Whittell science lab revamped

3/09 Tahoe Mt. News unedited

By Kathryn Reed

Glass is bending. Chemicals are reacting. Across the hall, fermenting creatures stink up the classroom.
Science at Whittell High School is a whole new animal this school year. Although the same classes are offered, last summer’s frenetic construction season resulted in the overhaul of the two science labs.
Today’s rooms allow for students to perform more experiments instead of watching their instructors have all the fun.
“It makes it a lot easier and more convenient for us,” said junior Kelly McKay as she worked on a hydrochloric acid test. “It was more crowded before.”
Students in each room have drawers to store their things so it’s not a mad scramble to search for the necessary apparatus for that day’s lesson. It’s easier on the teachers because their tools are in a room attached to this lab. A window from the storage area to the classroom allows for the easy transfer of supplies.
Acids and flammables are stored back there.
After the lecture, each chemistry student dons safety goggles before mixing components to see if solids or liquids are created.
Four students can work at each of the six lab stations. Electrical outlets and water are at each one. A fume hood stores the volatile chemicals. Inside the cabinets are various burners and other tools of the trade.
“We went from Third World to state-of-the-art,” teacher Brain Rippet said. “It allows you to be more creative as a teacher and have a better experience as a student. Before it was a box with a few lab supplies.”
Phil Sorenson used to teach biology and other sciences in a room with a sink and nothing else that most science rooms contain.
“The last room was basically a carpeted wood or auto shop. It was not setup for labs,” Sorenson said.
Both teachers were instrumental in designing the classrooms and the setup area that is adjacent to Rippet’s room. A dish washer for glassware cuts down on prep time. A high-end refrigerator keeps critters that are ready to be dissected at the proper temperature – including the cats that are used in biology 2. A ventilation system circulates fresh air so formaldehyde doesn’t linger in the air. Cupboards provide much needed storage. Countertops are heat and chemical resistant. Work stations make the setting more conducive to teaching and learning.
Rippet and Sorenson consulted with the architect to create their work environments. District CFO Holly Luna weighed in when necessary. Curriculum Director Lyn Gorrindo, who used to teach chemistry, was an integral player in the design.
Besides the layout, a few high-end components are in the two rooms because of donations from Tahoe-Douglas Rotary. An autoclave, which sterilizes supplies, is in the back room. “Pat” the human form cost $6,000. Twenty-four pieces come off the skeleton so students can learn about muscles and internal workings of the human body.
“This is helpful in anatomy class. We don’t have cadavers,” Sorenson said.
He uses the Rotary supplied DNA electro freeze set in his forensics class.
This particular day Sorenson’s biology students are looking at a frog, grasshopper, crawfish, starfish, earthworm and other pickled specimens to determine what they have in common.
“We are classifying them by which organisms have similar characteristics,” explained freshman Oliver Curial.
All of this is done by drawing a cladogram.
“Their skills are so more advanced because they are able to do more,” Rippet said of the students in all science classes.
With the wireless classroom Rippet was able to have his AP chemistry students do an online computer simulation project about equilibrium. With a high-tech calculator they can make graphs from the data they’ve collected.
All of the upgrades should help Whittell students perform well on the high school proficiency exam. This year’s juniors are the first in Nevada to have to pass that test.