Wissahickon Finalizing Review of District Science Program

After a two-year review process, Susan Incorvia, director of Secondary Teaching and Learning; and Matthew Walsh, director of Elementary Teaching and Learning, made a presentation to the Wissahickon School Board regarding the K-12 science program on Monday night.

The review process began during the 2009-10 school year with a survey of parents, students and teachers to find out what they thought were the strengths of the science program, as well as what the school community wanted from the program.

The review committee also visited Colonial, North Penn and Central Bucks school districts. These districts recently underwent a review process of their science program, are using the new materials that Wissahickon was considering using, or have high PSSA scores.

The committee agreed that the new curriculum should align with the district’s strategic plan, focus on 21^st century learning, and focus on Pennsylvania standards.

“Discovery learning should be at the forefront of our teaching,” said Walsh.

The committee also wanted to make sure that the science program was always building—that what is taught in the elementary schools forms a foundation for learning what students will be taught at the high school.

Also, at the elementary level, the committee wanted to connect science and math teaching.

To fulfill the new curriculum, a few topics are being shifted to different grades. During the 2011-12 school year, sixth-grade science classes will add water quality to the science program, taken from the eighth-grade program.

The eighth-grade science program will add an introduction to chemistry so students will be prepared for chemistry, a requirement for high school graduation. The new curriculum will be phased in, and no student will miss a part of the science program at Wissahickon School District.

At the high school, no science classes will be removed; however, a forensics science elective is being added.

The new materials for the science curriculum will be available at the for public inspection for 30 days.

The next meeting of the Wissahickon School Board is May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Offices.