Graphic Credit: Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

  West Senior High has a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunity for students. 9th and 10th graders now have the option to combine their English and science classes into one STEM block. Sophomore Dylan Gryglewski was in SciMaTech at West last year, and is now a part of the STEM 10 class.

  “I want to be a surgeon, and being in STEM is helping me by giving me a deeper understanding of science and math and also improving my writing skills,” Gryglewski said. 

  The main difference between STEM and SciMaTech is that STEM classes combine English and science into one block, while SciMaTech combined math and science. Joe Esper, principal at WSH says that we have always had one or two different ways to take regular classes in more creative ways, like STEM.

  “The STEM classes would just be an example of having some kind of specialty class for that segment of honors students that want to push themselves at a little higher level or want something more creative and different than their honors classes,” Esper said.

  Students who are part of the STEM block have many chances to connect with the community outside of school as well.

  “As we go through the year, there are hopefully more opportunities for speakers to come in and opportunities for them to get out and do field trips in the community,” Esper said.

  Megan Bartley is the STEM Academic Community Staff Advisor. She is in charge of overseeing all of the STEM classes, the academic community, and she organizes the field trips and guest speakers.

  “The STEM academic community allows us to reach beyond the school walls and see what it’s like to actually work in a STEM field or go to a school and study STEM,” Bartley said.

  Being a part of STEM helps expand your horizons and assist you in preparing for your future, no matter what you end up doing.

  “Starting here and following your passion is going to open up thousands and thousands of opportunities. I think it’s a really great foundation for starting that exploration of what you want to do when you get out of high school,” Bartley said.