NMHS Hosts Open House on Marine Science and Tech Saturday

There is no other high school in the United States that has the opportunity of a marine lab and a planetarium all in one place. 

Nancy Pelosi, our congresswoman, has honored our Marine Science and Technology (MaST) program by ranking it as a "must visit," along with Lawrence Livermore Lab, Chabot Space and Science, and Cal State East Bay.

The community will get to do so on November 5th at 6 p.m.

I was first introduced to the MaST program by a student ecstatic about his experience in the program. He told me that I MUST experience this as it had changed his life.  I was lucky to have Mr. , the founder of the MaST program, as my eighth grade science teacher. He thought it would benefit me and highly recommended the program to me.  I'm glad he did!

MaST is a student-run organization at that stands for Marine and Science Technology. The teacher in charge is Daniel Johnson.  

In MaST, students look after aquatic animals such as turtles and eels as well as an assortment of fish. MaST runs a star planetarium where third and fourth graders from neighboring elementary schools can come to learn about constellations. 

High school leaders are separated in five departments based on their interest but also on an application and an interview with the department heads. 

Some students are learning about Husbandry, which is taking care of the animals.  You could see these students feeding and caring for the animals except during the presentations. 

The second department, my department, is Audio Visual.  It is here students work on the lighting, sound, projecting and video taping the children as they learn about the constellations or  their undersea adventure. 

The third department is Intructional Technology where student leaders work with I Pads, develop the website and work closely with AV creating the DVDs given to the third and fourth graders upon their leave. 

The fourth department is Business and Marketing.  It is here that student leaders send out information packets to elementary teachers and work in the gift shop to earn money for the MaST program. 

The final department is Tourism Connections.  All freshman and new students are in Tourism to be mentored by older students on the ways of the MaST program in hopes that they will continue as a mentor in their future. 

This program differs from any other class: Students work as a community, and as a family, toward a common goal, which is educating young minds while learning presenting, marketing, and behind the scene skills.

MaSt is not only for elementary students, however. Guess what? Your turn is coming up! The MaST program is having an Open House and all are welcome. 

This event is happening on November 5, at 6 p.m. We as a MaSt group hope you come and have a fabulous yet educational time. For more information please visit our web site at http://nmhsmast.webs.com.