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SSHS plays host to first-ever Social Studies Fair
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Posted on Nov 23 2004
About half of the 800-plus student population of the Saipan Southern High School took part yesterday in the first-ever Social Studies Fair that was intended to promote and generate interest in social studies.
According to Social Studies department head Jay Villagomez, the students created historic building models and 3D maps, and reenacted historical events.
About 80 projects, including three reenactments, from students in 15 social studies classes were featured during the fair.
“History bridges math, science, and English,” he said. “It is the core department that holds everything together. It is what makes education holistic, meaning it’s unified,” said Villagomez.
He pointed out that, due to the lack of social studies knowledge today, “people know science, people know computers but there’s no bridge in between those so as a result, there’s no interest in being well rounded as a learned person.”
“We’re experts in one field, not knowing other fields. This [fair] is one way of promoting education and hopefully just one simple fair like this would help our students venture into other fields,” he added.
Villagomez encouraged other schools to conduct similar fairs, raising the possibility of a future CNMI-wide fair.
Names of the winners would be engraved on a plaque that would be displayed at the school’s office.
“Most of the students were very excited,” Villagomez said. “A lot did a very good job and had outstanding work. Hopefully, other schools will do the same. It will be great if we can have a CNMI-wide fair, just like science fairs.”
The fair also featured guest judges, including NMI Museum of Culture exhibit curator Noel Quitugua, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Juan L. Babauta, Northern Marianas College instructor Sam McPhetres, and owner of Post Chocolatte Ivan Groom.
