Science Program K-12
Vincent Pereira, Ph.D.
Director of Science
[email protected]
(516) 867 - 5374
Science Department Goals
The overarching goal of the science education in Freeport Schools is to ensure that by the end of 12th grade, all students have some appreciation of the beauty and wonder of science; possess sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage in public discussions on related issues; are careful consumers of scientific and technological information related to their everyday lives; are able to continue to learn about science outside school; and have the skills to enter careers of their choice, including (but not limited to) careers in science, engineering, and technology.
The following are the primary goals of Freeport’s science program
To prepare students for the rigors of university study in the sciences and for the careers they will pursue afterwards.
To prepare students to discuss science-related issues intelligently, and strive to become involved in them.
To promote careers in Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Technology, and Computer science, by giving them opportunities to hear and work with scientists from government research laboratories, universities and colleges in Long Island and across the country.
To introduce them into rapidly growing new science areas and give the necessary skills to succeed in the 21st century work-force.
Description of Programs
Elementary Level Science (pre-K to Grade 5)
Students in each of the primary grades explore topics in the life, physical and earth sciences as described in New York State Science Learning Standards. Activities in each of three disciplines described above are taken from Phenom Science. These activities are challenging, age-appropriate, and inculcate into students a deep sense of curiosity for the natural world that they will take into the higher grades.
Intermediate Level Science (Grade 6-8)
Freeport‘s intermediate level science program begins in sixth grade at Atkinson School and continues through grade 8 in Dodd Middle School. These students also study age-appropriate topics in the life, physical, and earth sciences that are supplemented by numerous laboratory experiences. The Intermediate science program, like the Elementary is aligned with the New York State Science Learning Standards. Lessons and activities for these grades are taken from the Mosa Mack Curriculum.
Many eighth graders begin their high school science requirement by accelerating into Regents Earth science, while the others continue the intermediate sequence in science 8. Science 8 students are required to take the intermediate level science exam in June.
Secondary Level Science (Grades 9-12)
Students in grades 9 through 12 are able to enroll in numerous challenging and rewarding courses in the life and physical sciences. In addition to providing the four New York state Regents courses, the High School Science Department offers six advanced placement science courses: Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Physics Part I and II, Mechanics (calculus based) and Electricity and Magnetism (calculus based). In addition, students are trained to take the highly competitive United States Physics and Chemistry Olympiad examinations. Thus, students are able to take and succeed in the most rigorous physics and chemistry classes offered by any university.
Science Research Program (Grades 9-12)
Students are inspired and motivated at an early age to pursue the sciences. The district’s award-winning advanced science research program is conducted in the high school research laboratory. This laboratory is equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment like PCR machine, gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometer, autoclave, microcentrifuge, etc. the research program offers students the unique opportunity to conduct independent and group research through partnerships with Brookhaven National Laboratory, NASA, Cornell university, Hofstra University and Stony Brook University. Two years ago, Freeport was among the 5 teams chosen from across the nation to launch a CubeSat protype. The CubeSat was carried by a drone and went more than 200 feet up in the sky transmitting data to computers on the ground throughout the flight