Studying Atmosphere in Marikina Science High School
Marikina Science High School is a public science high school located at Mayor Juan Chanyungco Street, Sta. Elena, Marikina City. It is an offshoot of Marikina Institute of Science and Technology. The school has been recognized as the best and premiere high school in the city for its manageable and small number of students, and competitiveness of its students and teachers.
In 1990, a school called Leogardo Victorino Memorial High School was founded in Chanyungco St., Sta. Elena, Marikina, Rizal(Marikina was a province of Rizal at that time, Marikina today is a city) in Honor of Leogardo Victorino, a former councilor in the town of Marikina. After the town of Marikina became a city, the Leogardo Victorino Memorial High School became an institutional school and was renamed as Marikina Institute of Science and Technology.
What is the atmosphere in studying in this so called premiere school in Marikina City?
The students of Marikina Science High School are the so called “Cream of the Crop” for the reason that the accepted students came from different schools (grade schools in particular) and all of them took the entrance exam given to each and every student. The process of accepting students is considered as a tight kind of test. The numbers of tests given are a lot harder than those of other exams in other public science high schools; based on my own experience. Other science High Schools only gave 3 categories of tests to accomplish while in Marikina Science High School has 5 categories to answer upon. The Filipino category was included in the entrance test in the science high school which was a hard hitter when I tried their entrance exam. I really thought of failing through that test.
The number of students in Marikina Science high School is less than the normal number of students in a public school, considering that it is a science high school. Because of this the management of the students is a lot easier, the application of the rules and regulations are strictly observed. Those who do not go by the rules and regulations are placed in “Community Service”. This community service is not only done in the school but also in the city as well.
The competition of students in the school is far tighter than other schools. They observe accuracy in every way possible. In getting a grade lower than 83 for the major subjects and 80 for the minor subjects is the worst nightmare of every student. Being a keen observer was the key for a student in this science high school to get higher grades or even passing grades.
The students here are given more loads of activities at home and in school. Assignments most of the times, are harder to get or harder to research for. At times, students need to use creativeness in their activities. Projects are more of technical than the normal creativity needed. They need to be inclined to the course that where you need to submit them.
For the facilities of the school, in the main campus you can locate the principal’s office, the registrar’s office and the guidance counselor’s office. There is also the library, a Chemistry Laboratory, a Biology Laboratory, three computer laboratories, a canteen, a school clinic, the Main faculty room, the MAPEH room, the SLK room, and the Electronic Resource Center. The e-LRC is equipped with internet connection for the usage of the students. In the Annex campus there is a third computer laboratory and the Biology lab. The Biology lab was newly constructed last year.
As for the facilities, the school is fully equipped and is usable for the students. More comfort for the students because of these facilities. The classrooms are not crowded unlike other public schools. The atmosphere in the classrooms is relaxing and easily maintained. Yet, sometimes some maintenance problems are not easily resolved because of the budget for the school. Students are obliged to maintain the school at all times. It is their responsibility to put cleanliness and order to their own classrooms and their school itself.
The problem occurred in the facilities are broken electric fans, wall paintings (which are dirty through the years that it was used) garbage around the school (especially the tiny pieces of dirt), and the chairs that are broken through the misuse of students.
As for the Teachers, they are fully equipped and are capable of teaching in any kind of situation. They are fully proficient in their field of teaching. They keep a standard through the time they started to teach at the beginning of the day to the end of their office hours. They, also like the students in the science high school, are picked through a tight process, producing talented, creative and knowledgeable teachers that will guide the students mentally, intellectually and morally. Through the years the school produced outstanding students.
Extracurricular activities are one of the requirements for fully rounded students of Marikina Science High School. It is has a part in the receiving of honors in the graduating class. In doing these extracurricular activities a student of Marikina Science High School will be fully equipped not only intellectually but socially as well. That is why I included it in the studying atmosphere in Marikina Science High School.
There are organizations and clubs that students can join for their extracurricular activities, namely The Shoeland, Science Society, Mathematics Club, English Club, SLK, Boy Scouts of the Philippines MSHS Chapter, Girl Scouts of the Philippines MSHS Chapter, Yes-O, Path Finder’s Organization, Sinaglahi, Netizens, The Sci-Mistyx, MAPEH Club, Historia Club, Interact Club, and Successful Achievement Club.
Students are obliged to join one organization and one club. Organizations are groups that interact with the school and other schools. Clubs are groups made in the school itself. The priority of each member in its club of organization is strictly observed for more projects and movement in each club or organization. Participation to these groups is needed for a student for his/her own betterment. Roundedness of a student is given main concern n relation to this.
In General students of Marikina Science High School describe their school as a school with a science-based curriculum where the activities are totally rigorous; and the highly gifted are benefited in this school. The major subjects such as English, Math and especially Science are prioritized and given the full focus in studying in this science high school.
(This is actually one of my projects in my Research 1 class)
