Bishop Seabury Academy

3 L ong before STEM/STEAM became a cultural buzzword, we were passionately devoted to improving science at Seabury to equip the next generation of scientists and engineers. Our students learn that science is not merely about knowing the right answers and getting the expected results. Real experimentation is key. Through trial and error in a supportive, safe laboratory environment, students develop the critical thinking, tenacity, and problem-solving skills that they will need to excel in STEM career fields and in life. To that end, we provide a robust program of field and laboratory activities that requires students to synthesize knowledge gained from multiple science and math courses. We encourage students to work in collaborative teams, to design and execute their own experiments, and to learn to persevere through failure by giving them the time and encouragement to revise their plans and try again. At Seabury, we believe that the most successful STEM education is interdisciplinary and occurs in conversation with the humanities, languages, arts, and athletics. Our mission statement reminds us that we promote both individual academic growth and character development. It is not enough for our students to be smart. We want them to be good as well, so that as they explore the potential of what can be done, they will always consider what should be done. Science is a field that depends upon ethical scrutiny and a moral foundation. We have truly reached the limits of the science education that our current facilities can support. For years, our innovative teachers have built their own equipment, scrounged for supplies, and willingly maximized the number of courses they can teach. Through creative scheduling, our supportive administration has empowered us to divide topics among multiple courses and to swap class periods with other teachers to increase the amount of time available for labs. Generous parents have volunteered their time, knowledge, and abilities to guest lecture and support field trips, and our dear students have made the best of tight spaces, poor lighting, insufficient plumbing, and mismatched equipment. Now is the time to build inquiry-based learning classrooms and laboratories to safely prepare and stage labs, and secure storage for chemicals and valuable supplies. This environment will provide the proper space and equipment for students to conduct research, work collaboratively, and demonstrate critical thinking. In fall 2020, we will have in place the active learning environment to ensure we continue to challenge our students to "explore their potential." Seabury and stem: Passionately Devoted to Improving Science and Equipping the Next Generation For the past five years more than 50% of our graduates have pursued majors in STEM career fields. We have more than doubled the number of advanced science courses that we offer. Our students regularly score more than twice the national average on the ACT benchmark for college readiness in science.

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