Science Week in Santa Rosa

“A great idea with lots of support”

Elma E. Barrera Elementary and the Santa Rosa School Board of Trustees are celebrating the success of their first-ever Science Week and Science Tour during the last week of school. “It was a good idea that just took off,” said Silvia Ramos, Principal of the elementary school.

“We were all so thrilled to have the support and encouragement of so many of the school administration, the parents of the children, and the city of Santa Rosa.”

“Originally, we only planned a simple Science Fair for the 3-5th grades,” she said, “but the fifth grade science teacher, Santiago Villarreal, said, ‘wouldn’t it be great to involve all the students in all aspects of science, and give them get them engaged in activities that targeted all fields of science as a possible career choice?”

Thus, the Science Week was the brainchild of the science teacher; Silvia Ramos, the principal, and Alberto Trevino ACE Program Director.

The week-long tour included conferences and demonstration for the kids about career opportunities in Engineering, Physics and other fields of science, including Robotics.

The idea caught on, and Principal Ramos enlisted the services of visiting instructors and various professionals who lectured the kids and their parents about careers in their field. University of Texas RGV science students excited the kids about what they were learning in college. “Perhaps they might consider a future in one of the science careers,” she added.

Ramos said that the instructors brought their own materials to show the students. “Robotics and Rockets got more attention by far than some of the other fields,“ she said.

“The kids responded with “eyes wide-open” and mouths agape as the instructors explained the exhibits and the experiments they performed. The kids and their parents also enjoyed the chemistry, electricity and biology projects.”

Principal Ramos said the idea was to make them know that engineering is science, but can be “fun.” She said that the school paid for everything. She also expressed appreciation for the support and encouragement of Superintendent Heriberto Villarreal and the Board of Trustees.

The success of the event can be judged by what parents said about their children:

One said, “this is the first time this year that I didn’t have to wake up my son to go to school–He was already up and ‘raring’ to go.” Another said, “He really liked what he saw and learned.”

Principal Ramos says they now have an ambitious and unique science program for our Pre-K through 5th grade students. “Everybody wants it to be an annual event and make it grow–so, hopefully, we’ll see you next year,” she said with a very satisfied smile.