Muntinlupa Science High School

Muntinlupa Science High School
Mataas na Paaralang Pang-Agham ng Muntinlupa
Established	1998
Type	Public, Special Science
Principal	Madeline Ann L. Diaz
Location	999 Buendia St., Tunasan, Muntinlupa City, Muntinlupa City, Philippines

Muntinlupa Science High School, known as Muntinlupa Science or Munsci, is a special public high school in the City of Muntinlupa, Philippines that provides a technical and science curriculum that aims to prepare students for careers in Science and Technology, Math, and Communication Arts.^[1]

The school admits about 200 freshmen out of 600 applicants a year but in the school year 2008-2009 they add up 40 students to be admitted making it 240 .

History

The Division of City Schools of Muntinlupa, with local government officials, residents and students jointly initiated a request to the DECS for the establishment of a school. After the DECS approved the request on April 15, 1999, a Selection Admission Test was administered to 126 student applicants on April 26. The top 72 students composed the first batch who would be the first to graduate from what would eventually be known as Muntinlupa Science High School.

On June 1, 1998, the school was inaugurated in the presence of local government and division school officials, 72 students and their parents, and six teachers.

After a year at Itaas Elementary School, a three-storey building at 999 Buendia St., Tunasan was inaugurated on June 4, 1999 by local city officials headed by former Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi and DSS Dr. Alma Bella O. Bautista, and the DECS office represented by Dr. Fe Hidalgo. A three-storey building housing the administration office, clinic, guidance counselor|guidance services, library, computer room and two first year classes stands with its back against Laguna de Bay.

On April 1, 2002, the school graduated its first batch of seniors who hold the distinction of having generated the high percentage of UPCAT passers at 64%. It was also during this year under the efforts of Mrs. Carmen Rodriguez, Principal, that the first batch of permanent teachers of Muntinlupa Science High School was approved by the Department Of Education. They were Paolo Bundoc (Math), Melody Gonzaga (PE), Cecilia Guevara (Pilipino), Arlene Marcos (TLE), Enrico Obsequio (Math), Dory Tamayo (Math) and Edsel Umali (Araling Panlipunan)^[2]

