As the end of the year approaches, the long awaited completion of the new addition to the high school nears.  One of the main features of this addition is the new science wing equipped with larger classrooms, better lab space and other enhancements to add to the already excellent high school science program.

The new science wing, located on the top floor of the three-story building, will feature biology and chemistry classrooms and labs.  New hallways will also contain lockers and a couple of study spaces that overlook the quad.

Physics classrooms, other classes and the science office will be located in the old but refurbished area that is the current science wing.  These renovations are set to take place during the summer.

A new aspect to the biology space is a sunlight porch and a roof greenhouse for growing space.  Biology classes could utilize these areas for labs, personal projects and clubs for activities necessitating the aid of earth’s primary energy source.

“We’re going to definitely do some stuff to utilize the green house,” AP Chemistry teacher Nathan Peck said.
AP Biology teacher Sally Lazaroff has a strong interest in using the greenhouse for class work and possibly extracurricular activities.

“The greenhouse is probably the most exciting element of the new building,” Lazaroff said.  “I am looking forward to using plants as model organisms in studies of cell biology, genetics, evolution and ecology.”

Peck is also excited about the arrangement of the classrooms, as he will get to watch his favorite sport, baseball, from the large windows in his room.

The chemistry rooms are certainly an upgrade from the current classrooms. There is a large lab space with high ceilings and new ventilation lines. The drawers for lab materials are more abundant for better organization of materials, which is quite an obstacle for current AP Chemistry students.

The additional utilities such as a vacuum line will allow for a wider variety of labs to be performed in both the AP and sophomore Chemistry courses.

“Part of the cool things is the coziness of the classroom,” Peck said.   “Then you come out to lab and the ceilings are vaulted, unfinished and a lot more spacious.”

Lazaroff also enjoys the split classroom/lab design.

“We can move tables and chairs in the new classroom for better interaction and discussion and leave experiments to run in the lab for as long as it takes,” Lazaroff said.  “Students would be welcome to come in to the lab to make up work, or replicate an experiment while another class is going on in the classroom.”

Another neat addition is the natural lighting system that reflects sunlight through glass for light.  These lights can be dampened and turned off.  The building is not only better designed, but it is also more environmentally conscious.

Since the teachers of the science department constructed the plans for their new wing, they have maximized the project’s success and reduced any negative aspects that may have come from changing classroom arrangements.

“We designed it ourselves for doing what we want to teach,” Peck said.  “The rooms are set up really nice for doing science.”

In mid to late May, current science students will move chemistry and biology equipment into the nearly finished rooms.

Except for a few more finishing touches, the rooms are nearly complete.

A few counter tops are missing, walls need painting and some lab equipment still needs to be installed, but even at first glance, the new rooms look like they will ignite students’ interest in science.

Peck is also very enthusiastic about the new science wing era: “It’s going to be awesome.”

For photos of the new building and science classrooms, click here.