2 ’NATHA NEWS
NEWS
APRIL 24, 2016
SPACE continued from page 1 This is Maranatha High’s third year as one of a handful of high schools around the world that have the rare opportunity to send an experiment to the International Space Station. As partners of Valley Christian High School’s ISS program, the high schools each create their own unique experiment. This year, the MCS program has merged with the San Diego Youth Space Program, sponsored by Realcomm CEO Mr. Jim Young, to provide the The 2015-2016 ISS team consists of eight MCS high school students (one not pictured) and five students from other schools. opportunity to students in other schools in San Diego PHOTO BY RON XU / ISS MENTOR too, including students from Poway High and The Bishop’s School. September 2015 to March 2016 to create their learned important non-technical skills such as The program gives high school students the phototropism experiment, under the mentorship of teamwork, project management, scheduling, and valuable opportunity to apply concepts they’ve learned MCS science teacher Mr. Bill Miller and volunteer public relations, while having fun all along the way. in their science classes and work on a real-world parents Mr. Miles Weida and Mr. Ron Xu. The team is excited for the potential of their little engineering project, an “Programming is one of my plant. “If we can figure out how to grow even the opportunity high school students favorite things to do,” said smallest plant,” the team shared in their statement of “How many people our sophomore Ryan Park, a member purpose, “we can apply what we’ve learned to don’t usually get. But working on a project that age get to say, ‘I put an of the software team, “but I didn’t eventually grow bigger, fruit-bearing plants in space, will be sent to space--that’s even really have a chance to do it bringing us closer to supporting human life in space experiment on the ISS!’” more exciting. Bishop’s senior before ISS.” long term.” Grace Young exclaimed, “how In addition to providing As they watched the rocket on the live webcam, the many people our age get to say, ‘Oh, I put an opportunities that regular school classes don’t offer, team wondered what endless possibilities await them experiment on the ISS!’” Not many. the ISS program has furthered the team members’ beyond the blue sky. For these high school students, This year’s team was comprised of thirteen high interests in STEM subjects. For many, the ISS the sky is not the limit. school students from ninth to twelfth grade, divided program has greatly influenced their decisions to into teams of electrical engineering, mechanical major in a STEM field in college. To apply for the 2016-17 ISS Program, visit engineering, software, public relations, and Besides learning skills related to electrical, maranathaiss.weebly.com documentation. The students met weekly from mechanical, and software engineering, students also
“ATTEN-HUT!” MCS Students
Diverse Dining:
Train Like Navy SEALs
International Food Faire Sarah Stout
Melody Hwangbo
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER It was a beautiful sunny day on March 17. As the clock ticked along bringing lunch time ever closer, a hungry crowd gathered at the entrance of the MCS gym. Meanwhile, the International students were busy running around back and forth from table to table, hastily putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the food faire. This year’s food faire menu was the ambitious effort of the international students for high school students and faculty to enjoy a taste of the world, an international food faire better than all the previous ones combined. As the bell for lunch time rang, people began to flood into the gym and swarm around the tables, lining up for plate after plate of food.
PHOTO BY MARISA HEFFERNAN
There were many delicacies and dishes from various countries. At the Korean table, there were homemade Tteukbokki (white rice cakes in spicy sauce) and spicy chicken; the Chinese tables were full of delicious entrées such as Hunan Beef; the Japanese table put out its most well-known dish: sushi. The Mexican table was looking festive with its sombrero of salsa and chips, with quesadillas on the side, while the Russian table had the mouthwatering Medovik Cake. Also, there was the brand new Lebanese table, with its meat pockets and salad dishes. International students had prepared a lot more food than usual for the larger number of people, yet by the end of the faire, most of the tables were completely emptied. The 3rd International Food Faire ended on a high note when a student representative from each country came to the microphone for a brief speech and gave a short word Students sample the diverse foods at the International Food of appreciation in their native tongue. Faire. PHOTO BY ALLISON FAN / ‘NATHA NEWS
Navy SEALs are a rare type of military personnel that exhibit an intense amount of physical strength and mental toughness for the purpose of serving our country. With only about 2,500 currently active, Navy SEALs have a skill level that is unique and hard to find. The Maranatha High School PE class recently had the honor of hosting a Navy SEAL who brought much insight into the daily life of a Navy SEAL. Through his time on campus, the students had the opportunity to undergo a workout that is used by the Navy SEALs during their day-to-day training. This workout included cardio and bodyweight exercises that taxed much of the students’ energy! After the workout was over, they also had an opportunity to ask him questions about his life experiences during his time in the Special Forces. When asked about the event in his life that led to a Purple Heart, he
explained how the compound he was stationed at came under attack, in which he sustained a bullet to his side (that is actually still there!) His experience and wisdom about Navy SEALs was a major benefit to the class, as the students had the opportunity to not only participate in a workout used by the Navy SEALs, but to collect insight through the valuable time in which they were able to ask him questions about his career. When asked about this event, the teacher of this class, Mr. Navarette, stated that, “I really enjoyed [him] and his stories about what his life was like...[and how] he was able to utilize his physical attributes to be able to not only be a vital part of our society but also help our nation in serving.” Overall, this special event gave the high school PE class a chance to see firsthand some of the daily workouts and extraordinary life experiences of a soldier in an elite and prominent branch in the military, and it all started with a passion for sports, fitness, and a desire to serve.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BETSY STOUT / MCS PARENT