Got Science? Staten Island Tech does!
The mission of the science department is to inspire students to question the scientific content of their world while building 21st century skills. This is an essential motivation that will engage our students to become global citizens and to prepare them for advanced study in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine. Our staff consists of seasoned teachers, former scientists, medical professionals, and engineers who bring their real-world careers into the classroom. This is the element that enables Staten Island Technical High School to be recognized as an outstanding institution in STEM.
The advanced curriculum of this department consists of honors level classes in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. We offer several Advanced Placement and elective courses to parallel our higher level of student interest. Forensics and Anatomy classes are examples of our science “out-of-the-box” programs offering unique approaches to discovery. There are various opportunities to participate in elevated competitions such as the Science Olympiad, the New York City Science and Engineering Fair, and the Regeneron Science Talent Search. These are activities that are not common place in many high schools.
AP PHYSICS
“One of the most memorable moments in AP Physics, has to be when Mr. Ferrigno dropped water balloons on a moving target. The target was Mr. Spellacy. Doing this lab allowed me to recognize how to calculate the values captured within the concept of freefall, but it also brought a healthy amount of laughter to everyone involved. This was one day I will never forget.”
- Maddox Garetti, ‘22
AP CHEMISTRY
“My favorite thing about Ms. Nickolauk’s class is the demos. We’re able to see those rules and principles come to life as they are applied in the real world. A demo I remember was when we made ice cream. We had to shake a container that had a salt solution, ice and cream for a solid 20 minutes. Even though it took a long time, we got to enjoy the frozen treat we deserved.”
- Fiona Feng, ’22
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
“Science Olympiad has been one of the defining experiences of my time at Tech. You’d never guess how competitive and, believe it or not, fun taking science tests could be. As someone who enjoys participating in three seasons of PSAL sports, I can confidently assert that Science Olympiad is a team sport. Besides the memories, medals, and skills I’ve gained over the years, I’ve made a good number of friends. Not to mention an absurd amount of very specific knowledge on topics ranging from fossils to LEDs - things I’d never learn in the classroom. “
- Paul Khoury ‘22
AP PSYCHOLOGY
“The most memorable part from AP Psych was the lesson when Mrs. D’Anna taught us about conditioning. She gave us sugar and by the end of the period we were all drooling every time we heard a bell!”
- Elaine Dong, ‘21
SERP
“My favorite part of SERP is the total freedom of finding a topic you are passionate about and creating something out of it. Under the guidance of Mrs. Cavaliere and Dr. Davis, I am able to meet my full potential, and establish connections with important individuals in and out of school. With the help of my mentor, Ms. Nickolauk, I developed a complex project from a simple idea while at the same time learning important communication and teamwork skills.”
- Jessica Gart, ‘22