The MASTER program has intentionally created the space for my passions to thrive. Not only does it provide rigorous academics that strengthen my understanding of the world, but it welcomes the curiosity to build new hobbies and interests. Through the MASTER program, I discovered my love of research, of exploration and discovery.
Meet Ellen
Ellen is a research specialist. Having taken every research course possible at Wheaton Academy, she has developed impressive technical skills in the laboratory and the ability to find answers to some of the most difficult questions. Nowhere is this more evident than in the research on circadian rhythms she published in the academic journal Ratio. Ellen’s class schedule reflects her immersion in the MASTER program with an emphasis on research.
Ellen's Class Schedule
Period 1
AP Research | Instructor: Luke Regan
AP Research, the second course in the AP capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. The course culminates in an academic paper and a presentation with an oral defense.
Wheaton Academy is an environment where I am empowered to tackle new challenges and discover significance in the research I am doing. When I understand the importance of my work, I am driven to go deeper and work harder than ever before.
Period 2
Anatomy/Physiology | Instructor: Ken Ellis
This course focuses on how the structure of the human body relates to its overall function. In addition to human tissues used in this course, the cat Felix domestica is also used as a model for study. Students study the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, reproductive, integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems.
Period 3
Modern Literature | Instructor: Brad Skeba
In this course, selections of world literature from the last century present topics and narrative styles that are written in language that is accessible yet challenging. The course’s texts are examined through close reading strategies with an emphasis on writing and composition that equips students to create a dialogue between their readings and the world in which they live.
Period 4
AP Stats | Instructor: Neal Roys
This course is designed for the dedicated student who wishes to gain a solid foundation in general statistics in preparation for further study of the material in his/her college major(s). Students taking AP Statistics will learn how to describe categorical and quantitative data through contingency tables, boxplots, histograms, normal models and z-scores; create and interpret scatterplots; determine association, correlation, and lines of best fit; compare various methods for choosing a sample from a population; design experiments which utilize blocking, double-blinding, and control groups. Hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, randomness and probability will round out this yearlong course.
Ellen competes in a quiz bowl competition after school.
Period 5
AP Physics C | Instructor: David Tollefsen
The AP Physics C course is an in-depth study of mechanics, matter, and energy for the first semester, and electricity and magnetism second semester. This course is the equivalent of a first-year calculus-based college physics class. This course is geared toward those students interested in majoring in physics or engineering and is mathematically intensive.
Period 6
Topics in Science & Biblical Truth | Instructor: Luke Regan
This course is a senior-level course in which students discuss modern science and the way it aligns with current and historical movements in Christian thought. Even though God’s truth is integrated throughout the standard science curriculum at Wheaton Academy, this course gives the students a chance to develop their own theological stances on many of the issues they can expect to face in the future. Discussion begins with an examination of our sources of truth and the methodologies used to analyze them before moving to more controversial areas of inquiry, such as humanity’s role in the created order, cosmology, genetic determinism, and technological advances and limits, with an emphasis on the role of scientists professing a Christian worldview.
Period 7
TA | Instructor: Luke Regan
Ratio is a journal dedicated to giving all students a space to publish their academic work. It is a space for physicists and philosophers, innovators and historians; all who want to speak toward what is true, beautiful, and good have a place in the conversation.
After School
Quiz Bowl | Club Sponsor: Evan Jasper
Ellen meets with the Scholastic Quiz Bowl team once a week to prepare for competitions.
Rock Climbing Club | Club Sponsor: Luke Regan
Once a week, the rock climbing club meets at Vertical Endeavors to enjoy an evening climbing together.
Ratio
At the end of the 2019 spring semester, Ellen wrapped up an intensive research project—and she dreamed about publishing her work. So she collaborated with teachers and students to create the new academic journal, Ratio. The journal showcases the dedication and hard work of Wheaton Academy students. Ellen continues to work on new issues of the journal and is training younger students to run the project once she graduates.
What is the MASTER Program?
MASTER stands for Mathematics, Applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. Every student at Wheaton Academy participates in the MASTER Program by taking math and science classes throughout high school. In addition to the core math and science classes, the MASTER program also provides students with cutting edge opportunities in robotics, technology, engineering, and laboratory research.