UCHS AP Biology Students Participate in Washington University Study

This past school year UCHS Advanced Placement (AP) Biology students participated in an ecological and molecular genetics study sponsored by Washington University to identify cyanogenesis in white clover. Teacher Julie Ertmann's students collected white clover samples from around the University City High School campus and tested them to determine if they contained the genes to make the compounds that make cyanide.

Junior Isaac Tobias and Senior Chris States discuss the proper
 way to read test results with their teacher, Julie Ertmann

Three trials were conducted on each clover cluster collected.  Testing involved mashing up the clover and mixing it with water, linamarase (a plant enzyme), and linamarin (a sugar).   If the clover tested was cyanigenic they would be able to detect the cyanide in each of the trials, but if it only produced the enzyme they would only be able to detect cyanide in the trial with the sugar (linamarin).  

Senior Anna Soifer adds linamarase and linamarin
 to the clover samples

Samples in the incubator.

Students then collected data (number of cyanagenic plants, number of enzyme producing plants number of sugar producing plants) and calculated the ratios between them. Their data was submitted  to Washington  University, who will pool it with data collected from across the country, sorted by region.

Senior Ursula Monaghan checks to see if a reaction has occurred.

An unusually high number of cyanagenic plants were discovered on the UCHS campus, leading the students to conduct a second set of trials, which yielded the same results.

Senior Chris States uses a smartboard to record study data

Senior Grace Deitzler (who credits this class with greatly influencing her decision to become a biology major)  found it “interesting that the plant would produce just the enzyme, because it's a metabolic waste, as it serves no other purpose for the plant, whereas the sugar (linamarin) could be used if necessary for other purposes within the cells."

The author of this blog will have to take her word on this, and is very pleased that our students have the opportunity to so greatly exceed their elders’ knowledge on such matters.

Thank you to Grace Deitzler for reporting and photography on this post!

Update: Anna Soifer is now studying archaeology at Johns Hopkins University, Ursula Monaghan is studying biomedical engineering at Swarthmore College, Chris State is studying business administration at William Jewel College, and Grace Deitzler is studying biological sciences and chemistry at Missouri S&T. 

UCHS Student Named 2013 National Merit Scholar

University City High School senior Ethan Farber has been selected as a 2013 National Merit Scholarship Winner.

Ethan learned earlier this year that he, along with fellow UCHS senior Anna Soifer, had been chosen as a National Merit Finalist. From an initial field of 1.5 million entrants, narrowed down to 15,000 finalists, about half go on to become scholarship winners. You can read more about Ethan (and Anna) here. 

National Merit Scholarship Winners are chosen based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments, including academic records, test scores and recommendations from school officials. 

As a winner, Ethan will receive a $2500 scholarship, something which will surely come in handy as he enters Washington University this fall. 

Congratulations Ethan!

U. City Grad in Wash U News

UCHS Grad, Justin Nicks, is featured on the Wash U web site.

“Some people have a hard time believing that even a smaller gift has an impact,”
says Olin senior Justin Nicks, “but it absolutely does!”

Through Senior Class Gift, St. Louis native Justin Nicks (BSBA’13) continues his family’s tradition of philanthropy            

How old were you the first time you donated to an organization?
My dad’s a Baptist minister, and I learned early on the importance of giving ten percent to help benefit the community. At the age of ten, when I earned my first paycheck mowing lawns, I donated.You’re both a donor to and a fundraiser for the Senior Class Gift initiative.  How did you get into raising money for the university?A couple of years ago, some other students and I did a fundraiser in honor of the late Dean [James] McLeod. We sold cookies to help fund the relay team. It felt great to pitch in and see that immediate impact.

Why should students give to Wash U?
Tuition covers only 60% of the cost to educate students on the Danforth Campus—that seems to sink in when we tell fellow students. I’ll say, “Picture your classroom. A significant number of your classmates receive some form of financial aid. Imagine if 40% of them were just gone. If it weren’t for donors giving back, we’d have a lot less opportunity to learn and grow.”
 
