ROBOTICS LESSON
Mr. Matt’s computer science classes have added a new section this year. The students have had the opportunity to build and program Tetrix robots. The robots were programmed to go around a set path and also programmed to run through an obstacle course.
*Please note that students will be dismissed as early as 12:30p on April 8th after all testing. Lunch will be provided at 12:25.
Student Schedule - April 8th
Seniors
7:55 Senior Day @ Auditorium
Speaker Schedule TBD
12:20 Dismiss following lunch
Juniors **Must have chromebooks fully charged**
(Absent students will make up the test on Thursday, April 18th.)
7:55 Report to rooms for instructions
8:05 Test 1 - English (45 minutes) - no break following
8:50 Test 2 - Math (5 min directions, 60 min test)
10:00 15-minute Morning Break
10:15 Test 3 - Reading (5 min directions, 35-minute test) - no break
10:55 Test 4 - Science (5 min directions, 35-minute test)
11:35 5-minute break
11:40 Test 5 - Writing (5 min directions, 40-minute test)
12:25 Lunch/Dismissal
Sophomores
7:55 Report to rooms for instructions
8:10 Review John Baylor Test Taking Tips for English/Reading
8:20 Test 1 - English (5 min instructions, 30 minute test time)
8:55 5 minute break
9:00 Review John Baylor Test Taking Tips for Math
9:10 Test 2 - Math (5 min instructions, 40 minute test time)
9:55 15 minute Morning Break
10:10 Test 3 - Reading (5 min directions, 30 minute test) - no break
10:50 Test 4 - Science (5 min directions, 30 minute test)
11:25 5 minute break
11:30 Test 5 - Writing (5 min directions, 40 minute test)
12:25 Lunch/Dismissal
Freshman **Must have chromebooks fully charged**
*Tests are not timed so students can finish tests after breaks if needed
(Absent students will be rescheduled for testing, TBD)
7:55 Report to rooms
8:00 Test 1 - Reading - no break
9:15 Test 2 - Science
10:00 15 minute Morning Break
10:15 Test 3 - Math - no break
11:30 Test 4 - Language Usage
12:30 Lunch/Dismissal
(Submitted by CHS Junior, Cali Hendrickson)
This week in Mr. Bradley’s Anatomy class, students rolled up their sleeves and got an up-close look at one of the most important organs in the human body—the heart. As part of our cardiovascular system unit, as a class, we participated in a hands-on heart dissection to explore the structure and function of this powerful muscular pump.
The heart dissection lab aimed to:
Identify and describe the external and internal anatomy of the heart.
Understand the flow of blood through the heart and its major vessels.
Compare the anatomy of a preserved heart to textbook diagrams.
Students began by observing the external structures of the heart. With guidance from Mr. Bradley, we located and identified major blood vessels connected to the heart:
Aorta – the large artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body
Pulmonary trunk – which splits into pulmonary arteries carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs
Vena cava (superior and inferior) – veins bringing deoxygenated blood back to the heart
Pulmonary veins – carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart
The orientation of the heart was discussed, with students learning how to distinguish the front (anterior) and back (posterior) as well as the right and left sides.
One of the most memorable and helpful parts of the lab was when Mr. Bradley instructed us to use pencils as tools to explore the ventricles of the heart.
Students carefully inserted pencils into the right and left ventricles to trace the path that blood would take through each chamber.
This helped clearly identify the openings to major vessels, such as the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle and the aorta from the left ventricle.
By placing the pencil through these structures, students could visualize how blood flows upward through the valves and out to the lungs or the body.
It also made it easier to differentiate the thicker-walled left ventricle from the right, reinforcing the idea that the left side must pump blood to the entire body.
Next came the most exciting part—cutting into the heart to view its internal structures.
Initial Cut
We used a scalpel or scissors to make a longitudinal incision along the right side of the heart, revealing the right atrium and right ventricle. They identified the tricuspid valve, which prevents backflow of blood between these chambers.
Left Side Exploration
A second incision on the left side revealed the left atrium and left ventricle. Here, students located the bicuspid (mitral) valve and observed the thicker muscular wall of the left ventricle, built to pump blood throughout the entire body.
Valves and Chordae Tendineae
We examined the valves that direct blood flow and the chordae tendineae—string-like tissues anchoring the valves to the heart walls. These structures ensure that valves open and close properly during contractions.
Tracing Blood Flow
As we explored, we traced the path of blood through the heart:
Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium via the vena cava
Moves to the right ventricle and exits through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs
Oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to the left atrium
Then moves into the left ventricle and exits through the aorta to the body
Mr. Bradley’s heart dissection lab was a hands-on success, giving us a literal and educational look into the heart of the circulatory system. Not only did we walk away with a greater appreciation for this vital organ, but they also built a stronger understanding of how form supports function in human anatomy.
The Summer 2025 driver education dates are available on the Nebraska Safety Center’s website www.unk.edu/dred. Registration is now open!
Due to a continuing instructor shortage, there have been some changes to the programs offered this summer with some programs not being offered. Please encourage your students to register early to avoid missing out on an in-person class. In addition to the in-person classes, the Safety Center is offering an online driver education course that can be taken at any time.
A copy of the registration brochure is available at the high school office; however, the preferred method of registration is from our website: www.unk.edu/dred then click on the location of your choice. Please contact the Safety Center with any questions at 308-865-8256.
DeAnn Keith
Program Coordinator
Nebraska Safety Center
University of Nebraska
Kearney NE 68849-4550
308-865-8562
