RADIANS SCHOOL

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 estudiantes de escuela elemental, intermedia y superior que se ayudan y se
encargan de mantener un huerto,
con la ayuda de sus profesores Burgos,
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 sobresalir 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 académicos y para el bien social.
Este año, Burgos Berríos recibió el Premio Amgen a la Excelencia en la Enseñanza de las Ciencias 2013. Este galardón lo otorga cada año la empresa biotecnológica para reconocer a los maestros que desarrollan proyectos ejemplares de enseñanza, y consta de un premio metálico de $5,000 para el educador 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 relacionadas 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 “ecoamigable” 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 cooperamos 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, comprar utensilios, hacer un letrero con el logo (diseñado por los mismos estudiantes) del grupo y, si aún les resta dinero, añadir una nueva sección de sistema 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 estamos haciendo un buen trabajo”, expresó Miriam Montañez, principal de la
escuela superior del Colegio.
ERCSA Agricultural Project
Hydroponic Lettuce Almost Ready!
Will be on sale soon!
RADIANS SCHOOL
Page 2
Pre-Registration to Begin Soon for 2014-2015
Technology
helps the
learning
process… when
correctly
utilized!
“Radians
School has a
strong
academic
program
which has
proven to be
extremely
successful!”
Students enjoy
working at the
Greenhouse
As we begin the period of pre-registration for the
next academic year, we are encouraged by the outpouring of support by our Radians School VirtuesBased 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 outstanding 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, Radians 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
You can be certain
that you have chosen wisely when you
made the decision to have your child
attend Radians School!
wonderful ideals and goals.
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
November, 2013 Issue 5
Students Enjoying Music Class
Page 3
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 Above: Prof. Ramos working with a 6th grade group during
bringing their guitars as regular academic tools, much in the music class. Happy faces noted all around!
same way they bring their notebooks and computers.
Annual College Fair a Huge Success!
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 receive. They also realize the huge contribution each student is able to make to
their respective universities. Thanks to
work our professional counselor, Prof.
Wanda Berrios, these activities are undertaken.
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 talents flourish. Let us all promote peace in our lives!
“...these
[universities]
are anxious to
have our
students apply
to their
institutions”
High School
National Honor
Society in
Caminata de la
Memoria
Radians School National Honor Society (Capitulo Zafiro)
participated on Sunday, September 22nd in the Caminata de la Memoria sponsored
by the Alzheimers and
Related Disorders Association of Puerto Rico. This was
held at Luis Munoz Marin
Park in San Juan.
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!
In Radians School, Students learn by doing!!
Dr. Raquel Castrodad and Team Return from Character
Education Conference Presentation in Washington D.C.
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!