Additional Resources and information such as extra credit and science and robotics team

There are several sources of extra help: During the second half of Academic Block is the best time to get extra help.  Other sources for extra help include Peer Tutors, Professional Tutors, and discussion on Visual Classrooms.

The House Cup Race:  The sections of Physics are named Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.  This is a friendly competition to show the most enthusiasm for physics and nudge you to collaborate as a class.  Points are rewarded for helping each other out, great insights in class, great performances, great displays of enthusiasm (including holiday décor), and good citizenship.  Points are taken away for rude behavior towards others (within your own house and towards others), risky behavior in the laboratory, and generally bad attitudes.

Extra Credit:  There are only a few opportunities for extra credit, and your best efforts are spent on mastering the work at hand. Extra Credit is designed for those who want to exceed expectations in physics.  The low hanging fruit for extra credit is actively participating on the Science Team or the Robotics Team.   Other good ways to earn extra credit are participating in science competitions such as the The DuPont Challenge, the AAPT Photo Contest, the AAPT Physics Olympiad entrance exam and the Massachusetts Physics Olympics. I may also have some additional projects for extra credit which you can ask about.

Science Team: For those of you who cannot satisfy your quest for scientific knowledge within the confines of our classroom, I encourage you to join the Science Team.  The Science Team competes monthly in various competitions around Massachusetts.  Some events are Quiz Bowls, some are laboratory based events, and sometime you must build apparatus in advance such as balsa wood bridges, windmills, or thermoses. Topics range from the standards of biology, chemistry, and physics, to geology, paleontology, astronomy, criminal science investigations, and physiology.  If you want to have fun with science, join this award winning team!

Robotics Team: For those of you interested in engineering, computer science, entrepreneurship, graphic design, and video production, you should check out the robotics team. Although the main focus is building a 5’ tall, 130 pound robot in out state of the art facility in the College of Engineering, they build small robots, interactive with the community, mentor younger students, and have created a well respected award winning team.