The Mount Madonna School (MMS) sophomore class will have a unique opportunity on their upcoming 9th and 10th learning journey to Santa Catalina Island: the opportunity to assist visiting scientists with research on a tiny and plentiful fish, the Catalina Goby. During this trip, an affiliate of the Grober Lab at Georgia State University will have the students study the courtship behavior of the Catalina Goby (also known as the Blue Banded Goby). This colorful little fish lives in the spines of sea urchins and has a unique capacity for phenotypic plasticity, which means it can change its body and gender! Catalina Gobies can change gender in the course of two days during courtship season. This time of year, they practice elaborate courtship rituals that the students will observe underwater in the cove.
The annual expedition will take place May 10-15. Each year, the two classes travel to southern California and study the ocean around Catalina. The Isthmus of Catalina has become a rich area full of educational opportunities. In addition to several programs for young people, a research facility, the Wrigley Marine Science Center, maintained by the University of Southern California Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, is used by graduate programs, the state and federal government, research divers, and academics from around the world. After four years of using the facilities and establishing a relationship with Center staff, MMS students will take a hands-on role in the field research of visiting scientists.
‘The Wrigley Center is situated in a Marine Protected Area that is studied by scientists from all over the world,’ shared trip leader and MMS high school science teacher, Lisa Catterall. ‘The cove at the facility harbors an ecosystem that has been restored to a near pre-human level of biodiversity. There are often large schools of leopard sharks taking residence and pupping in the spring. The chance to view an intact ecosystem as a reference point for what is possible in nature is what originally drew me to bring MMS students to study at the Wrigley Center.’MMS’ marine science program includes a semester of marine biology and a semester of honors oceanography for all 9th and 10th grade students. MMS was granted UC-System approval to offer these courses for credit, with most of the curriculum taking place during the week on Catalina. The classes occur in addition to the science cannon of physics, chemistry, biology, and a senior elective, either Science with Humanity or advanced physics, leaving graduates with an extra year of science as well as a unique experience!
In preparation for attending the Wrigley Center in their sophomore year, the freshman class will spend five days in the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). This program ensures that all students are very comfortable studying marine life underwater and using the equipment necessary to undertake field studies at the Wrigley. In addition, the program showcases a waste-free community and has the students step out of their comfort zone to participate in a ropes course and climbing wall.This year, MMS faculty member alumnus PK McDonald (’02) will join Dr. Nicole Tervalon (both of whom have engineering backgrounds) to complete and direct a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) program using the equipment at the Wrigley. MMS alumna Alexa Rosendale (’08), a marine biologist, will join the group to participate in the Catalina Goby research. In addition to those mentioned above, the trip chaperones include Devin Kumar (’06), Breeze Olsson, and MMS teacher Ashley England (’08) and athletic coach Tina Pendleton.
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Photos by Lisa Catterall
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Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.