Centennial High School - Eyrie Yearbook (Ellicott City, MD)

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Students Shoot For The Stars WE E U Ell 'SFEELIIZE Y 1 it -MM. 5 f ,-1' Bent over compound microscopes, centrifuges, stream tables, and laser guns, students gained knowledge and experience in the science area of Centennial. Possessing a variety of interests, ranging from minute atoms to the vast universe, most students were satisfied with the Science Department's well-qualified staff and sophisticated equipment. Mr. James Mowbray, head of the department, and the other science faculty strived to fulfill students' knowledge, experience, and credit needs. While students experimented on animals, minerals, and vegetables, their teachers experi- mented on them. Although large class sizes may have limited their techniques, the staff indulged in new ideas and fresh teaching approaches. One such approach was outdoor labs relating to Environmental Science. Although innovative ex- perimentation filled the classrooms, traditional quizzes, study questions, and notes were still the foundation for most classes. Keeping in mind the academically inclined, SX the department planned to introduce advanced . W... placement and independent research courses, in addition to the already instituted honors programs, into the 1979-80 science curriculum. 40 Science Department

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'lg ,y 5 'SV 1211. it Centennialfs e Social Studies Depart- mentgiunder they direction 'of Mr. Joseph Mitchell, offered a variety ofgcourses designed to develop a respectfor the,pastQ provide an understanding of the presentg and strengthen' the ability to deal with the problems of the future. The pro- gram emphasized the development of such basicskills as map readingt researching, book reportinggand conducting surveys and interviews. v 1 is i a v W p The department offered honorscourses in fU.S. History, World History, and Contemporary Issues to challenge those students of a higher ability and motivation. In-class discussion was emphasized in all classes to promote student involvement. The program was not,' however, limited to the classroom. V i ii Excursions to Annapolis, Howard County Criminal Court, and alocalfprison were among the many field trips sponsored by the department. Centennial also took parts in a program sponsored by the Howard County Police involving stu4 dents 'and police in pap 'Fnon-stress? situation toimprove the 'students' 'knowf ledge of the law. Contemporary Issues classes conducted ai mock election to involve students in :an activity approach to elections as well as to develop a school- wide interest in they actual,l'97Sfgeneral elections. Psychology classes from Centen- niali and fAtholton High, Schools Vico- operated in organizing a Mental Health Day which was designed to increase stu4 dent and community awareness of mental health problems and programs., iDuring Career Planning Weelcg the' department's grand-finale of an active -year, Centennial hosted many. guest speakers with fthe hope of generatinginterest and activity in careerplanning. i if i In 1978 they curriculum, was expanded with the introductionyof Psychology and Sociology,.v.Depending on student interest and enrollment figuresg the program C may further fexpand e ti to include aAmerican Indianf Studies 'and .,aAfro-American ,Studiesi a Q g Social Studies Department 39

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4 tu- 'JNL is W 5 N f I IREQQQQ,-,lQ t t X N s l X, is St? 4 'E ll K 4 if it CLOCK WISE FROM ABOVE, LEFT' Science Department: Pepe Sando- val, Harriet Powell, Pat Gottemoeller, Jim Mow- bray, Virginia McCarthy, Jane Geuder, .lim Finkg Two willing volunteers do- nate their bodies to science enabling students to study the human anatomyg Biol- ogy students Arthur Tate and Danny Payne peer at protozoansg ln Environmen- tal Science, Darryl Robert- son tackles questions on the hydrologic cycle during a chapter testg Assisted by Ms. McCarthy, Earth Sci- ence students, Ken Jenks, Kevin Geffert, and Ray Shaver study the Coriolis effectg Conversing during an experiment, Cathy Mabe, Lori Bimestefer and Robin Swinson adjust a balance to determine the mass of a reactant. Science Department 4l