Science is awesome!  So many great topics to cover and expand student skills in critical thinking and analysis using class discussions, lab activities, and so much more. Science classes are action-packed with activities and labs which ask students to use inquiry skills, inductive and deductive reasoning, make observations, gather data and analyze processed data  all in an effort to allow students to work scientifically.

2022, my classes are all Health Science CTE (Career and Technical Education) focused, which include:

- YR 1  IB Sports Exercise and Health Science - a great course for students who are athletes or are looking for college-level material related to anatomy and physiology, athletic training, physical therapy, and many other career choices.   This class is fast-paced, rigorous and asks a great deal of the students: research; independent work; and includes the option to sign up for spring dual credit with the UM, as a Kinesiology class.

- 2022 is the first year we have a YR2 HL IB SEHS class.  These students will be recapping units from year 1, but also adding in Biomechanics; Skill acquisition, which focuses on how athletes develop; and a few more extension topics. YR 2 students have the option to take the SL or HL exams in the Spring; and will submit thier final MOLR for IB review.   

-  Fall of 2022 students can take: Intro to Health/ Science Career  which will allow students to explore different career fields; learn foundational skills; and explore the range of careers available in Health science fields. This is a "choose your own adventure" type class, in which student interest drives the learning through the semester.  Students get to see a variety of careers and skills based on class interest and later explore which classes/ skillss are great foundations to move forward in that career path.

- Spring of 2023: Public Health Class will explore major topics in public health, but from a science-based curriculum. This course also allows student input on topic focus for the semester.  Students begin to combine their scientific knowledge with social issues and social determinants, as we look at what some of the public health issues are and how we can approach solutions in real time.  This coming year will be the first year students can opt into a dual credit option with the UM Public Health program for college credits. 

My approach in all of these classes is to ask "inquiring mind" questions and let the students find their way to possible answers and solve the conundrums presented. Students are highly encouraged to actively participate in class discussions, and bring relevant topics into the class. There will always be online work in google classroom, combined with class time work. Students should be actively checking their Google classroom for updates and information related to the classes. 

 

Parents or students, please feel free to contact me, start with email, then we can then set up a phone conference if necessary. Simply let me know when is the best time to do so. I send out notes on Sunday for the week at a glance to Google classroom.  This is a great way to stay up to date or plan ahead as needed. 

 

Some of you students and parents may recognize me as a swim coach - previously with the Missoula Aquatic Club age-group swimming, currently with adult swimmers -  Missoula Masters swimming during the summer at the Splash, winter at the PEAK. I have also had the privilege of being one of the coaching staff for our own State Championship Hellgate High School swim team a number of years ago. It is a great reward to watch athletes train and develop into amazing students and adults as they work to attain their goals.  For me, coaching and teaching have many parallels. 

IB Sports Exercise and Health Science - is an applied Human Anatomy class. We start the year with a quick introduction to Human Anatomy and then move quickly into the application of Anatomy with Bio-mechanics and the Physics related to sports.  We will continue with a series of topics and laboratory activities that highlight health/ sports-related topics using the foundation of human physiology. These basics and more combine to give this class a fast pace feel with great immersion into the topics that students find pertinent to their own current athletic experience and future career options.   You will want to stay up to date on the class notes, and supplemental materials shared with you as we build the topics for the course. This class uses Google classroom a great deal for notes, assignments and sharing information related to lab activities.  Please be sure to check your student Google accounts regularly. 

 

**** IB SEHS class materials: We will use unit/ lab packets which many students keep organized in a binder.  You will need something to take notes on aside from the unit packets.  This class also requires that you have a Lab Journal (I will show you the acceptable option on the 1st week of class).  Index cards, highlighters, and colored pencils are also a good idea.  We will use Google Classroom for many assignments and communication on a weekly basis, be sure to keep your classroom space organized. 

 

Intro to Health Career and Public health classes:  as intro to health career classes, both of these classes include foundational science topics, some review, some new to students.  The topics vary per semester based on student interest and student driven questions.  Regular access to Google classroom, quick dive research activities, and working collaboratively are all part of a class period.  Students will be graded on activities; a variety of assessments per topic; as well as class participation with their table partners.  Much of the world today works in collaboration, building those communication and action skills are part of being successful in the job market and especially in Health Sciences. 

 

***Health Science materials:  a binder/ folders to organize the notes and work packets; a writing implement for notes; colored pencils/ highlighters; a notebook of your choice, to use when there is not a packet. You will also want to bring a computer with you regularly for our work on quick dive topics; or google classroom collaborations.