The science department introduced the CP Zoology class, to be taught by science teacher Alexandra Bak. It will be a semester-long, elective course, so students can take a journey through the wide world of animals, alongside a basic science class like chemistry or biology.
“It will serve as an introduction to various vertebrate and invertebrate animals, their evolutionary relationships, and their anatomy and physiology,” Bak said. “We will begin with invertebrates and work our way up to more complex animals.”
Students from Bak’s biology classes are looking forward to expanding their scientific knowledge in a new direction; one that isn’t covered in classic CORE curriculums.
“Ms. Bak is a really fun and interesting teacher and learning from her about things she’s passionate about is really fun,” sophomore Ingrid Carlson said. “I’m excited about the possibility of learning more about animals and the ways they’re alike to us, as well as different.”
According to Bak, zoology is taught at many other high schools, so she had resources to draw upon when creating a base curriculum.
“I’ve never designed a new course from scratch before, so this has been a challenging but rewarding experience,” Bak said. “I am confident that this class will be engaging, informative, and a lot of fun.
Bak says she’s optimistic that the class will be popular among the student body. “So many people love animals, whether it’s your family dog or something more exotic, our animal companions always give us a reason to smile,” Bak said. “It will be perfect for people hoping to explore animal-based careers.”
Carlson said that the class could help push students to make an impact in the real world. “I think understanding zoology and the way that other species are surviving would be really helpful in figuring out how the human species will continue and fix climate change,” Carlson said.
Sophomore Brennan Rovak liked how the class can be taken as an elective. “I think it will make school better because it is fun and it works as a second science class,” Rovak said. “I love animals. I already know a lot and it would be fun to apply my knowledge.”
A main goal of the course is to encourage and fuel future careers related to biology or the animal world. Bak hopes that students learn the basics to make beneficial change later on.
“An understanding of the animal kingdom prepares you to be a more empathetic and knowledgeable citizen of our planet,” she said. “[I] hope that CP Zoology will ignite students’ passion for animals, and inspire them to be advocates for all the creatures that cannot speak for themselves.”
