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RADIANS SCHOOL Of Math, Science, and Technology

November, 2013 Issue 5

Radians School Agricultural Program featured in El Nuevo Día Educador

(reprinted from ENDI—Nov. 5, 2013) Recoger la cosecha Por Rosangely PIñeiro / rosangely.pineiro@elnuevodia.com Profesora Luz Burgos recibe el Premio Amgen a la Excelencia en la Enseñanza

Académica de las Ciencias 2013 El proyecto ERCSA integra estu-diantes de escuela elemental, inter-media y superior que se ayudan y se encargan de mantener un huerto, con la ayuda de sus profesores Bur-gos, Caballero y Colón. (tony.zayas@gfrmedia.com) Cuando un maestro gana un reconocimiento, simplemente valida

sus valores y el desempeño que imparte a sus estudiantes. Los motiva y se vuelve ejemplo del éxito que se obtiene cuando la dedicación y el esfuerzo ayuda a que las ideas que surgen en grupo y para beneficio de todos, den fruto. Facilitadora. Así considera la profesora de ciencias del Colegio Radians de Cayey, Luz Deliz Burgos Berríos, su trabajo como educadora, al explicar que son los mismos estudiantes los que desarrollan las ideas y ellos, como guías, los ayudan a completarlas. Sin embargo, la pasión con la que se trabaja es indisputable. El resultado es visible. No solo influye en el estudiantado un deseo innato de aprender y sobre-salir en las materias sino que el legado es mayor. Son proyectos que a través de los años se han reforzado con el desempeño de los estudiantes y con el apoyo que reciben del profesorado, en clubes y proyectos extracurriculares académi-cos y para el bien social. Este año, Burgos Berríos recibió el Premio Amgen a la Excelencia en la Ense-

ñanza de las Ciencias 2013. Este galardón lo otorga cada año la empresa bio-

tecnológica para reconocer a los maestros que desarrollan proyectos ejem-

plares de enseñanza, y consta de un premio metálico de $5,000 para el educa-

dor y otro de igual cantidad para el plantel.

Entre los proyectos resaltados para la obtención del premio se encuentran el

programa de robótica, que se reune una vez en semana (VEX robotics/

MindStorm Robotics); el club de química (CHEM Club), adscrito a la Asociación

Americana de Química y en donde los miembros hacen demostraciones de

química a otros estudiantes y participan de festivales de química y actividades

en universidades en y fuera de Puerto Rico; y proyecto ERCSA (Experimental

Research Center for Sustainable Agriculture).

En adición a estos, Burgos Berríos también ha liderado actividades relaciona-

das en el plantel, tales como el sistema de reciclaje, iniciativa particular del

profesor José Caballero, y el Green Apple Day del departamento de ciencias,

día que ayudó a crear conciencia de la necesidad de vivir una vida más “eco-

amigable” y en donde se plantaron árboles y se pintaron murales alrededor de

la escuela.

Pero es quizás el huerto que mantienen estudiantes de escuela elemental,

intermedia y superior, fundado por profesor, Luis Sánchez, el proyecto más

destacado. Con un sistema hidropónico han logrado crecer lechugas, además

de tener en el invernadero diferentes tipos de hierbas y especias, tomates,

brécol, zanahorias, entre otros, incluyendo maíz sembrado en las afueras.

Burgos Berríos sometió su propuesta para ganar el premio tras ser convencida

por una de sus estudiantes, Ana Gabriela. Flores. Cuando recibió la llamada del

personal de Amgen que le anunciaron fue la ganadora, no pudo contener las

lágrimas frente a todo el salón, emoción que compartieron estudiantes y

profesora juntos.

“Es un proyecto en equipo, somos tres maestros de ciencias y todos cooper-

amos y trabajamos en grupo”, explicó Burgos Berríos. Además de obtener un

conocimiento de cómo trabajar la tierra y tomar responsabilidad por su medio

ambiente, la profesora explica que los estudiantes aprenden a cómo trabajar

en grupo y desarrollan liderazgo y un amor por el servicio comunitario.

El haber ganado este galardón para Burgos Berríos significa un gran avance,

pues le da una nueva visión de lo que quieren hacer del invernadero. Entre las

adquisiciones que harán con el dinero recibido se encuentra implementar un

sistema de riego, tirar gravilla en el piso para evitar fango cuando llueve, com-

prar utensilios, hacer un letrero con el logo (diseñado por los mismos estu-

diantes) del grupo y, si aún les resta dinero, añadir una nueva sección de siste-

ma hidropónico.

Sin embargo, Burgos Berríos tiene una visión más allá. También está en la

lista la compra de equipo para los laboratorios de química y hasta incubadoras

para microbiología básica. “(El haber recibido el premio) valida el hecho de que lo que decimos y

promovemos como una escuela de excelencia académica y especialidad en el

área de las ciencias, matemáticas y tecnología es exitosa. Demuestra que esta-

mos haciendo un buen trabajo”, expresó Miriam Montañez, principal de la

escuela superior del Colegio.

Pre-Registration to Begin Soon for 2014-2015

Page 2 RADIANS SCHOOL

Students enjoy

working at the

Greenhouse

“Radians

School has a

strong

academic

program

which has

proven to be

extremely

successful!”

As we begin the period of pre-registration for the

next academic year, we are encouraged by the out-

pouring of support by our Radians School Virtues-

Based Community. The reflection in the face of our

young students belies the excellent hard work they

carry out during their academic class hours. It is true

that happy students achieve higher academic

scores!

We are institution whose main purpose is to

prepare our students for university studies that will

help them on the road to achieving their life goals.

