Germantown Academy's mission
statement articulates the science department's guiding values and aspirations
and serves as the touchstone for all that we do. In our courses we consider the
best thinking of the past and present, associated societal obligations, and the
application of science in the context of our lives. The academic environment is
open and friendly, always striving for intellectual and scholarly growth. Being
part of a lab team fosters respect, caring and trust. From collecting lab
wastes to taking field trips to ecologically important sites, the students
continue to acquire a healthy respect for the environment.
The GA science department adopts a physics first
approach in the organization of its courses, building on a logical development
of concepts that study and order the natural world around us – from physics
through chemistry to biology.
Within that order is a program that allows a range of learning styles,
depending on interest, goals, and ability. This program includes three levels (foundations, SAT subject
test-prep, and honors) of all three major science disciplines. Courses allow students and faculty
alike to approach the traditional scientific disciplines with a fresh
perspective and an individual focus. Parts of the curriculum are highly
rigorous, but the whole is highly flexible. We offer a broad range of electives, including AP courses,
during the senior year. Woven
throughout this structure is the opportunity to actively take part in
individual science research and compete in science fairs. This adjunct science research program
allows for a student critical mass support of all interests.