A Christmas Message

Christmas Edition, December 2013

Of Math, Science, and Technology

Mankind’s Most Precious Gift

Dr. Raquel Castrodad

"The bright star of Christmas gives hope to the help-

less, awakens the virtues of each human being and

leads them on the path of peace". ~ Raquel Castrodad

D ecember arrives with its fresh air, cheerful music,

carols and songs that take us to a time everyone

wants to relive from our childhood, Christmas.

Sweet and pleasant memories of our parents, siblings,

friends, and grandmother’s delicious food come to mind.

Christmas is the most appropriate time of the year to

internalize the importance of service and to remind ourselves

of the opportunities we have had to serve.

Let us reflect on the joy of living and helping others!

How beautiful it is to establish the goal that this be the

Christmas that finds us in a rebirth of the heart, of the soul, of

life, and of hope!

We give the most precious gift that will endure and will be

with us always - to teach what love is in all its dimensions!

We can give the experience of a love that is not influenced by

color, social status or age.

The time is perfect to awaken in our children the gifts of

compassion, generosity, justice, humility, and perseverance.

These are essential virtues needed to achieve the academic,

social, and professional success of these young citizens that are

the hope of our society.

This Christmas, let’s invite our children to perform an act

that demonstrates their love for others.

These upcoming vacation days offer us a wonderful

opportunity to go out and show the face of love. This is a great

moment to visit a sick person or go to an elderly folk’s home,

to bring food to homeless people, or to collect toys for children

who are in shelters because they have had to flee a home

where abuse is the order of the day.

These are real-world experiences of which our young people

should not be alienated because they will be the ones who will

continue writing the pages of this story and who will hopefully

be the builders of a better world.

The morning breeze is accompanied by a scent full of love

and humility. We only have to stop to appreciate them, savor

their taste, and add it to the menu of our homes.

Dare to do so! It is Christmas! Hit the streets to show kids

that they can make a difference. Demonstrate that mom and

dad are in the first seat in the first row of love. Invite

grandparents, friends, neighbors, and prepare a feast of soli-

darity.

Take to the streets and give to

others! Get ready for the true

Christmas spirit!

That this Christmas and every day

of the upcoming New Year illuminate

our youth and that the star that hails

from the East may flood the world

with joy! These are the wishes of our

great Radians School family!

Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year 2014!

My idea of Christmas,

whether old-fashioned

or modern, is very

simple: loving others.

Come to think of it,

why do we have to wait

for Christmas to do

that?

~Bob Hope

L ast Saturday, 23rd of November of 2013, our eleventh grade

students visited the central office of Hogar Ruth Albergue

para Mujeres Maltratadas, Inc. located in Vega Alta. They were

part of an orientation on the objectives and tasks that are perfor-

med at that entity. It is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that

provides services to victims of domestic violence with their sons and

daughters such as: services of temporary shelter, guidance and profes-

sional counseling, services for children, individual

psychological therapy, legal advice, and support in

applying for orders of protection. After the talk, the youths made a collective donation which

included home, personal, school, and office supplies, among other items.

Elementary Girls Volleyball Team Wins COPSAA Championship

Page 2 Radians School

Above, Keishlyann Baéz, Tania Machicote, Lizbel (Center Director), Xavier Colón, Kevin Puentes.

W hat a wonderful Thanksgiving present!

On Thursday, November 21st, our elementary

school Mini-Feminine Volleyball team won the COPSAA

Volleyball Tournament by defeating Edison School.

These students have worked hard to maintain their academic

work while juggling a myriad of other activities, among them,

volleyball. This requires that our students develop maturity

beyond their years.

In an age where these values are little noted, and rarely

recognized, at Radians School this is the underlying pin that

sustains our educational philosophy.

We recognize the support of parents, teachers, coaches, and

administration in helping our students do their best.

We congratulate the athletes on their wonderful achievement.

Once again, our students demonstrate what the virtues of

dedication, responsibility and commitment are capable of

helping our students achieve.

