The
Pinelands Science Department offers a traditional
science program including foundation courses in life
and physical science. During the 7th and 8th grades
students are introduced to fundamental concepts which
are then extended and expanded within each of the
programs offered at the high school. A major
curriculum focus is meeting, and wherever possible
exceeding, State mandated content proficiencies in
biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science and
earth science courses. While diversifying our
repertoire of academic programs in science we have
also successfully aligned each curriculum to the
demands of the forthcoming High School Proficiency
Assessment (HSPA); success on this test, is requisite to graduating high
school.
We have also invested heavily in bringing
state-of-the-art instructional technology to our
science labs and classrooms. New monitors,
computer-to-monitor interfaces, video projectors,
video busses and other hardware have become
increasingly available to our science faculty this
year. Moreover, ongoing staff development workshops
held at Stockton College, vendors and in house are
training our science staff to use a variety of
presentational and demonstrational software in their
classrooms. Recently an optical network was installed
at the high and middle schools and the Internet is now
available in all science classrooms. High school
science laboratories are now equipped with computers,
data collection probes, and data analysis
software. Students in biology, chemistry, and
physics classrooms routinely use these advanced tools
to enrich their lab experience.
Computer Technology and Computer Science Programs are
offered to high school students as elective courses of
study. The Computer Technology curriculum leads
to a formal certification in computer maintenance and
repair. The Computer Science program is centered on
JAVA Script.
Advanced Placement
Science programs have been implemented in Biology and
Physics. Additionally, Advanced Placement
Chemistry will be added to our course brochure
sometime in the near future. Many of our courses
articulate with Seton Hall University and Ocean County
Community College. For example, students taking
AP Biology can earn simultaneous college credit from
Seton Hall.
The science faculty has
outstanding credentials: 80% have earned a Masters
degree and our new physics instructor holds a PhD in
Physics. Our teachers come from a diversity of
outstanding educational institutes including Harvard
University, Notre Dame University, Drexel, Temple,
University of Connecticut, University of California,
Rutgers University, University of Delaware, State
University of New York, and Richard Stockton College,
among others.
If you would like more information regarding these
unique programs, please contact Stephen Fischer at
(609) 296-3106 ext. 2350
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