HFCA Science Curriculum is Both Hands-on and Minds-on

Not that long ago, 8th grade science was limited to reading the chapter, memorizing facts, taking the test and moving on. That is definitely not the case at Holy Family Catholic Academy in Inverness.

Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Brian Prus, 8th grade science, math and STEM teacher, HFCA's 8th grade students spent a recent afternoon with not one, but four experts in their related field. The topic-the human heart.

A team made up of Dr. Vu Hoang, Cardio Thoracic Surgeon; Dr. Saroja Bharati, Cardiac Pathologist; and Jack Ryder and John Przybyl, both from Medtronics, Inc., the maker of heart valves and other technologies, spent over 2 hours talking to the budding scientists about the heart and restorative procedures. Says Dr. Hoang, "My hat is off to Holy Family Catholic Academy. Their hands-on science curriculum really energizes young minds with real world projects. I was so impressed with the maturity and motivation of these 8th grade students."

In addition to learning about the function of the heart, the team of medical professionals arranged for the students to dissect pig hearts and practice suturing. Adds John Przybyl, "In my experience, exposure to real science at this age is very rare. Often this level of learning doesn't even happen at the high school level."

Kate O'Brien, Principal explains HFCA's school-wide approach to science education. "All grades focus on mastering critical core content, but our teachers do not stop there. We challenge students to apply that knowledge to real world issues. The goal is for students to learn to think like scientists, problem solve, collaborate and communicate results."

The value of experiencing science this way is evidenced by observing HFCA's engaged and enthusiastic students. Said 8th grade student, Michael Ruben, "Today was life changing for me. It was so cool to learn from experts. I'm so happy I go to this school!"