Updated: March 3, 2009

The Pricipal's Newsletter: January 2009

With a new curriculum dawning in September, 2009 our science department has begun to make adjustments and prepare for the coming changes. New courses are being introduced, while all others are under revision and change.

We also welcomed new members to our Lynx Pack as it grows, and of course continued on with stimulating and solid academic initiatives. All courses introduce and continue the on-going investigation of inquiry-based learning, as problem-solving experiments and self-designed labs become part of the regular curriculum activities.
Listed below are a few of the course highlights:

Grade 9s – Once again, Cosmic Connections visited our classroom on December 15th with another full day introduction to astronomy. The up close and visual presentation saw the audience viewing planets, star systems and other celestial bodies.

Grade 11 Academic Biology and Grade 11 College Biology – What is the quality of our ground water, streams and creeks? Two classes trekked into nearby Sawmill Creek, a sub-tributary of The Credit River, for a detailed look at the state of our water. Each student was provided with an opportunity to deeply understand water quality assessment using biological, chemical and physical means. The
project’s three phases included:

• In class prep where all students studied watersheds, the identification and classification of benthic macroinvertabrates, and the procedure and equipment required for the study.
  

• On-site work. Here, students worked at Sawmill Creek and gathered data. Some brave students legged into hip waders and specimen collected from the bed stream while in the water.
  

• A final data analysis to determine stream quality.

These Grade 11 Biology classes again ventured to the new Riverwood Field Centre in early December, braving the cold to gather data and add to a census count for the annual ‘Winter Bird Count’. Holding and feeding Chickadees, counting resident songbirds and spotting Red-tailed Hawks were some of the awesome aspects of this trip. Students hiked through the woodlots of Mississauga and observed over twenty species. We even managed to add the American Kestrel to the parks list of species identified! Biodiversity, identification and ecological systems were some of the concepts investigated as each student.

Biology 12: The classes used genetic engineering technology to put the genes of a firefly in E.Coli so that they had glow-in-the-dark bacteria.

Grade 11 Physics: Using the dynamics of tension and force, the students were expected to build a tall tower to withstand great mass. The task structure was made of popsicle sticks, with a simulated budget limit added to the assignment.

Grade 12 Physics: "Gizmo's and Gadgets": The classes designed many functional devices and structures to learn and apply the aspects of physics. Spring-launching devices, aerodynamic egg-drop protectors and marble-motion structures tied the theoretical concepts with the inquiry-based learning process.

The Pricipal's Newsletter: June 2008

Grade 9
How to move pop cans and other assorted objects using static electricity? This was not just for the fun, but was a way to learn the construction process and the ups and downs of designing functional models. This activity, along with dissecting flowers, building candy DNA, using a star map and modelling the solar system were other exciting challenges performed by students during the grade 9 science course.

Grade 10
Further development of inquiry-based learning continued with self-design laboratory processes, where blasting the caps off of old film canisters and neutralizing antacids were explored. Other activities included burning sugar with acids, observing microscopic soil samples and pond water and even weeding and digging gardens.

All classes, accompanied by other student body members, attended the fascinating Reptilia show that came to our stage on May 5th. All were amazed with the star attractions, which included pythons, a snapping turtle, a lizard and a juvenile alligator. The show accomplished its mission by allowing the audience to learn and understand more about reptiles and their place in our ecosystems.

Grade 11
Numerous students signed up for the challenging Avogadro Chemistry contest and the Ontario Association of Physics Teachers contest. On May 30, classes ventured off to Canada's Wonderland to perform their motion calculations on site, while the constructing of roller coasters for calculations and design performance continued as a unique way to study the science of physics. The laboratory experience in biology included students extracting DNA and analyzing enzymes.

To provide each student with:

• inquiry-based learning: by teaching and practicing the scientific method of critical-thinking skills and problem-solving through experimentation and engaging activities

• the opportunity to voice their opinion and concerns regarding scientific issues

• the ability to learn and enhance an understanding of the basic principles and concepts in the sciences

• a challenging and safe laboratory atmosphere, free to risk, enjoy and explore

• the task of making connections by relating science to technology, society and the environment (STSE)

• equal opportunity for learning through our staff's commitment to literacy, numeracy, differentiation and common assessment

The Principal's Newsletter, January 2008

• In-class prep where all studied watersheds, the identification and classification of benthic macroinvertabrates, and the procedure and equipment required for the study.

• On site work. Here students worked at Sawmill Creek and gathered data. Some brave students legged into hip waders and specimen collected from the bedstream while in the water.

• A final data analysis using scientific indices to determine stream quality.