“The Bayonne
Science Department has a long history of college and advanced placement
courses,” according to Robert Dawson, Director of Science. It all started
with an idea back in 1988 when the Bayonne School District received
a phone call from NJIT asking if Bayonne High School would like to
be part of a new program they called “Distance Learning”. The concept
was new, having high school students take college courses in a high
school. At that time, (AP) Advanced Placement Courses was the only
way Bayonne students could receive credit for college. After several
meetings, the district created a unique partnership with NJIT. Any
student that is enrolled in our College Chemistry, College Phys-ics, or Molecular Biology Research Courses is eligible for
college credit. All a student needs to do is register, pay a registration fee, and
they can earn college credits for the course. Credits can be transferred
to any college the student may attend as an undergraduate. Today
our science students can earn credits form Rutgers as well as NJIT.
Director Dawson adds, “Bayonne students
have proven they are up for the challenge in these science classes. Each of the three courses focus on a small area of science. In
our College Level Courses students are exposed to the first level course
they would take in most 4 year colleges, if they were going to pursue
a career in that science. Under the supervision and instruction of
Mrs. Holly Levin, high school students receive training in the fast-paced
field of molecular genetics, working with state of the art laboratory
equipment and communicating with a research scientist from the Waksman Institute
of Microbiology of Rutgers University.”
Each year a research project is selected
by a consortium of teachers who participate in a four-week summer workshop
at the Waksman Institute. Past projects include
DNA analysis of plants, primates, and the nematode C. elegans. Bayonne High students have achieved great success
and in many cases, have had their work published and made available
to share with scientists worldwide. Re-search this year focuses on
the isolation, analysis, and identification of DNA sequences from the
brine shrimp, Artemia Fransiscana. Learning about the genomes of such simple model
organ-isms offers a perspective into the metabolic processes of higher
forms of life. Students who enroll in this course are presented with
an incredible learning experience opportunity. Many BHS students have
gone on to pursue careers in genetics and biotechnology. BHS science
teacher, Mrs. Levin states, “I believe the way to learn science is
to do it. The hands-on approach that the Molecular Biology Program
offers is priceless. I am privileged to be a part of it.”
The College Physics Class gives students
the opportunity to experience the challenge and vigor of a college
level physics course in a small cooperative atmosphere while paralleling
the NJIT Physics III Class Syllabus, students learn valuable problem
solving skills pertaining to Classical Newtonian Mechanics. Hands-on
investigative labs provide the opportunity to physically and visually
experience the physics and to bridge the gap between textbook principles
and real-world science.
Joseph Collins, BHS Physics teacher,
states, “The goal is to inspire students to be aware of the physical
world around them, to take time to notice and ask questions. A desire
to know the how’s and the why’s behind the
working at our physical universe is what I believe good physics starts
with.”
The first College Chemistry Class
was started in September of 1988. In the time since then, students
have participated in the American Chemical Society’s Chemistry Olympics
for eleven years and have received two first place finishes (2005 and
1998), one second place finish (2005) and two third place finishes
(2000).
College Chemistry is part of The New Jersey Institute of Technology
Eastern Educational Consortiums Pre-College and Distance Learning Program.
The course has the same curriculum as Freshman Chemistry at NJIT. Upon
completion the students receive six college credits. Charles Seested has taught this class from its inception and states, “The
College Chemistry and the Chemistry Olympics give the students the
opportunity to see that there is a bigger world out there.” |
