By KAYLA J. MARSH
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN — A new, state-of-the-art, 21st-century science lab at Saint Mary School, in the New Monmouth section of the township, is giving students and teachers a dedicated open space and environment with unobstructed views to work while performing numerous age-appropriate laboratory experiments.
“Previously students would have to walk across the parking lot to Mater Dei Prep to use the science lab there, and it was a problem because they lost a lot of valuable class and lab time,” said Craig Palmer, principal of Saint Mary School.
“Traveling, it would be about 10-15 minutes each way and in poor weather conditions even longer, and while we are so grateful for the use of Mater Dei’s facilities, we knew in the long run it would be a huge benefit to our students and community to design something here.”
According to Palmer, through local school officials, faculty, students and families working together and through the generous support of local community members to bring the lab to fruition, the space features SMART Board technology, a Z-Space virtual dissection system for experiments as well as state-of-the-art equipment, such as microscopes and hot plates, and new furniture and underground wiring and plumbing.
“We are so incredibly grateful for everyone’s help in bringing this to life,” Palmer said. “It was a real group effort and everyone came together.
“It was amazing to see how generous everyone was in providing their time, labor and resources because a lot went into this and we couldn’t be prouder.”
According to Palmer, the new lab is a first step in implementing a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)/Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Mathematics (STREAM) program at Saint Mary School for the 2016-17 school year.
The goal is to receive full STEM certification in grades 6-8 through AdvancED by the end of 2018.
Although the entire school will have a STEM/STREAM focus, Palmer said the new lab will be especially beneficial to students in grades 6-8.
“Where the [new lab] is now we thought would be a perfect spot because the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students travel that hallway a lot … and we’re excited to be able to provide this new lab to our students to help them succeed.”
Jeanette Wilmanski, professor of biology at St. Peter’s University, will assist the school in developing the STEM program, and Elaine Griffin, from the Diocese of Trenton, will also assist school officials and guide grant writing and grant proposal development efforts to fund the new STEM program.
“Dr. Wilmanski and Ms. Griffin will be great to work with as we work toward getting our certification,” Palmer said.
“There are a lot of great things happening here at Saint Mary School, and we want to see our students succeed, and we feel this new lab and the STEM/STREAM-focused curriculum is a move in the right direction.”
