Science Focus Program

Science Focus Program
Address
1222 S. 27th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska
United States
Information
Type Public magnet high school
Established 1997
School board Lincoln Public Schools
Principal Kurt Glathar
Faculty 9[1]
Grades 9-12
Color(s)         
Mascot Camel
Nickname Zoo School[1]
Website zoo.lps.org

The Science Focus Program, more commonly referred to as SFP, Zoo School, or simply Zoo,[1] is a part of Lincoln Public Schools and is one of the district's three focus programs, along with the Arts and Humanities Focus Program and the Career Academy. It is located at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, and is described as "a small community of mature learners participating both in a traditional and non-traditional style of learning. A place where students play an active role in defining their learning environment and education."[1]

Staff

The Science Focus Program has five teachers:

  • Mark Anderson: History and Social Studies
  • Johnna Graff: English and Communication
  • Emily Rose-Seifferlein: Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Physical Science, and Geoscience
  • Andrew "Mark" James: Physics, Biology, Animal Behavior, and Astronomy
  • Matt Johnson: Mathematics

Amy Proffitt serves as secretary, Trudy Dormier as special education coordinator, Mary Gilliland as security officer, and Kurt Glathar as the Principal.[1]

Schedules

Regular schedule - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
10:10-11:35 - Block 1
11:40-1:05 - Block 2
1:05-1:40 - Lunch
1:40-3:05 - Block 3

Focus schedule - Wednesday
10:10-11:05 - Block 1
11:10-12:05 - Block 2
12:10-1:05 - Block 3
1:05-1:40 - Lunch
1:40-3:05 - Focus

Academic form

The Science Focus Program runs on an A-day/B-day block schedule, with the days alternating throughout the week. Wednesdays, known as "Focus Days", are commonly run on an alternative schedule, reserved for additional class times for core classes and applied arts. Community Focus and Research Focus are the two types of Focus Days. Community Focus Days are devoted to team-building among students. Research Focus Days are where each student is given time, resources, and assistance with their mandatory research project. Each student is assigned a research adviser. Research projects are a long term related project that is presented at the end of the year. Also on Wednesdays, students learn from guest speakers, go on field trips, or catch up on accelerated classes. Lunch lasts for 35 minutes, between the second and the third of the class blocks, in which juniors and seniors may leave campus if they desire. Students may purchase food from the Lincoln Children's Zoo Cafe while the zoo is open. During the winter, students typically bring a sack lunch or leave campus to go to nearby restaurants.

Instead of having a finals week, Science Focus Program has a portfolio week. Portfolios are projects that are specific to each class that are used in place of finals. Each class has its own portfolio. Portfolios are handed out during each semester and students are expected to complete and present them at the end of the semester. Students set up a portfolio time before the end of the semester. The portfolios are presented over a three-day period with time slots of 10 am to 5pm.

Campus

The Science Focus Program's open campus is located behind the Zoo Cafe and the Rainforest Room Building. The two portable buildings house the computer lab, a science room and laboratory, and the English classroom. The Camelot Commons, a larger, 2-story structure at the edge of the Science Focus Program campus, houses the social science, mathematics, and natural science classrooms. Picnic tables are set up around a pond by the portables for lunch. During the winter, students eat inside the portables or Camelot Commons. The zoo uses the portables and Camelot Commons for educational and promotional purposes during school breaks.

History

The idea for the Science Focus Program originated in 1995. Teachers met and worked part-time planning for the program, and part-time teaching at their high schools. The original teachers were Jim Barstow, social sciences; Deb Sharp, English; De Tonack, math and physics; and Jane Obbink, natural sciences. Beth Briney came in the second year to replace Sharp. Obbink has since moved to Alaska and was replaced by Sara LeRoy-Toren. LeRoy-Toren then retired and was replaced by Emily Rose-Seifferlein. De Tonack, Barstow, and Obbink were replaced by Mark Anderson, Matt Johnson, and Andrew "Mark" James, respectively. In 2018, Dr Briney retired and Johnna Graff took her place. This same year, Dr Patrick Hunter-Pirtle stepped down as principal of the Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs and was replaced by Kurt Glathar.

The main idea for the focus program was to give students an alternative to regular high school. The teachers' vision consisted of a place where students could come and feel welcome and comfortable enough to express their individual talents and ideas.

The school opened for the 1997-1998 school year, accepting juniors and seniors. Since then, changes have been made, allowing the Science Focus Program to accept sophomores and freshmen.

In 1999, Science Focus Program created its own Key Club, partnering with the Lincoln Center Kiwanis Club. Every week, students meet to work on fundraising, community events, and volunteer work.

In the 2017-2018 school year, the Science Focus Program made headlines when President Donald Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, visited the school. Her appearance was met with student protesters on the inside and public protesters outside, though the school day was urged to proceed as normal and no serious incidents occurred.[2]

Science Focus Program's technology consists of a lab of Macbooks, which arrived at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. Starting the 2015-2016 school year, Science Focus Program students each receive Chromebooks from the district.

For many years, the Lincoln Children's Zoo hosted a "Science Day" in which the public, along with elementary schools, walk around the zoo as Science Focus Program students enrich their knowledge with fun scientific activities. All students worked stations and participated.

The Science Focus Program is expected to have a new, single building (differing from the current 3 building setup) on the outskirts of the Lincoln Children's Zoo, correlating with the Lincoln Children's Zoo expansion plans. The building is expected to be finished in February 2019.[3]

Science Focus Program has made some changes throughout the years, but their goal is maintained: to give students the best education possible, to instil an excitement and a craving for knowledge, to build a strong sense of community, and to teach and learn together.

Student life

The Science Focus Program enrolls new students every year. Official clubs include the Key Club, Science Olympiad, Coloring Club, Creek Clean-up, and Yearbook Club. Former clubs include Minecraft Club, Biking Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, G&S Enterprises, Poker Club, Roots & Shoots, Gardening Club and Magic: The Gathering Club.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zoo School official website". Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  2. ↑ "DeVos: States should look to innovation to give families choices; protesters say focus should stay on public schools". Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  3. ↑ "Details emerge about LPS science focus program's new home at zoo". Retrieved 2018-02-09.
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