May202009
Science Wing

POSTED AT 07:30 PM

As you know, we are very fortunate to be gaining a Science Wing addition at Cleveland High School.  We are so grateful to the members of the School Board, parents, and others in the community who have supported us in this endeavor.  Juniors, you have been in our science rooms all these years and know how badly we need new rooms, labs, furniture, and equipment.  Many of you have given comments and participated in science focus groups meetings.  We are so appreciative.  Freshmen (and possibly sophomores), you will actually have the opportunity to take some science classes in the new wing.  We are still planning specifics regarding the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics rooms.  Please post all your ideas.  How do you think the rooms should be arranged?  What type of furniture would you like?  What type of equipment do you think we should have?  What type of flooring would be best?  Where and how big should the sinks be?  What about computers?  How many should we have?  Where should they be located?  How would you like to use them in a science class?  Please tell us what you think about these things or anything else you can think of pertaining to the CHS Science Wing. 
16 Comments Add a comment

Comments

 
  • Zach

    First Comment!!
    I must say I'm pretty sad that I won't get to experience the new science wing. As you said, the juniors have had to use the rooms that we have right now which aren't that bad, but could defiantly be better. Honestly, the biggest problem I have with the lab rooms are the sinks. They just aren't big enough and have poor drainage. Also the lab rooms should have some sort of vent installed in the ceiling to keep fresh air going through while we're dissecting organisms. The smell is okay for the first day or two, but after a while it just gets gross in there and in the classroom. I'm defiantly coming back to look at the new building.

    5/20/2009 10:18:04 PM
  • Sofia

    I am extremely excited about the new science wing. I think it will be fantastic. I think we are in desperate need for new equipment and SPACE to work and expand our knowledge. I think that we should definitely have more lab space and definitely bigger sinks... big enough to wash the cats and sharks would be great. I also think we should purchase new dissection trays and equipment. Some of the probes are even coming apart. In addition, I think having a computer lab for the science wing would be a great asset. We often went to do lab benches or other research, and having a computer lab right there would make it much easier. It would also be nice if we had larger lab stations. While dissecting the cat and shark, something it got a bit crowded. Having new lab coats and goggles would be great too. The ones that we currently have are getting a bit worn out and it’s time for new ones. We might also want to consider getting new microscopes. Sometimes it takes too long when we have to look through microscopes in large groups. I am really excited about the new science wing and about the new equipment. I am very excited for the new students who will get to enjoy it.

    5/21/2009 10:13:47 PM
  • Sofia

    I am extremely excited about the new science wing. I think it will be fantastic. I think we are in desperate need for new equipment and SPACE to work and expand our knowledge. I think that we should definitely have more lab space and definitely bigger sinks... big enough to wash the cats and sharks would be great. I also think we should purchase new dissection trays and equipment. Some of the probes are even coming apart. In addition, I think having a computer lab for the science wing would be a great asset. We often went to do lab benches or other research, and having a computer lab right there would make it much easier. It would also be nice if we had larger lab stations. While dissecting the cat and shark, something it got a bit crowded. Having new lab coats and goggles would be great too. The ones that we currently have are getting a bit worn out and it’s time for new ones. We might also want to consider getting new microscopes. Sometimes it takes too long when we have to look through microscopes in large groups. I am really excited about the new science wing and about the new equipment. I am very excited for the new students who will get to enjoy it.

    5/21/2009 10:13:52 PM
  • jennifer

    The new science wing is going to be wonderful! Coming from a student who has taken multiple science classes is the current building, I can think of a few things that would be great for the new rooms. One important thing is the lab stations. The stations need to be large enough to work on dissections and the sinks need to be much larger than those we have now, and also deep enough to submerge our trays for cleaning. The stations should also have good lighting. Also, there need to be air vents in every lab for ventilation of the gases and chemicals (and preservative smell!!) I think that the best floor to have would be hard, but with some sort of texture so students won't slip. This hard surface would be good for easy cleaning if a spill occurs. One thing that we have never had is a computer in the lab room. Having a few computers, possibly five or six, would be great because it would allow the students to view dissections on databases and see things from a different perspective, and find information online.

    5/22/2009 8:59:40 AM
  • Joshua E.

    Adding on a new science wing to the school was a great idea. I believe that having up to date computers in the lab room would be amazing so that we could look up information that would be beneficial to our learning. The lab rooms really need to be larger than they are now and it would be good for them to have a hard tile floor, (carpets dont do so well during fires XD) plus a hard floor would be much easier to clean up. The sinks and the labs stations need to be larger so that more people could be at the labs and clean larger items like cats and sharks. WE NEED SHARPER CUTTING UTENSILS!! It is very annoying when it is actually easier to use your hands and fingers to skin an animal rather than use a scalpel.

    5/22/2009 3:32:50 PM
  • Erica

    I'm excited that we're getting a new science wing, but I wish we would get to work in it. I think the classrooms we have now are arranged well. I personally like the older desks that have space beneath them to put books and such, rather than the baskets under the chairs. Much too small.
    I also like having the sinks between the lab stations because it makes adding water to something or washing tools easy. They need to be bigger though! It was a hassle to have to go in the back room to wash the cats and sharks - it would have gone faster if we all had large sinks.
    We desperately need ventilation! Preserved carcasses start to make EVERYTHING smell after too long. When you can smell the lab room from the hallway, there's something wrong.
    I wish the computers in the lab worked... That would be so cool! Then we could do the lab benches in the classroom and actually do the labs, instead of just reading about them.
    And as for flooring, tile seems to be the best choice. Carpet is absolutely out of the question, and wood is expensive and would get ruined quickly.
    I can't wait to see the new building!

