By: Edward C. Maratita, Jr.
Kids interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) were a big part of the annual Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja science fair.
This marks the sixth year the school has organized the STEM fair to its kinder through eighth-grade students, an event implemented by school administrator and principal Carmen H. Atalig and organized by the school science coordinator Mary Rose S. Lucero.
The students displayed their science experiments and projects from earth science to math and were judged by members of the Luta community.
“I’m truly amazed by the experiments,” said Carmen H. Atalig. “They incorporate STEM in everything that is needed to advance them in the CNMI PSS School Wide Science fair, and future high school science fair preparation.”
Atalig added, “We must encourage and inspire students to study in the STEM fields and connect them with educational opportunities. Our students are the future inventors, scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians of the Luta community or the CNMI as a whole.”
“Also, the quality of the student’s science projects this year, I think, is a great reflection on the quality of our teachers in making science fun and I applaud them for an amazing job, said Atalig.”
Mary Rose Lucero, the 3rd to 5th science teacher and organizer of the school’s STEM fair, praised all the people such as the judges, parents, and teachers who volunteered their services for the event, making it a success.
Lucero shared the same sentiments as Atalig, “that motivating and inspiring our students to think about how their science projects could benefit them education wise and how it could benefit their community.
“This year, we continue to have amazing and talented students who showcased their projects to unique judges from our Rota community,” said 6th – 8th Grade science teacher Edward Maratita, Jr.
“They get to be the scientist, they get to choose, they get to come up with the methods, they get to come up with materials, and draw their own conclusions. This allows them a lot of freedom and it helps them to get some excitement in their projects,” added Maratita.
These year’s judges are PSS Rota Board Rep. Sgt. Major Herman Atalig, Lorenzo Barcinas, Rota NMC Crees Rep. Davi Bowen, Francisco S. Calvo, Geraldine Dela Cruz, Charlene Manglona, Senator Paul A. Manglona, Rota JROTC instructor CWO Joseph Parenteau, and Orly Soria.
After the judging, the top five winners will represent the school and the Rota community in the upcoming CNMI PSS Island Wide STEM Fair to be held on March 10, 2018 in Saipan.
PSS allows only five students from each school to participate in the STEM Fair.
The students who will represent their school and the Rota community are Joachim Ramon D. Maratita (Kindergarten), Princess Gin L. Mahusay (1st Grade), Keeff G. Matondo (3rd Grade), Kaitlyn Amber P. Balgoa (7th Grade), Michael Jon T. Cantil (7th Grade).
“We congratulate all the students for their hard work, and look forward to working with them again next year,” said Lucero.
In addition, assisting in the school STEM fair are the schools science teachers Monette Ladao, Florinda Chavez, and Edward Maratita, Jr.
The administration, faculty, students, and board of directors would like to extend their appreciation to the parents, judges, and volunteers. Thank you, Un Sen Dangkulo Na Si Yu’us Ma’ase, Olomwaay, and Maraming Salamat Po!
