PCA Upper School Botany and Zoology Wraps Up Owl Research

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Learning is meant to be hands-on. With 50-acres and a waterfront campus, PCA is blessed with the opportunity to engage in this kind of hands-on learning, especially when it comes to our Upper School STEM classes. Jessica Graustein, PCA’s Upper School science teacher, gives us a closer look into the work her class has conducted for owl research:

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Thanks to the Heath family, Mrs. Graustein’s Botany and Zoology was able to complete their class research project in the sleet today. Last fall, Mr. Abood gave the class a house he built for barn owls. The class then spent two months researching barn owls – what they like to eat, when they breed, and what types of locations make the best nesting sites.

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The final list of site requirements was drawn up by the online students in the class, and then the on-campus students walked around the grounds looking for someplace that met those criteria. They unanimously chose a spot near the waterfront that “felt like owl.”

The class really enjoyed watching Mr. Heath mount the house high up in a pine tree, within sight of a grassy meadow where the owls will be able to hunt for food.

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High school is a time to discover and maximize your potential. Explore what PCA’s high school might have in store for you in a place where community meets opportunity. Learn more about our Upper School here.


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