School of Science and Technology

School of Science and Technology
Address
1841 SW Merlo Drive [1]
Beaverton, Oregon
United States
Information
Type Public
Established 1993
Oversight Beaverton School District
Principal Mary Jean Katz[2]
Vice principal Bill Klatz[3]
Faculty 8
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 180 (2011)
Campus Suburban
Color(s) Maroon and forest green
Mascot Flying Hedgehogs
Newspaper The Hub
Website SST Homepage

The School of Science and Technology (SST) is an accredited, public high school located in Beaverton, Oregon, United States. It is a magnet program within Merlo Station High School for students who have an interest in mathematics, life and physical sciences, and technology. As of 2013, a Bond Measure was passed and SST plans to move to the building of the Beaverton Health & Science School in the school year 2015-2016.

History

SST began as a Certificate of Initial Mastery program called the School of Natural Resources Science and Technology, or NRST, in 1993. The school occupied an old warehouse, which was renovated a few months before the program's opening. The name was eventually shortened to School of Science and Technology (SST). Eleanor Campbell (Literature and Foreign language teacher) is the last remaining staff member still teaching.

Students

As of February 2011, 58% of students were Caucasian, 24% Asian or Pacific Islander, 8% Hispanic, 1% Black, and 7% fit into multiple categories. 21% are on free or reduced lunch, 14% are eligible for special education, and 1% are enrolled in ESL. 31% were enrolled in TAG in middle or elementary school, significantly higher than the 11% district average. The state of Oregon has consistently rated SST "outstanding" in its annual report card. [4]

The average SAT score was 602 in critical reading, 620 in math, and 569 in writing. Of the 41 graduating students in 2005, 38 graduated with their Certificate of Initial Mastery.[5]

Teachers

Eric Passes- English

Joel Laney- Science, including Biology, STEM Chemistry, Science Research, STEM Physics

Wendi Wise- Social sciences

Ting Sheppy- Math

Laurel Black- Biology

Hector Morales- Science & Advanced Math, including AP Biology, STEM Chemistry

Eleanor Campbell- AP English, Foreign Language

Schedule

After undergoing serious budget cuts, the schedule follows a typical, A/B block schedule. A-days are odd-numbered classes, B-days are even-numbered classes.

Period Time
Period 1/2 7:40AM – 9:05AM
Period 3/4 9:10AM – 10:35AM
Period 5/6 10:40AM – 12:10AM
Lunch 12:10PM – 12:40PM
Period 7/8 12:40PM – 2:05PM

Culture

SST is a diverse school with students who pursue many different activities. Students enjoy computer games, magic tricks, sports, music, and debates.

Clubs

Clubs that take place in SST or consist primarily of SST students include Drama, Mock Trial, M.U.N (Model United Nations), and Green Club.

These clubs are held on their own terms, for the reason that we have had to make time for the advisory class.

A new club, SST Dodgeball, was started in 2012 by students. SST Dodgeball is one of the largest clubs at SST, with almost half of the students either actively participating or joining in on Free-play days. The club currently holds two tournaments a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. [6]

Application process

Until 2007, students who wished to apply were required to follow an application process which involved writing three essays and an interview from one of the SST teachers. However, in effect from 2007–2008 onward, the Beaverton School District simplified the application process to a single "option school" application. This removed the essays and the interview from the application process. Due to the controversy of the change in application process, the Beaverton School District modified their new system to allow 15% of students to be accepted based on talent or sibling status, while the other 85% would continue to use the streamlined application.

This new application process is a point of controversy among students, who hold one of two points of view. The first is that the new, incoming students, will not be weeded out from the harder application, which before the change, meant that only students that wanted to attend would be accepted to SST. They fear that the attitude of students who are accepted into SST, by the easier application, will change the unique culture that they have grown accustomed to. The second opinion is that SST will gain new life from the potential "flood" of new students who were put off by the old application process. Students of this line of thought use the fact that the class of 2010 turned out to be much smaller than any of the other classes in recent history, presumably from lack of applicants under the old application process. This was a result of the teachers being unable to promote SST to as many 8th graders students. The new application process arguably better promotes SST to incoming freshmen.

Shadowing

All applicants to the School of Science and Technology are encouraged to shadow a current student for a day. This allows the applicant to see the school in its entirety, and to see a "day in the life" of an average student. This enables them to make the most informed decision regarding their application. If an applicant decides to shadow, he or she is assigned to a student of the same gender, same high school, and a similar grade, as the shadow. In addition to shadowing, attendance to both school open houses and tours is promoted.

Related links

References

  1. ↑ Merlo Station High School – Google Maps. Maps.google.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-03.
  2. ↑ Beaverton School District – Home > Schools > Merlo. Beaverton.k12.or.us (2009-10-09). Retrieved on 2013-01-03.
  3. ↑ Staff – Merlo Station. Sites.google.com (2012-08-15). Retrieved on 2013-01-03.
  4. ↑ Beaverton School District – Home > Schools > Merlo > Science & Technology Detailed Snapshot. Beaverton.k12.or.us (2009-10-09). Retrieved on 2013-01-03.
  5. ↑ School of Science and Technology. 2005–2006 School Report Card. ode.state.or.us
  6. ↑ http://sstdodgeball.wix.com/sstdb

7. ^http://www.angelfire.com/in4/sst/studentlife/teachers&clubs/momo.html

External links

Coordinates: 45°30′28″N 122°50′55″W / 45.5079°N 122.8486°W