It is a wonderful time to take the opportunity to

reflect as to why we have our children in Radians

School. There are many possible reasons. First and

foremost, Radians School has a rigorous academic

program which has proven to be extremely

successful. This can be validated by the outstanding

work our students do in third-party standardized

testing such as SEPA, College Board, and SAT. We

have a strong Full-English curriculum with outstand-

ing personnel to attend our students’ needs. These

students invariably go on to attend the finest

universities and become academic and social leaders

in these institutions as well.

But Radians School is much more than that! Our

school is the proud recipient of “National School of

Character” (the first and only school in Puerto Rico

to be so recognized). In Radians School, the

development of character is just as important as

academic achievement and, in many ways, is more

important to the future success of our students.

Our facilities are among the best available

anywhere in Puerto Rico. It boasts a semi-Olympic

pool, a baseball field, agricultural center, enclosed

and open volleyball and basketball courts,

SmartBoard-equipped classrooms, two preschool

play yards, over 50 classrooms, library, music room,

dance room, and much more, all spread out over 12

acres of beautiful Cayey greenery.

Together with this goes unparalleled access to

the latest technology. Students work with

technology on a daily basis from Pre-kinder through

High School. The school also offers a multitude of

extra-curricular activities not offered by other

institutions. We have robotics, agriculture, track and

field, archery, cheerleaders, computer animation,

crocheting, scrapbooking, and so much more.

With top professionals on our staff, we can offer

your child the best in full-English education. With an

emphasis on Math, Science, and Technology, Radi-

ans School is paving the way in vanguard education.

Where safety is concerned, Radians School is

second to none! Our students are supervised at all

times as they grow and learn. Parents can be

assured that their child will be in a safe, bully-free

environment, where their talents can flourish.

Among the many wonderful offerings the school

has, comes one that is essential in the growth and

development of any child, the building of strong

bonds of friendship and love.

We invite you to share your experiences at Radians School with your friends and neighbors. The philosophy of Radians School is one that encompasses the goals and dreams of many people in our society. As our institution continues to grow, we will also enrich the lives of others with our

wonderful ideals and goals. You can be certain that you have chosen wisely when you made the decision to have your child attend Radians School!

Radians School Of Math, Science, and Technology Carr735 Km 0.4 Cayey, Puerto Rico 00736 (787) 738-4822 www.radiansschool.org

The first and only school in

Puerto Rico recognized as a

National School of Character

Technology helps the learning

process… when correctly utilized!

Radians School National Ho-

nor Society (Capitulo Zafiro)

participated on Sunday, Sep-

tember 22nd in the Camina-

ta de la Memoria sponsored

by the Alzheimers and

Related Disorders Associa-

tion of Puerto Rico. This was

held at Luis Munoz Marin

Park in San Juan.

Students Enjoying Music Class

High School

National Honor Society in

Caminata de la Memoria

Annual College Fair a Huge Success!

Page 3 November, 2013 Issue 5

“...these

[universities]

are anxious to

have our

students apply

to their

institutions”

Radians School students have always been lovers of the arts. To help develop this talent in our youngsters, Radians School has always promoted teaching in this area. While other schools cut these types of programs, Radians School emphasizes the role of the arts in the proper development of human character. Recently our students have had the wonderful benefit of having a professional classical guitarist as their music instructor. Mr. Ernesto Ramos is working arduously to develop a strong music program. Students are excited and have enthusiastically embraced the course. Many are bringing their guitars as regular academic tools, much in the same way they bring their notebooks and computers.

Above: Prof. Ramos working with a 6th grade group during music class. Happy faces noted all around!

Every year, Radians School sponsors a College Fair that is attended by dozens of universities from across the United States and Puerto Rico. Each of these is anxious to have our students apply to their universities because they know the quality of education these students re-ceive. They also realize the huge contri-bution each student is able to make to their respective universities. Thanks to work our professional counselor, Prof. Wanda Berrios, these activities are under-taken.

Pre-School

Celebrates our

Annual

Día de la Paz

(Peace Day)

Last month our pre-school students celebrated our Annual Day of

Peace. It is a time to extol the virtue of Peace that is so sorely lacking in

our modern existence. Students read stories and poems, sang songs,

and participated in activities with the theme of “peace”. Let us all

promote PEACE in our lives! In Radians School peace is a special

virtue. Our students fulfill their academic responsibilities and their tal-

ents flourish. Let us all promote peace in our lives!

Dr. Raquel Castrodad and Team Return from Character

Education Conference Presentation in Washington D.C.

REMEMBER TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD IN RADIANS SCHOOL FOR THE 2014-15 ACADEMIC YEAR AND

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF EARLY REGISTRATION.

SECURE YOUR CHILD’S PLACE IN THE BEST SCHOOL IN PUERTO RICO!

This past November 25th, Radians School’s Virtues Project Master Facilitator,

Dr. Raquel Castrodad, (and her staff consisting of Dr. Jose Castrodad, Prof.

Kristy Alvarez, and Prof. Luis Sanchez) gave a presentation at the Character

Education Partnership Annual Conference in Washington D.C. The topic

presentation was “How to Foster a Virtues-Based Community”.

During the three days that the team was in DC, they were able to share with

other school teachers and administrators about issues of concern to all

educators. One of the most important topics was the development and

maintenance of a school environment that promotes learning. A Virtues-Based

Community is one in which everyone feels safe and which fosters a peaceful

and tranquil climate. At right above, Dr. Castrodad giving her presentation and

at right below, a breakout session during breakfast where we had the

opportunity to share with educators from the state of Kansas.

Everyone agreed that it is even more difficult today to promote a healthy

school climate that allows students to truly grow both intellectually and

emotionally. However, in Radians School, we are proving that it can be done.

Great job!

In Radians School, Students learn by doing!!