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The homicides — rest assured, purely fictional — are perpetrated as part of CSI-Middlesex, a crime-scene investigation course taught by biol- ogy and chemistry teacher John Bishop. Pupils learn evidence-gathering, fingerprinting, even blood splatter patterns, as they sort through suspects to crack the case. The aim, says school officials, is to build scientific aptitude while honing problem-solving skills. CSI-Middlesex is among several courses at the private high school that use creative methods to engage students in math and science. Another effort, an engineering elective taught by Troy Shapiro, has pupils building miniature cell towers that can withstand the force of "hur- ricane" winds from a leaf blower, and using glid- ers, rubber-band cars — even a rocket powered by the fizz of Diet Coke and Mentos — to push a small zebra figurine a dozen meters using only 12 calories of energy. "They're figuring out a problem and bang- ing their heads, and all of a sudden something clicks, and you watch the 'a-ha,'" said Michael Schaeberle, the school's head of science and act- ing dean of academics. STem showcase Middlesex is among the venerable prep schools in the area that are placing increased focus on STEM: science, technology, engineer- ing and math. To use the colloquial shorthand, the presti- gious schools of St. Grottlesex — a sometimes- used term for the Groton School, St. Mark's and Middlesex Academy — is going all in for STEM. Julie Merritt, a 1996 St. Mark's graduate, has been involved in the school-wide STEM efforts as a member of the school's alumni executive committee. She is vice president for sales and marketing at a Boston firm, Verbal Applications, which produces an application to connect hos- pital patients with their nurses via mobile device — a boon to stroke victims and others who have an inability to communicate. As someone in the health care technology tech field, she sees teach- ing STEM as good for business. "It encourages intelligent kids to push their minds toward innovation," she said. making space At the Groton School, a $48-million renova- tion and expansion of its historic Schoolhouse building will include a state-of-the-art addition devoted to teaching the STEM subjects. Middlesex, which considers itself "the prep school equivalent of a liberal arts college," looks 16 MetroWest495 Biz | February 2014 BY Mark sULLIvan Special to MetroWest495Biz S omeone gets "murdered" every year at the Middlesex School in Concord. Last year it was the athletic director. Prestigious private schools ramp up math, science STEM student engagement gets creative With a STEM facility renovation, the Groton School is one in a group of private schools investing in STEM cirriculum to maximize students' job prospects in fields like technology. P h o t o S / c o u r t E S y