Increase in science classes results in classroom rearranging and sharing

The science department has expanded significantly this year, with growth in the number of students taking AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science and AP Biology, all requiring the addition of one new class and a total of two new teachers in the department.

Chemistry teacher Janny Cahatol attributes the expansion to the “growing number of juniors and seniors who are doubling up on AP science courses.”  

As a part of this growth in science, new physics and chemistry honors teacher Matt Welander shares rooms with science teachers Janny Cahatol and Lisa Cochrum and department chair Jenny Garcia. 

Additionally, health teacher Amy Obenour has moved to room 201 by the art wing from her old science building room 1021, which is now being used by biology teacher Kristofer Orre. This growth has been challenging for the department.

“[Sharing classrooms] creates an issue not only for the new teachers but for old teachers as well,” Garcia said. “It’s difficult to set up labs and demos when your classroom is occupied by someone else’s class.”

For Welander, having to transport all of his materials to three different rooms within a five-minute passing period has been difficult.

“This means it's pretty difficult to meet with a student or answer questions right at the end of class,” Welander said. “I literally have to be running out the door as soon as the bell rings so I can get set up for the next period.”

Additionally, Welander has found it difficult to familiarize himself with each of the three different rooms.

“Teachers have their rooms set up slightly different, so I usually tell students, ‘there's a pencil sharpener in here if you can find one,’” Welander said.

Although it has been difficult for the teachers to adjust to sharing classrooms, Cahatol said that it is truly useful for students who plan to pursue science in the future.

“Now, students who are really interested in science can take all of the AP science courses before they graduate,” Cahatol said.

Some believe that being able to double sciences is useful for students who want to specialize in science.

“Doubling science lets students, who are interested in a certain field that requires more than one science, take all of the courses,” junior Rahil Khasgiwale, who is taking AP chemistry and AP Biology, said.

However, as Cahatol points out, doubling up on science can actually be a negative experience if approached incorrectly.

“Some students may feel like they should double up on AP sciences. However, the school wants you to have a healthy and well rounded high school experience,” Cahatol said.

The math department has also expanded with a new course and three new teachers. Intro to Engineering, which is offered this year to freshmen and sophomores, is being taught by math teacher Audrey Warmuth.

To compensate for the new course and increase in math course enrollment, math teachers Rafael Alapont, Lauchlin Loeffler and Meghan Pickett were all added this year.

Due to the lack of space, Warmuth and Alapont now share room 103.

“I understand the reasons why some teachers need to share a room, [including] space limitations and when certain teachers have prep, so it does not bother me,” Warmuth said.

She added that there are not any major challenges since each teacher is responsible with cleaning up supplies at the end of the day.

Welander, too, finds the situation manageable, and although he has to cart his supplies around and figure out each room, he has found a silver lining in the situation.

“I get to work more closely with each of those teachers and see how they teach their classes,” Welander said. “Mrs. Cahatol, Ms. Cochrum, and Mrs. Garcia are all amazing at what they do, and I'm very lucky to share rooms with them.”