposes. We built the kitchen with the multicultural menu because we want everyone to feel welcomed and feel like they are at home while eating. We also built a homeless shelter for the people in need of a home. We built a playground and a shop for people in need so they can work and earn money. Lastly, we built the green house to supply the kitchen and the shop with electricity that comes from the solar panels on the roof.
  • Team photo: 

• Division: High School 
  • School: Tottenville High School (31R455)
  • Principal: Gina Battista |
  • Coach: Zachary Rosch |
  • Team Name: STREAM TEAM 2.0
  • Location: 100 Luten Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312