NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT

Academics

Science

Philosphy

Science and technology are part of our everyday lives. We need a population which is literate in science and can help fulfill our many future needs. It is the goal of the Notre Dame Science Department to teach literacy in science and equip young women with the tools they will need to be successful in the careers of their choice. In preparing our students for the 21st century, we focus on a great many subject areas in our science classes.

The Notre Dame Science Department is actively developing biotechnology programs to be integrated throughout the three-year science requirement. It is our goal that freshmen will learn the basics in Integrated Science and move on to higher-level lab experiences in Biology and AP Biology. Aspects of biotechnology will also be integrated into Chemistry. Biotechnology is a rapidly developing field with applications in all areas of science. We feel it is imperative to provide learning opportunities that will support career development and enable students to make sound personal choices in the future.

Our Essential Standards

  1. Show respect for life and the physical world demonstrated in actions and in written work.
  2. Respect, support, and work with other students in their learning.
  3. Demonstrate qualitative and quantitative problem solving approaches to articulate and understand scientific concepts.
  4. Conduct lab experiments and other activities in a manner that regards their own safety and the safety of others and reflects proper use of school materials.
  5. Evaluate and integrate information gained through research.
  6. Articulate, orally and in writing, work that is well organized and clear.
  7. Use technology where appropriate in investigation and analysis.
  8. Make connections between science, other disciplines and their lives.

9th Grade Courses

Human Biology

The Department believes that every student should have a strong foundation in human biology. In human biology, freshmen will spend the Spring Semester studying the human body and the cell. Students will be working from the text, Biology, and will be completing support labs. Students will continue to use the text as sophomores.

Honors Biology

A freshman who wishes to enroll in Honors Biology may be allowed to do so provided that certain conditions are met.

Conditions for Freshman Honors Biology
  1. The student is committed to an accelerated Science curriculum. A freshman entering Honors Biology is presumed to have a strong interest in science and in the honors track courses in this discipline.
  2. Only an exceptional student, representing the top of the freshman class and with a good junior-high background in science, will be considered for freshman placement in Honors Biology.
  3. The student must score 90 percentile or above on both the mathematics and verbal portions of the entrance examination. The ideal candidate will place in the 95 percentile or better.
  4. Only a student capable of getting an "A" should enroll in Honors Biology as a freshman.