Science is a process rooted in curiosity, awe, understanding and respect for the natural world in which we live. In science courses at St. Margaret's, students are encouraged to become autonomous learners in a collaborative environment. We teach students to be critical thinkers who use logic, experimental design, and problem solving as vehicles for discovery. Our students are asked to demonstrate scientific literacy and effective communication skills. With this background, we hope students will mature into responsible stewards of the Earth and build a life-long interest in science.

Under these principles, the Science Department seeks to impart to its students through its K-12 curriculum, an enduring understanding of how to approach problems or questions of interest. Our students learn how to :

• Apply The Scientific Method:

1. ask an interesting question
2. research the question, learn theory, make observations
3. formulate an educated guess (hypothesis) and make predictions based upon the hypothesis
4. design a controlled experiment to test the hypothesis
5. conduct the experiment
6. draw and evaluate conclusions
7. report their results in well articulated written and oral expression

• build the foundations of scientific literacy and work to make bridges across the curriculum
• think logically and critically
• become independent learners while recognizing the value of collaboration and communication
• make connections to their inner and outer environments Graduation Requirements: 3 years, including one year of physical and one year of biological science.