Marine Biology Application*due by: 4:00pm Friday, 5/11 at Webster Learning Center, 18th & Highly Street, Room 8School year: 2012-2013Field study number: 15

List all science courses you have taken in high school and grade achieved for eachList all science courses you have taken in high school and grade achieved for each

(Check with your counselor to be certain this is accurate. A suggested strategy is to get a tran-

script printout from your counselor and staple it within this packet. Please also include sched-

uled science courses for next year and mark them accordingly.)

(Check with your counselor to be certain this is accurate. A suggested strategy is to get a tran-

script printout from your counselor and staple it within this packet. Please also include sched-

uled science courses for next year and mark them accordingly.)

Course Grade

name school & current grade

email phone

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Application OverviewMarine Biology is a course that in unique in many ways. Be sure to read the informational packet in print or online before starting your application. Students from any and all secondary schools enroll and cooperate in the same classroom. Class sessions are held at night from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to allow participation by stu-dents in multiple programs. These class sessions take place with either one or two weeks between. Though a good deal of our work is completed online, a large portion of the face to face learning time in the course is accomplished in March on a field study in The Bahamas. Therefore, with students enrolling from across the city, and space aboard the three sailboats limited to 18 students, an application process is necessary. It is important that you follow the dates on this page carefully, and complete section of the application to the best of your ability. Teachers from the three schools will meet to select the Marine Biology class of 2013, as well as an alternate list. For questions about this application or process please contact the instructor, Sean Nash: sean.nash@sjsd.k12.mo.us I respond promptly to e-mail contact. Thank you so much.

Program ScheduleDate Event

May 3 INFORMATIONAL MEETING in room #8, 5:30pm, WEBSTER LEARNING CEN-TER, 18th & Highly St. - Applications will be distributed at that time.

May 11 APPLICATIONS DUE to Mr. Nash at WEBSTER LEARNING CENTER room #8 by 4:00pm on this date if not earlier

May 14 STUDENTS ARE CONTACTED via email for acceptance into Marine Biology. An email message will be sent notifying students of acceptance. Your biology teacher will also have a list the following day.

May 16 MANDATORY MEETING for all students & parents of SJSD MARINE INSTITUTE 2013. Must be accompanied by one parent/guardian. A deposit of $200 is due at this time. 5:30pm, WEBSTER LEARNING CENTER room #8

May 18 SUMMER EXPLORATION BEGINS with students taking home MacBook laptops for self-paced online study throughout the summer

August 20 FIRST MEETING of class, 6:30 to 8:30pm at Webster Learning Center

March 22 DEPART FOR BAHAMAS FIELD STUDY the week of March 23rd through 30th

April 15, 2013 to May 6, 2013

RESUME CLASSES, teach coral reef ecology lesson to an elementary class-room, conduct culminating projects (websites, print publishing, video production, etc.)

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Teacher Recommendation Page ITo the teacherThis student is completing an application for Honors Marine Biology. It will be one of the more challenging courses offered in the district, and will require a high level of independent and online study. Another aspect of the course is the fact that a large portion of it will be conducted in a foreign country. Because of this, stu-dents will also need to display a very high level of maturity and social grace in representing St. Joseph and their school. Please give your objective opinion as to the qualities that this student possesses regarding the above information. You may also complete privately in a sealed envelope to be attached within the packet.

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Teacher signature and date

Teacher Recommendation Page IITo the teacherThis student is completing an application for Honors Marine Biology. It will be one of the more challenging courses offered in the district, and will require a high level of independent and online study. Another aspect of the course is the fact that a large portion of it will be conducted in a foreign country. Because of this, stu-dents will also need to display a very high level of maturity and social grace in representing St. Joseph and their school. Please give your objective opinion as to the qualities that this student possesses regarding the above information. You may also complete privately in a sealed envelope to be attached within the packet.

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Teacher signature and date

Student PageTo the studentHonors Marine Biology will be a very challenging and unusual program of study. During the first few months of this course, we will have class face to face only two nights a month for two hours each. The remainder of our work will take place online. This will require a high degree of self discipline. Also, with a limited number of participants, enrollment in this course will certainly be competitive. Therefore, you must not only have the academic ability; you must also have a real desire to participate. In the space below, or preferably on an at-tached typed sheet, explain what this course means to you. Make this a solid example of your writing skills. Include information about why you are attracted to a program of this type, why you are confident that you can succeed, the impact it might have on your future, or anything else which you feel might be pertinent

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(essentially… “Why do I want to take Marine Biology?”)

Student Page II

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Parent/Guardian PageTo the parentParent-student-teacher communication throughout the Honors Marine Biology program is of utmost impor-tance. Every effort has been made through handouts and an informational meeting to insure that this gets started off on the right foot. As you are aware, the nature of this course demands parental or guardian per-mission at a level above other school programs. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that for a week in March, class will be held on Andros Island in The Bahamas. Directly related to this weeklong study-abroad session lies the second reason: the cost.

Our cooperating field station is owned and operated by a non-for-profit organization. Therefore, all costs during the week in the Bahamas are kept as low as possible. The base of $1450 covers all costs incurred on Andros from room and board to chartered airfare to transportation. The other cost necessary is the price of group commercial airfare to and from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This cost is normally between $250 and $400. This brings the price of this program to a total of between $1700 and $1850. From this amount, a deposit of $200 to hold our spots at the field station will be due at the mandatory meeting on May 16th at 5:30pm at Webster Learning Center, 18th & Highly Street, Room 8.

*Please read and sign indicating permission to enroll below:

I have been made aware by this application as well as an informational outline and/or meeting of the nature of the Honors Marine Biology program. I am aware that the class sessions will meet at night, from two to four times per month during the school year from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Benton High School. I also realize that even though costs are minimal for this type of program, a sum of between $1700 and $1850 is required to complete payment of fees for my student. I have been informed of the schedule of payment of these fees and realize that failure to do so will result in loss of deposits and withdrawal from the course.

I give my full permission for to participate in Honors Marine Biology. student’s name

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parent or guardian signature and date