O ur young graduate of the Class of 2011, William José Burgos-

Vega, is currently participating in Semester at Sea, a program

that allows students to study while travelling the world. He

embarked in Southampton, London in August 24, visiting the countries of

Russia, Germany, Belgium, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Morocco,

Canary Islands, Ghana, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and Baha-

mas. He has learned about the different cultures of the countries visited. It

has been a wonderful experience.

At left, we see Willie with school children in Ghana. Willie is the son of

our beloved office records administrator and proud mother, Vilma Vega.

Graduate participates in Semester-at-Sea Program

High School Students offer Community Service

High School Celebrates Thanksgiving

Page 3 Christmas Edition, December 2013

By Miriam Montanez, HS Principal

L ast Friday, November 22, students from 7th to

12th grade celebrated Thanksgiving with a fun-

filled activity that included presentations, snacks,

lunch, and a surprise!!! Cabezudos and baile de zan-

cos, Spanish folkloric traditions typical of the

Christmas holiday celebrations.

The activity, coordinated and sponsored by our Stu-

dent Council, began during the morning with a

reflection offered by Geraldo Acevedo, Student Council

President, who gave thanks in a manner in which

Ralph Waldo Emerson expresses: Cultivate the habit

of being grateful for every good thing that comes to

you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all

things have contributed to your advancement, you

should include all things in your gratitude.

Afterwards, we enjoyed several students’

presentations that included short dramas, dances, and

singing, all inspired in our Christmas-time traditions.

Our students showed their creativity, talent, and

excellent taste as they presented a series of musical

and dramatic numbers which emphasized the values

and virtues that form part of our school’s philosophy.

A delicious typical Puerto Rican Thanksgiving lunch

was served and enjoyed by all students, teachers, and

school personnel. Students danced to the tune of salsa

and plena, and shared with peers and teachers!

The activity ended with the

11th grade presentation.

Students sang accompanied by

fellow students playing instru-

ments, and danced a folkloric

bomba and plena with the ani-

mation of the Cabezudos and

zancos!

It was an excellent day for all and a wonderful way to

mark the beginning of our Christmas holidays.

As the Holiday Season is upon us, we find ourselves

reflecting on the past year.

We value our relationship with our students

and their parents, and look forward to the year

to come. We wish you all a very happy Holiday Season

and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity.

Christmas isn't

a season. It's a

feeling.

~Edna Ferber

Inside Story Headline

Radians School Of Math, Science, and Technology

Carr 735 Km 0.4

Cayey, Puerto Rico (787) 738-4822

www.radiansschool.org

The First and Only School in Puerto Rico

recognized as a

“National School of

Character”

Junior National Honor Society Initiation

O n Thursday, November 21st, the Junior Nation-

al Honor Society initiated its new members.

The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior

Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation's premier organi-

zations established to recognize outstanding high

school and middle level students. More than just an hon-

or roll, NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students

who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Schol-

arship, Leadership, Service, and Character (and Citizen-

ship for NJHS).

Prof. María Lopez is the Faculty Advisor for the JNHS

at Radians School. She has worked diligently to help our

students assume the responsibilities that membership

in this organization requires. This year 25 deserving

students were initiated into the JNHS. Among the

requirements are that students must fulfill the required

academic grades. They must also be examples of the

virtues of academic excellence, leadership, service and

character.

We recognize the outstanding qualities possessed by

these students and wish

them the best of success as

they begin their careers as

model students and model

citizens.

Congratulations!

The entire Radians School Family wishes you and your own

a healthy and safe Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014!

Above, Dr. José Castrodad offering his opening message on

the importance of being a JNHS member .

Above, proud parents with faces aglow watch as their chil-

dren are initiated into the Junior National Honor Society.

At left, parents and current

student officials of the NJHS,.

Above, Ambar Soliván,

9th grade student and

outgoing President of

the JNHS welcoming

the new initiates.