MATES Messenger Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science Volume 10 - Issue 2 MATES Messenger Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Principal’s Message Rock-A-Bye Baby Spring 2011 by Mary Gibbs and Nick Zebrowski Reflection is an essential part of teaching and learning. As we Recently, the junior class was required to accomplish 24 hours begin the spring semester, it is imperative that we take a few mo- of parenting. Teen pregnancy is a growing issue in the United ments to reflect on our progress thus far during the 2010-2011 States; therefore, the junior class was assigned the task of parent- academic school year. While reflecting, we must refer back to our ing a child for 24 hours. The baby project was designed to teach goals and objectives that were established in September. How are students about the responsibility and time required to take care of we doing academically? How can we continue to encourage high a child. It also encouraged students to make smart decisions in and clear expectations for all? What is needed to accomplish our order to prevent pregnancy. The purpose for taking home the goals for the remainder of the year? ‗babies‘ was for ―students to understand the responsibility and Students, in order to have a successful, well-rounded high time that it takes to care for an infant, specifically how it affects school experience, I encourage you to re-evaluate your opportu- their life as a high school student,‖ said Mr. Coen. nities: The doll simulated everything a human baby would do during its infancy. Whenever the baby cried, one of four keys had to be 1. Revisit your academic goal (s) and make necessary adjust- used. One represented changing its diaper, one represented the ments to achieve them before the end of this school year. bottle, one represented burping, and one represented giving the 2. Get involved in extracurricular activities by joining a team, child attention. The baby‘s crying was based on a program and club, or community service organization. each student was given a random program. What the parent had 3. Define your role as 21st Century Learners and reflect on what to do when the baby was crying was to find the correct key to it will take to be successful as you move towards the end of com- stop the crying. Every time a key was used, the time was logged pulsory education. on a sheet of paper to verify that the child was not neglected. 4. Be prepared to be a life-long learner. Education does not stop Also notable about this simulation was the fact that if the ba- on graduation day; it is a continuum that spans throughout our bies were shaken, held upside-down, or hit, a light on its back lives. would go off. This notified the instructor that the baby was Finally, allow me to express how incredibly proud I am of our abused. If the parent tried to take out the battery pack, a light students and faculty as they continue to be recognized for their labeled ―Tamper‖ would go off to show that the parent had tried numerous accomplishments. Each day we have the choice to to take out its batteries. These lights further helped prove which make incredible and interesting opportunities for ourselves, or to parents were correctly taking care of their baby. sit idly by and let nothing happen. I am proud of you because you One couple from each class was to receive a drug addicted make the choice to get out and get involved in experiences that baby while the other couples received normal, healthy children. will change your life and the lives of those around you. The babies from mothers who were using drugs during their preg- nancy had a different cry from the normal babies. Junior Kevin Keep focused and keep working hard – your success is the Boyles described this cry as, ―bad—almost as if dinosaurs were ultimate goal! crying.‖ It was a challenging task for everyone to take care of the ―infants,‖ but the junior class was very successful. Hopefully, Sincerely, every student learned that teen parenthood is much more difficult than it seems. Mrs. Alison L. Carroll Principal Left: Nick Zebrowski and Mary Gibbs with their ―child.‖ What’s up at Page 2 MATES Messenger Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Winter Semi-Formal The Giving Tree by Dylan Everett by Greg Kamback and Udara Fernando On December 3rd, MATES hosted its fourth annual win- Every year, MATES rings in the holiday season with ter semi-formal dance, with students, guests, and a few several community service projects. One of the most im- teachers in attendance. This year, the dance‟s theme was portant projects is the annual Giving Tree. The Giving Tree “Starry Night,” so the hallway and cafeteria were accord- is sponsored by the Spanish Club and takes place through- ingly decorated with shiny silver stars, streamers, and out the month of December. It gives students and faculty lights. A DJ played a wide selection of music, ranging from the opportunity to donate toys to less fortunate children in current hits to party classics. The dance was organized by the local Barnegat area; over the past few years, the Giving the seniors, making it one of their last events before gradu- Tree has proven to be a great way to spread holiday cheer. ation. Rob Start, a senior who helped to run the dance, said, It is a nice way to brighten a child‟s holiday and make that “We knew it was one of our last big events to run at MA- child feel special. TES, so we wanted to make sure it would be really memo- This year, over 80 presents were donated to the less for- rable!” Sr. Wellner, the senior advisor, mentioned that tunate. These presents were delivered to Saint Mary‟s aside from the dance, the seniors‟ last event will be the tal- Church in Barnegat. Señor McNamara, one of the advisors ent show that they are hosting with the sophomores on of the Spanish Club, expressed that he was “amazed at the March 4th; he was “very pleased to see that the dance was a generosity of the MATES community, especially during great success.” such harsh economic times.” Ashley Louth, president of the Many students brought friends from their home schools, Spanish Club, stated, “The entire Spanish Club would like allowing MATES students and outside students to meet and to thank everyone who participated in the toy drive of mingle. Also, some upperclassmen came to their first MA- 2010. It was the best toy drive to date with a grand total of TES dance that night, proving that it is never too late to over 80 toys collected! We are very proud of the MATES start attending the school‟s events; for example, Matt Kol- community for donating.” busz, a junior who had not been able to make it to any pre- The support for the Giving Tree this year truly was vious dances, said that “from the entertainment to the dé- spectacular. For all of the students that did donate a toy, cor, this year‟s „Starry Night‟ winter semi-formal was bril- expect a reward of an hour of community service. For those liant event that gave all of the attendees a chance to break who did not, there‟s always next year! ¡Prospero año nue- free from their daily stresses and move to the beats of their vo! favorite hits… the seniors organized and executed the dance very well.” Another junior, Annalee Tweitmann, said, “I truly enjoyed my night under the stars, and a good time was had by all!” Thanks to the seniors for organizing such a successful event! The Giving Tree A group of seniors at the semi-formal What’s up at Page 3 MATES Messenger Tuesday, February 15, 2011 The Rain Garden: MATES’ Biggest Project able to make use of the Rain Garden. Teachers will be by Veronica La Du and Barry Lathrop able to conduct classes using the resources available here. However, it is not only people who will benefit The Rain Garden project has been an idea on the from the revitalization of the Rain Garden, but native minds of MATES students before there was even a species of plants and animals will also thrive in the MATES building. In 2006, a class who would never new environment and enhance its natural beauty. attend the new building started working on this mo- As for new additions to the Rain Garden, the plan mentous project while the building was under con- is to keep them coming. The Student Council is con- struction. They planted flowers, various species of structing new benches, trees were planted just a month trees, installed benches, bluebird boxes, and a lecture ago, and new plants will be added in the spring. The stand for students to use. Since then, many additions only problem encountered so far is that near the fence, to the rain garden have been made. In 2009, the sen- the sunlight is blocked from the growing plants, so iors that year, amongst others, planted a multitude of they will not grow. trees. Numerous MATES clubs have been involved Student Council President Joe Convery, a senior, with this environmental project such as the Class has seen the Rain Garden grow, and he says “The rain Councils, the National Honor Society, and the Student garden project will hopefully never be completed. In Council. The Rain Garden started as an empty with no the years to come, I hope that students will continue to environmental benefits whatsoever.