Changes to take place in the science department next year
“By allowing students to take physics during their third year, they will have had more math background to help aid this course. I think we will find a boost in students’ confidence to tackle the heavy problem solving skills that are required in our different physics levels,” said science teacher Tina Bialek. Bialek teaches a couple sections of Physics, which is currently only being offered to sophomores.
February 22, 2019
With an increase of students struggling with the rigor of physics their sophomore year, the science department made the decision that the incoming freshman of the graduating class of 2023 will experience some changes in their science courses. Starting next year, freshmen will have to take biology their freshman year, chemistry their sophomore year and physics their junior year so that they have stronger math skills walking into a physics class.
Guidance counselor Andrea Heinz said, “The change is going to be implemented so students will have more math under their belt before they approach physics or AP physics, since the math knowledge for both of those classes is more than it is for chemistry.”
Science department chair Scott Collins really pushed for the change in hopes that this change will allow for a sequence of science courses that makes more sense.
“I hope that students in our physics course are going to be able to use their more advanced math skills in a course that’s taken junior year as opposed to sophomore year,” said Collins.
Even with the order of courses that’s taking place, the actual curriculum that’s taught in either biology, chemistry and physics won’t really be changed at all. On top of that, only incoming freshmen will be experiencing this change. All current students will still be following the traditional order of science classes.
So, how does this change affect the classes that’ll be offered in the following school year? For starters, Integrated Science won’t be offered as a class at all anymore, but instead all freshmen will be required to take a biology class. On the other hand, electives such as Meteorology, Astronomy and Geology were also taken out of the curriculum and will be replaced by Earth and Space Science. This class can either be taken for a half credit or a full credit since first semester will feature astronomy-based content and second semester will focus more on geology-based content.
For questions regarding any other changes in the Program of Studies for the upcoming school year, the guidance counselors are a great source of information.