Where did your Senior Class Gift go?
Half of my gift went to Olin, and half went to the engineering school (I started off there as a freshman, then transferred).

When you picture the impact of your giving, what comes to mind?

I picture another student going to class, facing the same struggles that most students face, maybe not knowing that some of their financial aid might have come from students and alumni. But it’s fine with me if they don’t know it’s my money that helped—as long as it’s helping. I’m just glad they’re here.

What's Right with the Region!

On Thursday, May 9, 2013, FOCUS St. Louis will honor 20 organizations, individuals, and initiatives that have made a profound difference in the St. Louis region. The 16th annual What’s Right with the Region! awards recognize outstanding individual leadership and community success stories. One of those success stories is the Brittany Woods Community School Initiative.

Three years ago, the University City School District forged a 25-year committed partnership with Washington University, beginning the Brittany Woods Community School Initiative. Together, with additional community partners, including Wyman Center, they are raising expectations, providing needed services, and connecting the community to their goal of social, emotional, academic and personal success for all students.

The steady and intentional transformation of Brittany Woods Middle School began in response to conditions of low academic achievement, high rates of leadership turn-over, a school climate that was perceived to be chaotic, and a negative perception of the school in the local community. Evaluating models of school turn-around, the district and university – through both the Brown School of Social Work and Institute for School Partnership – committed to a “community school” model. The community school integration includes a strong instructional program, expanded learning opportunities for students, and additional services aimed at supporting healthy development, including Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program. Research has demonstrated that these types of comprehensive approaches support the overall achievement and growth of students.

As a part of the Community School Initiative, Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program is
integrated into the seventh grade curriculum at Brittany Woods Middle School.

 

Since 2009, Brittany Woods has seen impressive outcomes for students, families and the University City community, including:

• Increases in student attendance
• Decrease in annual behavioral referrals
• A positive trend in student achievement on benchmark and standardized tests
• Significant increases in parental involvement
• Passing of a bond issue for renovations and to add a new library to the school
• Development of a Community School Fair, attended by over 100 families and 20 community organizations

The Brittany Woods Community School Initiative leverages the shared physical and human assets of numerous local organizations, a collaborative leadership structure, and a data-driven process to help students succeed. It demonstrates a deep commitment to transforming and strengthening urban education – and communities – and provides a beacon of hope for others in our region.

Congratulations to our friends and partners at Brittany Woods Middle School and Washington University in St. Louis, and thank you for being a part of a collaboration that is helping young people succeed, and contributing to a stronger community.

FOCUS St. Louis is the region’s premier leadership development organization that connects diverse leaders from public, private, and civic sectors and empowers them to work together to build a thriving St. Louis community.

Originally posted on the Wyman Center Web site by Emily Black.

College Bound

We all want the best for our children. Early on, we start molding them hoping they will achieve all of their wildest dreams (and maybe some of our own as well).

My husband is an attorney and I am a marketing manager for a $1.5 billion business unit of a Fortune 100 company. We like to think that we’re successful and are preparing our children for a successful future – whatever that may look like for them.

Justin Dickerson, Lawrence University, 2012 UCHS Grad

When we tell people we live in U. City the inevitable next question is,  “So where do your kids go to school?”  As our new acquaintances attempt to mask their surprise at our response, we tend to get defensive and launch into a stump speech on why U. City schools.  But in my head I’m thinking, “Do you really take us for parents that would risk our children’s education – their future?”

Elliot Wilson, Harvard, 2011 UCHS Grad

People point to MAP data to illustrate the poor achievement rates at U. City. The truth is, you can’t look at raw data and get the real picture.  When the data is viewed by the make-up of the student population, U. City students are achieving on par with their counterparts in the Clayton and Ladue school districts.  In fact, UCHS offers a wealth of Advanced Placment (AP) classes and juniors and seniors are able to take college credit courses at UMSL, Washington University, and the junior college system.

