November 1, 2017
To meet the challenges of today’s world, students must be able to think critically, engage in creative problem-solving, and have the ability to communicate effectively in both the written and spoken voice. Increasingly, our knowledge-based and highly technical society relies on continued innovation in science, engineering, and technology to meet the complex demands of ensuring a prosperous and healthy society while sustaining balanced earth systems in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
For many years, Waring School has continued to develop a science program that provides students with meaningful experiences for understanding the natural sciences and related technologies through rigorous study, observation, and experimentation. Science at Waring seeks to foster growth and development of scientific methods, scientific knowledge, and creative problem-solving. Waring believes scientific knowledge encourages students to develop a personal relationship with nature and provides the scaffolding for understanding sustainability and the responsibility of environmental stewardship. This connection to nature supports the student’s natural enthusiasm, wonder, and pursuit of knowledge and sets the stage for continuing this pursuit beyond Waring School.
In the fall of 2017 because of the generous support of the Waring community, the Waring Industrial Park (WIP) was opened as a resource to develop extracurricular opportunities for students to explore concepts in engineering and technology. Of the many activities that have taken place in the WIP, the signature program has been our work with FIRST LEGO League (FLL). In three short years, students involved with FLL robotics have earned state and national recognition for their innovative and creative approach to FLL challenges as well as qualified for the FLL World Championship twice. Last year, the team was profiled by the Boston Globe.
Two years later, in the fall of 2019, Waring responded to a growing interest in computer programming, coding, and engineering skills by revamping the Group 1 science curriculum to be based on semester-long classes in applied technology and engineering. Each Group 1 student takes a semester of programming using individual ChromeBooks and the Python coding language as well as a semester of engineering through the design, development, and construction of balloon powered cars, the parts of which are created with design software and built with a 3d printer.
For all levels of the student population at Waring School, the Forum has become the center of study in the natural sciences and a growing number of project-based opportunities in engineering and technology. To recognize our current mix of programs and to build a coordinated organizational structure that will foster further growth, development, and integration of our work in the natural sciences, technology, and engineering, Waring School is pleased to announce the creation of the Department of Science, Engineering, and Technology (S.E.T.).
The mission of the Science, Engineering, and Technology Department is to create a program in which all Waring students have the opportunity to blend academic study and experience in the study of the natural sciences with a fundamental understanding of concepts and skills in technology and engineering. Over the next two years, Waring will engage in a strategic planning process and begin to identify and develop S.E.T. programs as resources and program schedule allows.
As a first step in this regard, beginning in September of 2020, Waring is strongly considering the possibility of offering First Tech Challenge (FTC) as an opportunity for students from Group 2 to Group 5 to engage in designing, building, and programming robots and participate in FTC challenges and selected regional competitions.
