Tag: science
2021 Retirees: Steve Kerr
Learn more about the outstanding contributions to SMUS by Senior School physics teacher Steve Kerr
2021 Retirees: Eileen Amirault
Learn more about the outstanding contributions to SMUS by Senior School science teacher Eileen Amirault
Changing the World, One Science Fair Project at a Time!
Julie Harris highlights the ingenuity and passion students put on display at this week's science fair
SMUS in the News: Dr. Curran Crawford ’96 Looks at Converting CO2 to Rock
Dr. Curran Crawford '96 speaks with the CBC about his work to reduce carbon emissions from the global atmosphere
Grade 6 Students Pitch Proposals to Redesign SMUS
A cross-curricular project sees Middle School students redesigning their school with an eye on sustainability
Students to Spend Summer Working as Cancer Researchers
Two Grade 11 students will spend their summer working on groundbreaking cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency in Victoria. Christian Turpin and Kevin...
The Next Generation of City Planners
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2018 issue of School Ties.
by Kyle Slavin
If you were given the challenge of redesigning an important urban space,...
Photo Gallery: Middle School Students Shine at Science Fair
Middle School students presented their research and findings at the annual Science Fair this week
From Windmills to Lying: Science Fair Explains It All
Grade 6, 7 and 8 students used the Scientific Method to investigate questions or design an innovation for the Middle School Science Fair
Grade 7 Students Display Their Work at the Royal BC Museum
Grade 7 science students researched different species and spent time at the Royal BC Museum talking with museum guests about their projects
New Middle School Club is a Great Place to be Crabby!
Grade 10 student Matias Totz writes about the newly founded Marine Science Club at the Middle School
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mrs. Beth Johnston
Chemistry teacher Mrs. Beth Johnston is highlighted in this week's Teacher Feature. She's also opening up her classroom as part of Fall Spark Open House on Oct. 20
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mrs. Sarah Donatelli
Middle School teacher Mrs. Sarah Donatelli is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Lindy Van Alstine
Middle School science teacher Ms. Lindy Van Alstine, who retires this year after 26 years at SMUS, is featured in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Mike Jackson
Senior School science teacher Mr. Mike Jackson is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
AP Students Travel to Bamfield for Hands-On Environmental Science
Grade 12 student Gina Brown writes about the AP Environmental Science field trip to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
SMUS in the News: Grade 4 Students Explore the ‘Emerald Forest’
June 8, 2016
CTV Vancouver Island
Fish Eye Project presents The Emerald Forest (clip starts at 20:20)
Experiential Learning: Was Mr. Buckingham Murdered?
Was it Mr. Jackson in the lunch room with the knife? Or was it Professor Plum in the laboratory with the lead pipe?
It's early Monday...
Eggs-periential Learning 2.0: Ducklings Hatch at the Junior School
On the heels of the recent exciting news that our Grade 2 classes successfully hatched a trio of baby chicks, we're proud to announce...
Eggs-periential Learning: Grade 2 Classes Welcome Baby Chicks
Mr. Giggles, Cottonball and Fluffy are the three newest members of our Grade 2 population, after the trio of baby chicks hatched in class Tuesday...
My Week as a Gene Researcher
My interest in science began at a hospital when my grandmother was diagnosed with diabetes. I was intrigued by the thought that there were...
SMUS in the News: New Documentary Features Dr. Bri Budlovsky ’04
April 8, 2016
Dr. Bri Budlovksy (née Bentzon) '04
Oak Bay News
Doc. features Oak Bay-raised doc
Times Colonist
Former Oak Bay woman now a doctor in hospital reality...
SMUS in the News: Delphine Ji ’16 Becomes a Gene Researcher for a Week
Prince George Citizen
March 15, 2016
Delphine Ji '16
Federal grant for mushroom research at UNBC
(photo courtesy of the Prince George Citizen)
Astronaut Chris Hadfield Talks Space, Music and Education with SMUS Students
Astronaut Chris Hadfield became the unofficial ambassador of science to the universe in 2013 when he took command of the International Space Station and gained international attention...
Grade 12 Student Uses Science Fair Project to Offer a Helping Hand
As 3D printers grow in availability around the world, so too will affordable 3D-printed products. And one of the more innovative and life-changing devices that makers...
Brain Awareness Week: Middle School Learns About Brain Injuries
A visit from UVic's Let's Talk Science outreach team was one of the big highlights of Brain Awareness Week at the Middle School. Not...
Marine Biology and Philanthropy: A Visit to the Vancouver Aquarium
Grade 4 students headed across the water this week for a memorable visit to the Vancouver Aquarium.
