with so many wonderful memories!
Advanced Placement Science Advances!
August
9, 2005
UMS-Wright
students engaged Advanced Placement Science Exams (distributed by the
College Board) in Science for 2004-5 school year with numerous
successes. During the last academic year UMS-Wright had the second
highest number of passing scores (in the school history) on Science
Advanced Placement Exams (22 passing scores). Students took and
passed exams in every AP-Science discipline including Biology,
Chemistry, Environmental Science and Physics. Typically only the
most academically dedicated students (mostly seniors) take and pass
AP Science exams.
In the years from 1989-1996 Advanced placement science exams passed never exceeded 6 and only one "Highest Recommendation" was earned in that y year period. During the years 1997-2005 the number of students passing Advanced Science classes has increased to about 20 a year and 21 of the scores had the "Highest Recommendation" earned in that 7 year period. The improvement in performance was phenomenal.
In
2005 Bernard (Beko) Binder and Russ Terry made the highest possible
scores in both the Chemistry and Biology Advanced Placement (AP)
Exams. Bradley Elliot obtained the highest Possible score in the
Chemistry AP exam and also passed the Biology Exam. Olivia Clare
Barrett passed two AP Science Exams in the same year (Chemistry and
Biology). Passing two AP Science exams in the same year is
considered to be a significant challenge for even the best of
students.
Beko
Binder passed four different AP Science Exams while a student at
UMS-Wright! Beko earned the highest possible scores in three of the
four AP Science exams he took (Physics with Calculus in 2004,
Chemistry and Biology in 2005). Beko also passed the AP Physics exam
as a sophomore in 2003.
Students
passing the Biology AP Exam in 2005 included Beko Binder, Russ Terry,
Stuart White, Olivia Barrett, Bradley Eichold, Bradley Elliot, James
Galle, Kate Luce and Whitney Vautier.
Students
passing the 2005 Chemistry AP Exam included Beko Binder, Russ Terry,
Bradley Elliot, Olivia Barrett, Richard Ellisor, Jordan Schnieder and
Selwyn Turner.
Passing
scores in the 2005 Environmental Science AP Exam were earned by
Andrew Dunning, Allison Garstecki, Gertrude Inge and Andrew Mazey.
An
entire AP Physics class passed for the fourth consecutive year
(Physics with Calculus in 2002, 2003 & 2004 and general Physics
in 2005). Students passing the general Physics AP exam included
Joseph Bowron (a junior) and Mathew Peterson (a sophomore).
The
AP Science exams are considered among the most rigorous offered by
the College Board. It is a genuine sign of achievement when a school
of any size obtains passing scores in every available AP Science
subject. Dr. Burgess (UMS-Wright Science Chair) said "It is
possible to have such achievements because of the ideals and support
of the entire school community. It is amazing that each year
students with character and talent always step up to the challenge of
becoming part of a distinguished history of achievement at
UMS-Wright."
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Combining
my love for competition and interest in science was something I did
from early on in my career.
I
also liked to do “action research” to evaluate initiatives in my
class and department.
“Physics
First” was a department wide change in science sequence that I
wanted to implement if able to.