    5/22/2009 4:04:03 PM
  • Zach W

    In texas we had special chambers to do our dangerous expiraments. They were sealed off by glass and had controls for a simple robotic system to control the reaction or expirament in a protected area. we did labs with methane and other dangerous gases, liquids and fire in these chambers. I think this would help the more advanced science classes to learn how certain reactions occur such as lithium and water.

    5/22/2009 7:14:48 PM
  • Matt

    The biggest thing; I think we need is... new sinks! The ones we have are so small it is crazy and nasty water gets everywhere. Also possibly new microscopes; ours are at least from 1980. Also I think each subject should have its own floor/area. I think it would be a good idea to have alienware computers; though I know that will never happen. The only think bad about the new science wing is the now seniors will not be able to enjoy it.

    5/23/2009 10:23:21 AM
  • Shaina

    I am so excited about the new science wing even tho I am graduating next year. It's a wonderful experience that the underclassmen will be able to participate in. I definitely think the sinks need to be quite large in the new building. With all the experiments we have done in our science classes the sinks we have now just don't cut it. Computers would be so awesome to have in the lab as well so we could even do research as we work on experiments and dissections. As for equipment, hopefully newer models of everything we have now and more! I can't wait to see the finished project I am so excited!

    5/23/2009 5:23:02 PM
  • Shivani

    OK first the sinks need to be a bit bigger and the drains need to be better the tables need to be a bit bigger.and the area were we work can get a little crowed were we stand and fresh air would be nice.Other than that it is all good.... =]

    5/24/2009 2:48:06 AM
  • Andrea

    I'm so glad we're getting a new science wing. Our science classrooms need help. Lab stations need to be bigger so that more people can fit at one without being squished, like when someone would find something and half the class would swarm that person. That is not the time to be claustrophobic. Bigger sinks are a must. When we were washing off the dissection trays, water kept spilling everywhere because the tray was bigger than the sink. It didn't work out too well. I think some sort of tile would be good for the floor. Carpet's no good, it would get stained really quickly. Ditto on wood. I think computers would be good to have, but they probably need to be away from the lab stations, so they won't get odd juices on them. I think that I will be taking Biology II in the science wing, so a good ventilation system is a must. I remember the smell of cats and sharks, and don't really want to smell that again, and I'm sure the upcoming freshmen don't want to either. At least not that strongly.

    5/24/2009 2:59:49 PM
  • JeannieLong

    All of your comments are great. I will pass all of them along as they are right on target. If you have not commented yet or if you think of something to add to a comment you have already made, feel free.

    5/24/2009 8:03:52 PM
  • Rebecca

    I think that we should definately have tile floors. Carpet is not only susceptable to stains, but it is more difficult to clean and more likely to hold odors. Wood is also a bad idea. Wood is often more expensive and tends to not do well when mixed with water. Some sort of ventilation is a must because of dissections that take multiple days and the odor associated with them. I believe that if the budget permits, we should get lab stations set up where each group will have their own sink. When cleaning up, the other group's papers tend to get wet from the water splashing off the tray when caution is not used. If the budget does not permit this, then each of the sinks needs to be bigger in the new wing than they are in this one and that should help most of it. As for computers, I don't believe that they are necessary, but they could be helpful so I suggest that they only purchase enough computers to be at 1 to 4 with the approximate student ratio.. I'm excited about the new wing and am so glad that I'll get to take classes in it. :)

    5/26/2009 8:02:09 PM
  • Abby

    I'm so glad we're getting a new science wing. I'm just sad that i wont get to experience it. I think in the labs, we should have at least one sink big enough to clean off the big trays we used for the cat and the shark, because that was difficult. I agree with Rebecca's idea of each group getting their own sinks. My papers have gotten wet so many times during the labs, in fact i don't think there was a lab when i had chemistry that my paper didn't get wet. it was so bad one time that i had to close my lab paper in my book so it would dry flat. It would be nice if the others didn't have to experience this as well. And i think the lab tables should be wider. Trying to get it to where six people could see one thing inside the cat was a little difficult. It would make things easier. I know no matter what, though, the new wing will be awesome.

    5/27/2009 4:02:37 PM
  • Lauren

    I think the new science wing will be awesome! I really wish my class would have the opportunity to use it! It is very exciting that our school is finally adding on to it, the science rooms are not all up to date. In the new science labs there needs to be bigger sinks for sure!! Wider and deeper!!! Also bigger tables to work on with about two computers at each lab table. It would be neat if the lab and classroom were in the same room... for example the lab part on one side and the desk part on the other side. The floor should be a textured so kids do not slip an fall when the floot is wet... There needs to be more space in the room and brighter lights. Also I believe there needs to be windows that can be oped for venting. I am really excited about the new science wing even though I will not get to use it, my brother is an upcoming freshman and he will get to enjoy it!

    5/27/2009 5:38:17 PM
  • Brette

    I think the biggest problem is the ventilation. Last year we had to skip some chemistry labs because we couldn't handle the odors and gases from the reactions without some sort of ventilation. I think that would also help with the pungent smell of dissections. Instead of the smell just sitting in the still room it would be moved out. We also need bigger sinks.. they need to be big enough to wash the sharks and cats.

    5/27/2009 9:08:49 PM
 

Add comment

38.107.191.115

*required

 

  

 

Notify me when new comments are added
Include comments...