Fairmont Preparatory Academy Celebrates Launch of Engineering Magnet With Math/Science Recognition From College Board

Fairmont Preparatory Academy Celebrates Launch of Engineering Magnet With
Math/Science Recognition From College Board

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairmont Preparatory Academy launched
its Engineering Magnet this fall, a highly advanced program that allows high
school students to build a strong foundation in math and science while
benefiting from a cutting-edge engineering lab, a dedicated college/academic
counselor, university-level courses and hands-on opportunities such as summer
internships and study trips. The Engineering Magnet was developed to further
the education and career goals of Fairmont students who are exceptionally
gifted in math and science--areas where Fairmont's program excels. Fairmont
Preparatory Academy was recently recognized by the College Board for
"excellence in teaching AP math and science."

The Engineering Magnet curriculum, a project three years in the making, is
comprised of classes rooted in statistics, dynamics, thermodynamics and
physics, among other branches of math and science. Such an advanced and
rigorous course of study was created with the overall objective of
facilitating a pathway for Fairmont students to the top engineering colleges
of their choice, according to Josephus Dossen, chair of the Engineering Magnet
Program at Fairmont Prep.

"Our goal is to provide students with a 21st century, state-of-the-art
engineering experience at the high school level," he said. "Early entrance
into this program adds more relevant and substantive coursework and experience
to their resumes, so that their portfolios are unparalleled when the time
comes to apply to top colleges."

Dossen and his colleagues at Fairmont Prep developed the program by conducting
a cross-analysis of the various engineering disciplines offered by many of the
premiere engineering departments nationwide, including those at the University
of California, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Columbia University. The curriculum introduces
Fairmont students to the wide-ranging field of engineering by focusing on its
three basic disciplines, mechanical engineering, electronics and electrical
engineering, and civil engineering, just as many of the prestigious
universities do.

Dossen said he was inspired to create the Engineering Magnet after witnessing
several reticent students in an AP Physics class become vocal and engaged as
they made the connection between scientific theories and their real-world
applications. At the time, he was introducing the class to Michael Faraday's
law of electromagnetic induction, using a varying magnetic field to produce
electric current, an exercise the students found to be fascinating. From then
on, the students wanted to know the design and construction of every device
that was used in the course, he recalled.

"At its core, this is what engineering is all about," Dossen said. "Being a
discipline that is intimately involved with the creative application of
scientific principles to design and develop machines, structures, apparatus or
manufacturing processes, I felt it was my calling as a teacher to respond to
my students' desire to know more."

Students in the Engineering Magnet Program at Fairmont Prep will engage in
interactive, hands-on projects and lessons--like learning how to model, design
and build robots, solar cars, automated control systems and more--in an
engineering lab equipped with the latest technology. Upon graduation, these
students could earn up to 22 transferable credits in math alone, or have
approximately one to two semesters of college already completed.

"Fairmont's Engineering Magnet is the only program of its kind that I know
of," Dossen said. "It's a thrill to imagine what these young people are
capable of doing when given the knowledge and support they need."

With the publishing of the "Nation's Report Card" this fall, California and
the US has drawn criticism over the performance of students in math--a core
subject key to supporting a strong work force and resilient overall economy.
Fairmont's record of strength in math goes back to the organization's founding
in 1953, when founder Ken Holt discovered that the public school system was
failing students by not preparing them adequately in subjects like math,
science and reading.

Fairmont students at all grades consistently perform above state and national
standards in math, driven in part by a proprietary, advanced curriculum;
consistent analysis of test scores and student outcomes; and opportunities for
individualized learning through computer-based Accelerated Math and Fairmont's
ASSIST program.

Recently, Fairmont Preparatory Academy's math and science program received
praise from the College Board in a letter stating that Fairmont Prep, "has one
of the highest student success rates in [the] state in AP math, science and
technology subjects." The Prep has been recognized repeatedly for the
achievement of students in math and science AP courses. Last year, Prep
Master Teacher Sam Calavitta was one of only 50 teachers nationwide to receive
the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement for Teachers based in part upon the
performance of his students on AP Calculus exams.

About Fairmont
With six campuses in the Orange County area, Fairmont Private Schools is the
oldest and largest family of private schools in Southern California. Starting
in preschool and continuing through high school graduation, Fairmont prepares
students to succeed in colleges of quality and challenges them to become
exemplary citizens of a global society. For more information, please visit
www.fairmontschools.com.

SOURCE Fairmont Private Schools

Danyelle Knight-Woodley of Fairmont Private Schools, mobile, +1-714-504-1085,
dknight@fairmontschools.com