Science program pushes the envelope at FBRA!

Parent volunteer Dr. John Ende (a physician at Asheville Radiology) assists 8th grade students in a "classic" biology lab activity--a fetal pig dissection.Eighth grade students at FBRA are partaking in a scientific experiment this year--they are all taking high-school level biology.  Taught by former Asheville High biology teacher and FBRA founder David Byers, the students are now immersed in high-school level biology lectures, homework assignments, laboratory activities, and high-school level biology tests.  

"The goal of this course is to have all the 8th-graders take and pass the North Carolina end-of-course (EOC) standardized biology exam at the end of the school year in May", said Byers.  "That's a new challenge for both the students and teacher, as it is a course designed for students in grades 9-12.  The students will all have to push themselves to learn all the new and complex biological vocabulary they'll need to know to pass the EOC, as well as fully grasp all the biological concepts covered throughout the course."

Recently, the 8th graders conducted a "classic" high school biology lab activity: a fetal pig dissection.  "We were so grateful to have the help and expertise of a real medical doctor during the pig dissection", said Byers.  Parent volunteer John Ende--a practicing physician at Asheville Radiology--assisted with the fetal pig dissection.  "Parent volunteers have added tremendous energy and momentum to our entire program here at FBRA.  Thanks to their motivation, expertise, and donated time, we have been able to boost our students' academic accomplishments to a whole new level."