Academics
Centers of Excellence

STEM

STEM Center of Excellence

The STEM Center of Excellence provides gifted students with comprehensive educational experiences in the subject areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The objective of the STEM Center of Excellence is to establish a robust STEM program featuring an interactive, research-based approach that fosters natural student curiosity and facilitates excellence via individual and team competitions. This is a very important component of The Weiss School academic experience as there is a compelling need to provide students with a 21st century education to meet the demands of the present and future economy. A diverse faculty, which includes 2 Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellows, educate and challenge gifted students to become future leaders who will fulfill the need for highly innovative scientists, technology engineers, and mathematicians.

The Weiss School STEM Center of Excellence has established important partnerships and collaborations with NASA, the Kennedy Space Center, SWAMPWORKS, the University of Florida Engineering Department, the University of Central Florida, the University of Alabama Huntsville, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Generation Orbit. The relationships with these organizations and universities provide Weiss School students and faculty the opportunities to directly work with partners at their facilities. The relationships also facilitate STEM experts conducting workshops and training opportunities with students on-site at The Weiss School.

Science

The Weiss School Science Department fosters intellectual and practical skills growth in the comprehensive subject area of Science. An advanced Science curriculum is utilized to provide interactive, lab-based learning beginning in early elementary grades through 8th grade. The Weiss School Science Department is led by an Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellow and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation Educator Achievement Award winner.

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  • Content/Curriculum

    The Science courses and curriculum provided at The Weiss School are accelerated 2-3 years beyond average middle school Science courses. Weiss School 6th grade students take Biology, 7th grade students take Chemistry, and 8th grade students take Physics. This high-level science instruction thoroughly prepares Weiss Middle School students for high school and their ability to take high-level AP/IB Science courses.
  • Competitions

    Weiss School students participate in a wide variety of Science competitions. These competitions include the State of Florida Science and Engineering Fair, South Florida Science Museum Engineering Fair, United States Army Corps of Engineers High School Engineering Contest, eCybermission and Exploravision Contest, the NASA Space Settlement Contest, 3M Young Scientist Contest, Broadcom MASTERS, and the NASA Egg Drop Competition.
  • Projects

    Weiss School students participate in a variety of Science projects that incorporate Elements, Compounds, Biomes, Boats, Balloons/Kites/Rockets, Geospatial Information Systems, Protein Crystallography, Captive Carry Research Flights, and BalloonSat Missions. Students also participate in advocacy activities via the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Space Exploration Alliance.
  • Aerospace

    A unique and innovative component of Weiss School Science instruction is the focus on Aerospace, which is an elective course offered to Middle School students. Additionally, Middle School students participate on the Weiss CubeSat Development Team (WCDT). The goal of the WCDT was to deploy its own small satellite, known as a CubeSat, into space.

    Due to the instructional emphasis and innovative student work that has occurred in the subject area of Aerospace, The Weiss School was the only elementary/middle school in the United States chosen to participate in the 2017 NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative, a highly selective space station program. Thirty-four proposals in the United States were selected to participate in the Launch Initiative: 31 Universities/Research Centers, 2 High Schools, and The Weiss School (elementary/middle school). The Weiss School will launch the WeissSat1 CubeSat containing its novel lab-on-a-chip payload in a 1U student-built CubeSat. The WeissSat1 CubeSat is scheduled to be launched as an auxiliary payload on a planned NASA mission in 2018. Please read more about the WeissSat1 CubeSat.

Technology and Engineering

The Weiss School Technology and Engineering Department fosters intellectual and practical skills growth in the comprehensive subject areas of Technology and Engineering. Skill development instruction emphasizes computer programming, mechatronics, and product development. Technology and Engineering instruction is provided in an interactive, lab-based learning environment that fosters real-world learning opportunities beginning in early elementary grades through 8th grade. The Weiss School Technology and Engineering Department is led by an Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellow and Florida Advanced Technological Education Center’s Manufacturing Educator of the Year Award winner.

List of 3 items.

  • Content/Curriculum

    The Technology and Engineering curriculum provided at The Weiss School consist of accelerated courses that challenge gifted students of all ages. All Kindergarten – 5th grade students take a Mechatronics course and a Robotics course once a week as part of their elective courses. The curriculum content covered in these courses include Basic Mechanics, Simple and Complex Machines, Computer Control with WEDO Robotics, Computer Programming with Scratch, Lego, and Pico Board, and Sketching/Drafting fundamentals.

    In 6th – 8th grade, Weiss School students are able to enroll in Technology and Engineering elective courses that include Robotics/Mechatronics, Advanced Robotics, and Special Engineering Projects. Each course meets twice a week throughout the school year. The curriculum content covered in these courses include the Engineering Design Process, 3D Parametric modeling, Design for Manufacturing and RapidPrototyping, Precision Measuring, Mechatronics and System Integration, Open Source Electronics Control and Programming, and Electronics Theory and Circuitry Design. Students are also introduced to various technology hardware and software applications including LabView for computer programming, Lego EV3 for robotics and engineering activities, SolidWorks for engineering design projects, Raspberry PI for engineering projects, and VEX Robotics for robotics competitions.
  • Competitions

    Weiss School students participate in a variety of Technology and Engineering competitions. These competitions include the FIRST Lego League, the Team America Rocketry Project (TARC), Palm Beach Bridge Building, Civil Engineering Challenge, and The Weiss School Annual Robotics Competition.
  • Projects

    Weiss School students participate in a variety of projects that incorporate Technology and Engineering components. These projects include Mindstorms Robotics, WEDO Projects, Lego EV3 Robotics, and Rocket Design and Building.

Mathematics

The Weiss School Mathematics Department fosters intellectual and practical skills growth in the comprehensive subject area of Mathematics. An advanced Mathematics curriculum is utilized to provide students with interactive learning beginning in early elementary grades through 8th grade. An advanced mathematics curriculum is accelerated and provides Weiss School students with individualized choice tracks based on their level of Mathematics content mastery. The Weiss School Mathematics Department is led by a North Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year winner and a William T. Dwyer Teacher of the Year Award winner.

List of 2 items.

  • Content/Curriculum

    The Mathematics courses and curriculum provided at The Weiss School are accelerated 1-2 years beyond average middle school Mathematics courses. The typical Weiss School student begins earning High School credits in Mathematics beginning in 6th grade and typically graduates from The Weiss School with 3 High School Mathematics Honors credits. The typical Weiss School 6th grade student takes Algebra I Honors, 7th grade student takes Geometry Honors, and 8th grade student takes Algebra II Honors. This high-level mathematics instruction thoroughly prepares Weiss Middle School students for higher-level mathematics courses as they enter high school.
  • Competitions

    Weiss School students participate in a variety of Mathematics competitions. These competitions include the Perennial Math Competition, MATHCOUNTS Competition, American Mathematics Competition, Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS), and the Math Circle at Florida Atlantic University.
The Weiss School is a co-ed private school that serves gifted students in PreK-3 through 8th grade in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. A Weiss School education prepares students to think analytically and creatively, act socially responsible, live vigorously, and create imaginatively in a warm and supportive educational environment.