As second semester kicks off, Ladue students are creating schedules for next year. Ladue High School offers many types of classes. In particular, the science department has many excellent options.

A new class called Principles of Biomedical Science, which is part of a program called Project Lead The Way, will be added to the array of science courses starting next school year. Biology teacher Abby Hawkens will teach the new class.

“This is a pathway of courses supplied by a national program called Project Lead the Way.  Currently, Ladue has implemented the engineering pathway, and students’ feedback has been extremely positive,” Hawkens said. “We wanted to provide additional opportunities for students to experience relevant and rigorous curriculum that will expose them to potential careers in the Allied Health fields.”

Hawkens hopes students with interest in the class will be excited to explore career opportunities for their futures, as well as partake in the first steps of this new experience. Freshman Jenna Gold is interested in taking the class.

“This class sounds like a really fun and interesting experience,” Gold said. “I have always wanted to pursue a career that helps others, maybe a doctor, and this class seems like a step in that direction.”

One of the goals of this action-packed class will be to expose students to a whole new skill set, and to keep them focused and motivated as they learn throughout the year.

“Students will be researching potential diseases, developing labs to test their hypotheses, analyzing autopsy reports, and collaborating with others in the class to ultimately decide what killed a fictional person,” Hawkens said. “The class is project based and student driven. My role is that of a facilitator guiding students as they work to draw conclusions regarding the cause of death.”

Overall, Principles of Biomedical Science is an exciting addition for Ladue students. Project Lead the Way offers new choices to an already diverse science curriculum.

“My biggest hope is that students will enjoy Principles of Biomedical Science as much as I did when I went through the course training,” Hawkens said. “Through exposure, I also wish to spark an interest in possible careers in the biomedical sciences and provide opportunities for students to strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills.”