Academics

1. Science and Technology – Being a science high school, MunSci gives special attention in giving excellent science courses to its students. Every year level is given two science subjects: one regular and one elective. For the regular science, freshmen take Integrated Science, which is an overview of the basic topics covered in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, and Astronomy; sophomores take Biology; juniors take Chemistry; and seniors take Physics. On the other hand, students also take elective sciences; freshmen may take either Earth Science or Environmental Science, Classical Mechanics for sophomores, Thermodynamics, Optics, and Acoustics for juniors, and Advanced Chemistry for seniors.
2. Mathematics – The school departs from the basic curriculum followed by most schools and adheres to a more advanced curriculum in mathematics. As with science, students take one regular and one elective for mathematics. Freshmen take Elementary Algebra for regular and Basic Geometry and Logic for elective. Sophomores cover Geometry for regular and Intermediate Algebra for elective. Juniors tackle Advanced Algebra for regular and Trigonometry for elective. Seniors study Advanced Algebra, Analytic Geometry, and Number Theory for regular and Calculus for elective.
3. English – The freshman English course focuses more on grammar, composition writing and Philippine Literature. Works of Filipino writers in English, as well as indigenous myths are discussed, with Amador Daguio’s Wedding Dance being the level’s main literary piece. The sophomores study the literature of Asia and Africa, as well as advance topics in communication arts and grammar. Ramayana of Valmiki is the piece for the second year level. Sophomores are taught to be more analytic by studying pieces for criticism. Juniors focus more on reading and comprehension using literary pieces from American and English literature, paying special attention to Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. Seniors are taught English in terms of real world applications, such as job interviews, plays, and literary criticisms. Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and Edith Hamilton’s Mythology being the main pieces for literature.
4. Filipino – The Filipino program for the first year students discuss the characteristics of the Filipino language, which includes orthography, phonemic and morphemic changes, and grammar lessons. Ang Ibong Adarna is the piece for literature for the freshmen. The second year students study different forms of text and focus more on composition writing. They take up Francisco Balagtas’ Florante at Laura. The third year students study literary criticism with various literary pieces taken from different regions of the Philippines and a special topic for José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. Fourth year students step on advanced literary criticism of various pieces in world literature translated in Filipino. They study Rizal’s El Filibusterismo.
5. Social Studies – Freshmen begin their social studies course with Geography and Philippine History and Government. Sophomores study Anthropology and Asian History and Culture. Juniors study Cosmology, a review on Anthropology and a main focus on World History. Seniors take Economics in relation to Philippines’ economic status.
6. Research – Subject courses in Research are only offered to third and fourth year students. Juniors are offered basic theoretic principles in research and Statistics. Students may specialize either in Biotechnology or Microbiology. Seniors are given advanced applied principles in research and Thesis Writing. Students are required to conduct their own research study and a defense is required at the end of their course.
7. Information and Communication Technology – All ICT classes are held in the school’s three ICT laboratories: the computer laboratory which is for basic computer processes and applications, the internet laboratory for web and engineering applications, and the electronics laboratory for the electronics and communications students. Freshmen study the history of computers, with specialization in basic Windows programs. Lessons in operating Microsoft Office programs are also offered. Sophomores study internet and related topics, such as HTML encoding and web page making. Java and Pascal programs are also studied along with Logic operations using different number bases. Seniors may either take Computer Engineering, where they are taught hardware maintenance and repair; Logic, for students interested in integrated and digital circuits which operate in the binary system; or Basic Electronics. Seniors take Electronics, where they learn the components and processes of an electronic circuit. They are required to build an electronic device and a defense follows at the end of their course.
8. Theater Arts – This subject is only offered to sophomore students as an elective. Students take Speech and Drama lessons where they are taught principles in communication, the International Phonetic Alphabet, theaters of different cultures, and mythology of the Greeks and Romans. Students are required to conduct a theatrical performance at the end of their course.
9. Journalism – This is only offered to second, third, and fourth year students as an elective. Journalism is offered to juniors and seniors, for the basic principles, and to seniors for the field work and applications. Students produce the school’s official publication in Filipino, Ang Matyag. The same goes for the English Journalism, with its official publication in English, The Monitor.
10. Foreign Languages - The school offers classes in foreign languages to all year levels as an elective. Students are offered classes in language in culture of Nihongo and French. Teachers are from the Japanese and French embassies.
11. Technology and Livelihood Education – Basic TLE education, which covers all areas of home economics and entrepreneurship, are offered to first and second year students, while the third and fourth year students are required to specialize in a certain field. Culinary Arts, Journalism, Multimedia Arts and Cinematography are offered to juniors while Entrepreneurship and Food Management are offered to the seniors.
12. Values Education – All year levels are taught lessons pertaining to values enrichment, without adhering to any particular Christian sect. Predominantly, all lessons are based on the teachings of the Bible.
13. Music and Arts – Freshman music cover the basic elements and principles of music theory. Sophomores study Philippine music while the juniors specialize in Asian music. Seniors study history of world music, with special attention given to the history of western music. Students may take elective classes in music such as chorale or choir and Rondalla ensemble. The same coverage is followed for Arts.
14. Physical Education and Health – Students may enter various physical education classes which specialize in a particular sport: basketball (men and women), volleyball (men and women), badminton, soccer, football, table tennis, and chess. Students may also opt to enter an elective class for dance troupe. Health topics cover human health, population and drug education for all year levels.

Achievements

The school's choir is Muntinlupa Science High School (MSHS) chorale. The chorale joined choir competitions like the Voices in Harmony (2006) and Ang Aming Munting Handog chorale festival where they achieved the Grand Champion spot on December 6, 2008. Previously they took the first runner up spots in 2006 and 2007. They also joined MUSIKAPELLA where they won 2nd runner up (2007 and 2008) and Best In Choice Piece (2008), Rotary Club Manila (2007) where they won 1st runner up, and SM malls singing makabayan choir competition where they were hailed Grand Champions. The MSHS chorale also took 3rd place in the NAMCYA 2008 choir category making them one of the best youth choirs in the National Capital Region. Previously (2010) they become the champion in MCL show choir competition, Hallmark Music and Memories Chorale Competition and Voices In Harmony 2010.

Notes

1. ^ Dept. of Education Muntinlupa. "School Mission". http://www.depedmuntinlupa.com/school%20profile/Munt.%20Science%20High%20School/mshs%20mission.htm. 
2. ^ Dept. of Education Muntinlupa. "School History". http://www.depedmuntinlupa.com/school%20profile/munt.%20science%20high%20school/mshs%20history.htm. 

External links

• Muntinlupa Science High School History Page (main source of information for this page)