Marian Magazine - Marian High School

16
The focus of our students is phenomenal. It helps them be the best they can
be. They are willing to work. Their desire combined with our expectations
helps them achieve. Most aren’t satisfied when they don’t do their best.
- Mary Baker.
Freshmen Kelsey VanOsdel, Helen Burns and Sarah
Sullivan
Math
Math and science are fields in which women
are traditionally underrepresented. However,
at Marian, math stereotypes are defied. No
doubt there are still plenty of struggles, but
the prevailing attitude is “can-do.” At Marian
girls don’t avoid math, as demonstrated by
the fact that 99% of the girls take four years of
math, although the requirement is three years.
“We set extremely high goals for young
women in math,” says Department Chair
Mary Baker,” and they meet them.”
Academically, the focus within the
department is college prep – that which will
best prepare students for college. Marian
achieves this by talking to college professors
as well as recent grads. In addition, every
other year, a department member attends
the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics) conference – this helps the
staff stay abreast of the latest developments
in math both nationally and globally. It also
allows for comparison and exploration of
other programs.
The Math Department offers several tracks
of study. Students can move within college
prep and honors courses. Three advanced
placement (AP) courses are also available.
For those with high math aptitude, it is
possible to enter into sophomore math as
a freshman and take AP math classes both
junior and senior years. That’s a two-year
head start on college math!
Behind the girls is a department that
averages 30 years of teaching experience and
boasts numerous accolades. With advanced
degrees in education, English, business and
math, Marian’s math teachers make math
readily applicable to a variety of careers and
interests. Notably this success in developing
math abilities and promoting advanced math
education for students was recognized by
the U.S. Department of Education and the
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
as one of the top three Blue Ribbon
Programs.
Furthermore, the department is open and
encouraging, working with the abilities of
each girl to help her achieve all that she can.
Says Baker, “If you believe in yourself, you’ll
be surprised what you can achieve.”
In the end, it is the success of the individual
student that is most important. Each student
is encouraged to reach her optimal potential,
advance in her study of mathematics to the
level she desires and meet her future goals.
According to Baker, “I see Marian pushing
to the forefront of leadership in women’s
education, not only for the brightest students
but also for a diverse population. We give
every girl as many opportunities as we can so
she can reach her potential. We want girls to
experience success and realize that even out
of failure comes success.”
Lindsay Moran ‘14
Science
Marian’s science curriculum and its students
have also been recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education. The three-year
science requirement is exceeded by the
majority of Marian girls. In fact, 93% of the
Class of 2010 took physics, compared to a
national rate of 12%. “At Marian, we want
that to move to 100% of our students taking
physics,” said Sharon Genoways, head of the
Science Department.
As a result, the science curriculum changed
with the 2010-2011 school year. Says
Genoways, “We look at what colleges want to
best prepare our students, and many want to
see a biology-chemistry-physics sequence.”
When a Marian girl graduates, she has a
strong curriculum behind her, allowing
her to make an easy transition to college
science programs. Marian’s courses are
laboratory based, so students have a hands-