This field trip was more than just a...
Junior School Students Go Crazy for Science!
by Nina Duffus, Grade 2 teacher
It may not be the most common of career paths, but there are now 49 young sleuths at the...
A Sanctuary of Experiential Learning: Swan Lake Christmas Hill
Microscope Discoveries is a school program offered at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.
On a warm but rainy fall morning, Grade 6 students...
The Diversity of Living Things: A Visit from SeaQuaria
Recently, SeaQuaria, a local organization that brings sea life into the classroom, visited the Grade 6 classes to introduce the new critters that will...
Tolmie’s Rugged Hill: A Grade 7 Perspective
by Angelina & Josh, Grade 7
On Thursday, September 11th, the Grade 7 Science students at the Middle School went with Mr. Floyd, Mr. Jackson...
A Day Aboard CCGS Tully with Ocean Networks Canada
SMUS Science department head Mike Jackson spent September 17 with an Ocean Networks Canada dive team on the CGCS Tully in the Saanich Inlet.
My Journey to Gene Researcher For a Week
by Cindy Kim, Grade 11
I was a sickly child, living in hospitals more than I did at home as my body attracted all kinds...
Science 8 Students Look Into Hearts
Science 8 students partnered up for a major biology lab last week, where they concluded their study of the heart with a hands-on examination...
Grade 6 Scientist Becomes Teacher
Yesterday afternoon, the Grade 4 students had the opportunity to listen to Grade 6 student Larry Yu. The class is starting their Light and...
Brain Awareness Week: Middle School
Many of the Brain Awareness Week events at SMUS focused on research, what we can do to improve our learning and how our brains...
Brain Awareness Week: Junior School
by Tori, Grade 5
This year Brain Awareness Week was lots of fun and I learned so much. I enjoyed learning about how my brain...
How to Build a Catapult
Grade 1 and 3 students paired up for a foray into physics, building small catapults as part of the younger students' study of fairy...
Climate Change Showdown
Our Middle School has had the environment on its mind this week. Last Friday, the Eco-warriors won a presentation from the BC Sustainability Energy...
Students on Ice in Antarctica
by Tessa Owens, Grade 11
This winter, I was lucky enough to participate in a two-week international scientific expedition to Antarctica called Students on Ice....
Bamfield Trip Fuels Environmental Science Experience
Way back in 2013, our AP Environmental Science students travelled to Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Soon after they returned, we received this great report...
Getting to the Heart of Anatomy at UVic
by Nicky Newsome, Grade 5 teacher
This week, we visited the Medical Sciences Building at the University of Victoria! Students were treated to fascinating pictures...
Compost Education
by Maggie S, Grade 2
Last week the Grade 2 class went to the Compost Education Centre. We learned how the compost cycle works. We...
SMUS in the News: Ann’s Google Science Fair Win
Ann Makosinski '15
September 24, 2013
Global News
Victoria teen wins top honours at Google Science Fair for ‘Hollow Flashlight’
NBC News
Teens face down flu viruses, energy crises...
A Google Science Fair Summer
One of our students had a particularly exciting summer; Ann Makosinski was the sole Canadian out of 15 finalists in the Google Science Fair,...
SMUS in the News: B.C. teen’s ‘Hollow Flashlight’ project makes Google Science Fair finals
Ann Makosinski, Grade 10 student.
Global News
June 27, 2013
B.C. teen’s ‘Hollow Flashlight’ project makes Google Science Fair finals
Huffington Post
June 28, 2013
Ann Makosinski, Google Science Fair...
Science Challenges and Triumphs
by Lisa Hyde-Lay, teacher
This year, we entered three teams of four kids from Grades 6 to 8 in the All Science Challenge. Each had...
No Batteries Required
Just in time for Earth Week, we spoke to Ann Makosinski, whose human-powered flashlight just won her a trip to the Canada-Wide Science Fair....
Boning Up On Anthropology
As part of their animal study, the Grade 2 class visited UVic’s Anthropology Department, where they learned interesting facts about animal bones and teeth...
Miraculous Marine Creatures
On a visit to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Grade 6 students witnessed our amazing local marine life in action, including the camouflage abilities...
A Look Into The Eye
As part of their biology unit, Science 8 students get to dissect a real ocular specimen from some bovine donors. For their lab, students...
Reptiles Return
Just before the break, Middle School Science students hosted some very special visitors from the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Accompanied by their...
