Superintendent’s Message
4/2007
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Winnisquam Regional High School

Focus on Science

 

This spring, our eleventh graders will be taking part in the New England Common Assessment Program’s pilot testing for science.  This is the first stage of the process for implementing yearly NECAP testing for science.  In recent months, science has been brought to the forefront as one of the areas to be added to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  Brian Baird (D-WA) chairperson of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee stated, in a meeting in March, that:  “For this country to compete in the global marketplace, our students must be provided with an education that prepares them for college and eventually to compete for high-tech jobs….  I am very concerned that American students are not achieving their potential in science and math education”.  At WRHS, we have been working on developing a 4-5 year plan to increase and upgrade the number of science courses for our students. 

 

The state requires that all students take one credit in a life science (biology) and one in a physical science (earth/space science, chemistry, physics).  For the past two years, we have been recommending at least a third year of science for all of our students.  As part of the State Scholars Initiative, students who become a part of this program are required to take three sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics.  This year, we doubled the number of students in chemistry and will be adding AP chemistry next year.  Students in physics will be given the opportunity to take the AP exam next year as well.  This year’s physics students entered two state competitions and came away with two first place finishes. 

 

One of our teachers, Catherine Rand, has received notification of a $3000.00 grant for bio-technology equipment through the US Department of Labor.  She will attend a three-day workshop for training on how to use the equipment in the classroom at the Portsmouth campus of the NH Technical College.  This will provide our students with instruction on updated equipment that will help prepare them for college and competition for jobs.

 

As we look to the future for science courses, we project at least one more AP course (biology), an environmental science course, and an increase in the number of sections with additional labs, which is essential for scientific learning.