Grades 9-12 - Science Department

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious, the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science."
- Albert Einstein, Living Philosophies, 1931

Department Philosophy

Science provides students with the tools required to develop their intellectual processes of inquiry by which all scientific problems and phenomena are questioned, explained, and predicted. Science promotes the development of investigative and analytical skills, providing students with a logical and systematic approach to problem solving that prepares them to face the moral, ethical, and scientific dilemmas of the twenty-first century. In keeping with the spirit of our mission statement "to instill in the students an awareness of their relationship with the Creator, the world, and its inhabitants," we believe that science and religion are not incompatible. Creation abounds in beauty, mystery, and the fascinating intricacies of nature that connect us to God, the world we live in, and one another.

The sacredness and the inherent nature of matter and life in all forms are communicated to our students through science. The branches of science that our students study -- geology, botany, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biology -- and the instruments and mathematical formulae and notation they use will expand their understanding of the complexity of the natural world.

Department Goals

The courses offered by the Science Department at Mount Alvernia High School are designed to introduce students to a wide range of topics relevant to the subject area. These courses educate students with knowledge of scientific symbols, notations, and vocabulary that will serve them in everyday life and further studies. Students develop the ability to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate scientific concepts.