Giving Students the Tools to Experience the Wonders of Astronomy
Grant-Funded Equipment Helps Students Explore the Universe Firsthand
By: Maureen Klues, Freelancer
Bringing Back Astronomy
Jared Holman, current science teacher at Quincy Senior High School, played a pivotal role in reintroducing astronomy to QHS students. Astronomy had previously not been offered since the 2009-2010 school year. At that time, it was taught by Gail Hermann. After she left, no teacher was available who was interested in or qualified to teach it.
Holman shared, “Not long after I started teaching at QHS in the fall of 2020 in an environmental and physical science class, I heard there had been an astronomy course, and I began working to bring it back. I really enjoy working with anything physics-related, so astronomy was a perfect fit.
“Cheryl Vogler was instrumental in helping me bring the astronomy course back. She is retired now, but taught advanced biology here for years. She really helped get the ball rolling.”
Astronomy is a semester course, and I teach two classes in the fall and two in the spring.
“Astronomy is an elective, so any kids who are in the course have chosen to take it, and they already have an interest built in. I don’t have to ‘hook them’. It makes it easier for me and for them, as they are already interested.”
Making Astronomy a Tangible Reality
Holman applied for a grant from the Quincy Public Schools Foundation for the astronomy class in the spring of 2024. At that time, Holman knew that the course description had already been prepared for an astronomy class, with plans to offer the course the following fall.
Holman said, “The grant lined up perfectly with when the class started. It provided field equipment for students to go out and observe the stars themselves. Astronomy is the only science in which we can’t go out and touch these things with our hands; the data-collection tool is the telescope.”
The grant also provided a power station. The power station is like a portable battery. Holman explained that moving the telescopes is battery-powered, but the batteries do not last very long. When the portable power station is connected to the telescope, the students do not lose any observation time if the onboard battery dies.
Holman adds, “All of the telescopes we use are great, but the Celestron 8SE telescope we received with the grant is amazing. Last March, we viewed the moon, and we had lens filters to look at things safely and look at the surface of the moon with it. The students can really see some serious details with it.
“When you want to view Saturn, it is so easy to see the rings with a telescope like that. It doesn’t even look real to the kids.”
“Most of them have never looked through a telescope before. They say it looks like an emoji.”
Deepened Learning
When asked how he would like to continue the growth of the astronomy class at QHS, Holman said, “I would love to make astronomy a full-year class. As it is only one semester, I can’t go too deep. It is a constant balance of depth or breadth. I want to cover a lot of things, but I also want to go deep into those things. It has been a little bit of trial and error trying to find that balance.”
“I’m so grateful to the foundation for making this happen. The telescopes have really deepened the learning for many of the kids. It makes it real and more concrete when so much of what we talk about is abstract.”
Your Support Matters
With your support, the Quincy Public Schools Foundation awarded $3,427.01 to Jared Holman’s astronomy program. Holman received two astronomer-recommended telescopes, binoculars, telescope accessories, and a portable power station. This equipment affects approximately 77 students per year in 11th and 12th grade, representing four class periods.
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