The Science Department at Saint Patrick is running a program that allows them to share their facilities and equipment with students from local elementary schools that don’t usually have access to top-notch science facilities.  Saint Patrick reached out earlier this fall, offering use of the school’s biology lab and microscope equipment to assist elementary school teachers with their lessons on microscopy.  Letters were sent to local elementary schools, listing ten dates that the lesson would be offered, and scheduling was done on a first come-first served basis.  Groups from St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Vincent Ferrer have already come to Saint Patrick, and groups from the following schools are scheduled: Our Lady of Victory, St. Eugene, St. Tarcissus, St. Constance, St. Edward, St. Pascal, and St. Ladislaus.

Christopher Perez, who teaches Physical Science at Saint Patrick, took the students through a two-hour lesson in microscopy.  The students learned the basics of working with a light microscope, including the parts that make up a microscope and how to use the equipment correctly.  Students also learned how to properly prepare slides for viewing.  After they were comfortable with the microscopes, the students analyzed various slides and recorded their observations.

On October 30, teachers Nicole D’Alessandro and Kristin Mazek brought a group of 34 seventh graders from St. Vincent Ferrer Elementary School, and they were thrilled with their visit to Saint Patrick. “This is great, because the students each get their own microscope to work with,” said Mazek, who teaches Science.  “We usually have three or four students sharing a microscope.  Mazek was particularly grateful for the door-to-door transportation service, “they even came to pick us up, so it is like a free field trip for us.”