In an effort to enrich the learning process for all students, the district has realigned its science curriculum, with all eighth-grade students currently taking high school level biology in heterogeneous classes.

“We are enriching for all – similar to what honors students would be exposed to, but even on a greater level – to immerse students with skills they will need for upper level science courses and STEM-related jobs,” said Debbie Langone, the district’s director of science and engineering technology.

As part of this initiative, all biology teachers in the district, along with a special education support teacher, participated on Nov. 3 in a biotechnology workshop covering the basics of gel electrophoresis, which students will explore this year in molecular biology units. Lab skills presented at the workshop were comparable to college- or graduate-level work in a biotechnology lab setting, with teachers running “practice gels.” Once proficient with the apparatus, they then conducted a simulated COVID-19 test to determine which "patients" were positive by comparing patient DNA samples to a known marker.