The stench of formaldehyde fills the sophomore biology classroom as students dissect a squid and the teacher explains the creature's inner workings. But biology is just the beginning. Soon the students in Padua's MedTrack program will work with doctors and nurses to gain hands-on experience. This advanced math and science curriculum began in 2009 to give teens a taste of medicine. "There's an exposure with professionals in the field that the students would have ... difficulty obtaining if they weren't in our program," says MedTrack counselor Virgildee Daniel. Eighth-graders apply separately from regular Padua admissions, and after credits in science, math, language, medical terminology, and bioethics and Franciscan life issues, students graduate with a certificate.
With expanded extracurricular options, local schools are creating communities around involvement in sports, academics and new styles of learning in the classroom.
