Fast-Paced High School Chemistry

Fast-Paced High School Chemistry is a Science course in the CTY program. It requires previous enrollment in Algebra I, and completion of INBS is recommended. It is intended as a means to get a head start on sophomore chemistry, or to skip to AP Chemistry. Its course code is CHEM, and it is offered at Carlisle, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Saratoga Springs, and Seattle]. It was previously offered at San Rafael.

Course Description

CTY Chemistry covers the equivalent of a high school Chemistry course, and, as with other CTY courses, also covers some topics included in AP Bio. The class is very much fast paced, and is also lab-driven; there are at least two labs almost every day.

Class History

At LMU, Chemistry has been taught for several years by Mr. Dobrenen (Mr. D), sometimes with TA Sonya.

In some unnamed site, the course was taught by Dallik and TA'd by Britt during 07.2.

Prior to 92 at Lancaster, the course was taught by Karl Brehmer, and was called Breher Chem. This class was so hard-core that students had to work through mealtimes and both activity periods just to keep up. In fact, it was traditional for the RA for the hall where most of the Brehmer Chem students lived to wait until after the HRA came around, then knock on the students doors to let them know they could turn their lights back on and get back to work.

Though students tended to walk around like zombies a lot (frequently having conversations like: "What are you taking?" "Nothing! I swear!" "No, what CLASS are you taking?" "Oh, Brehmer Chem." "Yeah, I figured.") they did learn. In those 3 weeks, they learned a full year of high school chem. Not select topics in, but each and every topic and lab. There were some complaints, and around 91 the workload was scaled way back, and Brehmer stopped teaching shortly thereafter.

Frequently compared to the "Closet People" of Carlisle's Woogie (sp?), those who survived Brehmer Chem might not have had as much fun as their peers, but their sense of accomplishment and the bond that they shared made it all worthwhile. And would last a lifetime.

Students from SAR.08.2 enjoyed shouting "CHEMISTRY!!!" with their TA Brian Danielak... and continued this the following year, despite the fact that they were no longer in the class.

Students from JHU.11.2 were once held captive in lab for 9 hours (not all at the same time of course) dying their own shirts with dye they made themselves. Although their legs were incredibly sore from lack of seating, and they were so cold that they were surprised they didn't suffer from frostbite/hypothermia, they were pleased with their (mostly) CTY appropriate shirt designs. Whether or not a certain shirt was an merely an accident that resulted from the dye running from an original design of a tie on the front of a shirt or not is still a mystery to the class.

Students from SAR.14.1 were devastated to see Fred the gummy bear being blown up in a test tube by their instructor. Fred shall forever rest in peace.

Students from CHEM.B.LAN.15.1 know that they need to TRUST IN CHONG, and that CHRISmas may only be three weeks but it will CARRIE on in their hearts forever.

Students from CHEM.B.LOS.15.1 were known to shout CHEM CHEM CHEM CHEM/CHEM B CHEM B CHEM B whenever they won a competition (quite often). One of the students was also referred to as "that Korean supermodel" by a student in another class. Some very sexy people attempted to bring back old traditions from this class and succeeded to some extent. They also pulled mad chicks.

Students from CHEM.B.LAN.16.1 know that they are all pyromaniacs and that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell (despite it being a chemistry class). They all deserve a paper plate award for being the best kindergarteners on crack, and know that there is a higher probability of you getting left behind at break than there is of Ms Holt playing the mii remix song during a lab.

What To Expect/Advice From Former Students

"If you're taking this class, be sure you have a calculator."

"Bring pennies, especially if being taught by Mrs. Provenza."

"You will want to bring a camera with video capabilities."

"The first day might be a bit bad because they give you the pretest, which of course you're supposed to know nothing about, and you may feel dumb afterwards."

"The class takes a lot of notes, mostly off PowerPoint presentations."

"This course moves very, very quickly, so if you feel overwhelmed try your best to relax."

"The labs are fun, because stuff catches fire and blows up - a lot."

"There is a high probability your instructor will let you know before you blow stuff up. Probably."