Bi-Line Newsletter

Science

The Science Department would like to wish Mr. Robert Warren well as he plans for his retirement in June! Mr. Warren has been a member of the STM Science Department for over 25 years. During this time he was involved in many activities in the school, and was always there to lend a helping hand. Mr. Science will be especially remembered for his amazing chemistry demonstrations! We wish him good health and relaxation as he spends his days rollerblading, playing hockey, and canoeing into the sunset.
It is hard to believe that we are already at the half way point of second semester! The Science Department has been busy implementing the new curriculum this year. All of the courses have undergone changes, some by as much as 75%. Full implementation of the new grade 10 science courses will occur in September 2010. The Science Department was fortunate to receive a Smartboard this semester which was installed in the chemistry room. The science students are enjoying the new technology which the science teachers were in-serviced on in November. Teachers are busy incorporating the Smartboard into their lessons. It is only a couple of more months until final exams are upon us. For students who need the extra help, a reminder to all parents that the School Board does provide, free of charge, after school tutoring in Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Math and English to students in all grades. Students must make a commitment to attend the sessions every Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Students who are interested should contact their Guidance Counsellor.

Many students in the Science Department are busy getting ready for various contests and competitions which are traditionally held in April and May. These include physics, biology and chemistry contests. Students who are interested may contact Mr. Belisario (Physics), Mr. Turco (Biology) or Mrs. Silvestri/Mr. Villella (Chemistry) for further information. There are other opportunities for students posted outside room 352, as well as on the bulletin boards in the Science Department hallways. Students are invited to check the postings periodically, as well as listen to announcements, for any new contests or workshops that may arrive in the mail.	In May the grade 11 university chemistry classes along with the grade 12 college chemistry class will take part in the Third Annual Children’s Water Festival at the Hamilton Bayfront Park. In collaboration with City Hall, these classes will run work shops and activities for several hundred grade 6 students from across the city. The goal is to educate the students about the importance of water in their lives. This activity complements the new chemistry curriculum which has a unit which includes water and the environment. It promises to be an exciting event.	It is only a couple of more months until final exams are upon us. For students who need the extra help, a reminder to all parents that the School Board does provide, free of charge, after school tutoring in Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Math and English to students in all grades. Students must make a commitment to attend the sessions every Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Students who are interested should contact their Guidance Counsellor.

*SCIENCE TRIVIA* Did you know?
when a coffee seed is planted, it takes five years to yield consumable fruit? our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing? oak trees do not have acorns until they are fifty years old or older? salt is the only rock humans can eat? 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 ? almost half the bones in your body are in your hands and feet? the chemical formula for Rubidium Bromide is RbBr. It is the only chemical formula known to be a palindrome? your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself? your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart?	hydrogen gas is the least dense substance in the world, at 0.08988 g/mL? hydrogen solid is the most dense substance in the world, at 70.6 g/mL? a piece of paper can not be folded in half more than seven times? mars looks red because it's covered by rust? a dentist, William Semple, invented chewing gum to exercise his jaws?	astronauts can’t burp in space. A burp would need gravity to separate the liquid from the gas in their stomach? astronauts get taller when they are in space? the Eiffel Tower shrinks 6 inches in winter? parent-teacher interviews are on April 30^th?!!!!! – Mrs. Silvestri

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