AP Environmental Science: (Cold & Wet) Hands-On Learning
by Becca Clayton, Grade 12 student
There’s just something about digging your hands into what you’re learning (though you may have cold and wet hands...
AP Students Perfect Their Chemistry
by Christina Chwyl and Clayton Fair, Grade 12
Phenomenal flashes of light, crazy colour changes and shrilling sounds were abundant at the school's first “Chem...
Grade 7 Voices in the Wilderness
Pictures by Zyoji Jackson
by Sophie, Grade 7
On May 1, the Grade 7 science classes went on a field trip to Goldstream Park. While we...
Have Snakes, Will Travel
by Darin Steinkey
As part of their Diversity of Living Things unit, Grade 6 and 7 science classes welcomed four visitors from the Travelling Snake...
Grade 6 Students Discover Ocean Life
At the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, SMUS students got a chance to see some local aquatic species up close. The centre has a variety...
Dr. Lotus Vermeer ’86 Speaks to Junior and Senior Students
Last week, Dr. Lotus Vermeer '86 visited the Junior and Senior Schools to speak to students about her work in conservation and species recovery....
SMUS in the News: The Innovators
October 11, 2011
Victoria Times Colonist (via Yahoo)
Dr. Patrick Gill '97
The Innovators: Tiny camera opens world of potential
Kindergarten Class Teaches Parents About Marine Life
The Kindergarten children invited their parents to school to share their learning about our unit on "Our Big Blue Planet". The "big ideas" we...
Grade 6 Students Learn Systems Theory
The Parents' Auxiliary brought in guest speaker Russel Horowitz to talk to Grade 6 students about systems theory and the problems humanity is facing...
Grade 5 & 6 Students Build Edible Atoms
Grade 6 students hosted some special visitors from the Junior School this week when Grade 5 classes came to the Middle School to build...
Grade 6 Students Present Space Stations
Last week, Grade 6 Science students created their own concepts for space stations and talked about their ideas with their classmates. After learning about...
Environmental Science Students Examine Waste
by Kieran Hyatt and Hannah Nielsen, AP Environmental Science students
Over the past few weeks the AP Environmental Class had the opportunity to visit both...
Science 8 Class Examines the Eye
Grade 8 students spent some time examining the different parts of the eye through dissecting the eyes of cows. As part of their lab,...
Grade 4 Students Learn About Underwater Life
by Terra
Before Nickolai, Rick, Jamie and Stephanie presented the VENUS project to my class, I never realized how advanced scientific technology had gone underwater....
Students Make Friends with Snakes
by Erin Anderson, editor
The Grade 6 science classes had an exciting morning this week, as the travelling snake program stopped by with two very...
Biology Students Create Incredible Edible Cells
by Laura Williams, Grade 6
On October 18th, the Grade 6 students did a cell lab in class. It was made up of an assortment...
Grade 6 Scientists Study Swan Lake
by Ben, Grade 6
I liked the Swan Lake field trip a lot. The beginning was fun when we got to catch animals and some...
Grade 7 Student Wins Big at Science Fair
by Ann Makosinski, Grade 7 student
Last April 10 -12, 2010, I participated in the 49th Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair held at the University...
Chris Darimont '92 Talks Animal Evolution
by Erin Anderson, editor
Chris Darimont '92, an alumnus of SMUS and an award-winning conservation biologist, returned to SMUS to talk about his latest research...
Grade 8 Students See How the Eye Works
by Jenna Dhillon, Grade 8
On January 20, 2010, Ms. Van Alstine’s Grade 8 science classes filed into the science lab to complete a cow...
The Day of the Snakes
by Brennan, Grade 6
In my Grade 6 science class, there were two ladies from Swan Lake. They told us about how a snake eats...
Science Students Look Into Their Hearts
by Emma Donald, Grade 8
On Thursday, November 5th, both of Ms. Van Alstine’s Science 8 classes completed a sheep heart dissection. As I’m sure...
Grade 3 Class Explores Space
by the Grade 3 class
Last week, we learned about our solar system with a trip to Victoria's observatory, where people use a giant telescope...
Grade 6 Students Look Into Lake Life
by the Grade 6 class
This week we want to Swan Lake to learn about the different organisms that live in the lake. We learned...
Students Win at Science Fair
Grade 11 student Janine Hsu recently took part in the 48th Annual Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair and took home more than one prize...
Serpents Slither Over to Middle School
Grade 6 students hosted some special guests last week, as two snakes from the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary came to visit the school. The...
AP Environmental Science Turns 10
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the addition of AP Environmental Science to our school’s extensive Advanced Placement programme. The course was brought...