But achievement isn’t the only decision factor for some families. It’s not uncommon to hear, “I don’t want my child to be a minority” or, “I want my child to be in an environment where all children are striving for college.”

Sydney Pritchard (left), Columbia College, 2011 UCHS Grad

These considerations are personal and unique to each family and the individual child. In our family, we believe that U. City schools are not only providing our children with the education they deserve, but they are also gaining valuable and enriching experiences that will serve them well in the real world – a world that is diverse in many, many ways. After all, it takes more than college degrees to make the world turn. Our household may have college graduates, but we hire plumbers, HVAC technicians, landscapers and many other professions to keep our little corner of the world running. Some of them may have degrees, certificates, or be self-educated. Regardless, they are just as successful in this world as you and me.

Luke Babich, Stanford, 2012 UCHS Grad

Experience with diversity happens to serve UCHS grads well. Talk to a U. City grad and they will tell you they are able to get along with just about anyone – something their peers from more homogenous environments struggle with.  As the University of Arkansas likes to say, “Diversity is a strength to be pursued, not a requirement to be met."

Matt Robinson, SIU-Carbondale, 2012 UCHS Grad

UCHS grads attend universities all over the country - schools like Stanford, Harvard, Rice and Northwestern. Already this year U. City seniors are interviewing with the likes of Princeton, Yale, and John Hopkins. These are big name, Ivy League schools; but grads are also going to schools like SLU, Mizzou, Indiana, So Cal, Wash U and Vanderbilt that are equally impressive. What really matters isn’t the name, it’s whether the school is a good match for the student’s long-term goals.

So when someone tells me they’re paying $15K or more for their child’s annual tuition I just smile and am thankful to know my children are receiving good educations while I am saving that money to pay for college tuitions when the time arrives.

Rebecca Eissenberg, Colorado State, Wash U Law School, 2007 UCHS Grad

 

Written by Cindy Thierry

Elev8 Brittany Woods

Three years ago, Washington University entered into a long-term agreement with the School District of University City as part of an initiative to create a community school. As part of that initiative “Elev8” was created – a committee of Brittany Woods staff and parents that meet regularly with faculty and staff from Washington University.

Andrea Holmes-Bownes, is a full-time staff member at Brittany Woods that is employed by Wash U.  Ms. Holmes helps the Elev8 team initiate many projects at the middle school – from parent/student seminars, to after school clubs, to the Winter Ball, and student field trips to Washington University.



The 7th graders at the Winter Ball

The most recent Parent/Student Seminar discussed preparation for benchmark exams such as the MAP and Discovery Ed and the new Common Core Assessments that will be introduced next year. Brittany Woods teacher, Ms. Crawford led the discussion on the importance of middle school assessments and the role of preparing students for the ACT and SAT tests taken in high school.  She also mentioned the financial rewards of doing well on these types of exams in the form of scholarships.  Participants of the seminar went through questions from each exam type as a group. Assessment materials were also provided for the students to work on at home with their parents.

As an added bonus, students who attended the seminar also received Sean Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” its companion workbook, and the two-CD set of the book.

The next Parent Student Seminar is scheduled for April 23 on the topic of Career Exploration and Planning.

If you’re interested in being part of the Elev8 team there are multiple opportunities.

·         Ten 7th grade parents are needed to participate in a Parent Focus group on March 13, 2013 at 10AM or at 6PM.  Contact Andrea Holmes-Bownes at abownes@ucityschools.org

 

·         The newsletter team and the After-school store committee are looking for parent volunteers.

·         The Elev8 Committee is looking for additional parent volunteers.

·         Donations are always needed for the school store.  Anything from iTunes gift cards, notebooks, cool pens, or just about anything a kid can buy with Eagle Bucks. Eagle Bucks are given to students throughout the day to reward positive behavior. Donations can be left in the school office.