METSA project helps child hunger

The Math, Engineering, Technology and Science Academy (METSA) students at R.L. Turner High School have been working on a project called "Healthy Child, Healthy Planet" which allows students to help children in third-world countries by bringing awareness and solutions to problems.

Angela Shelley, public information specialist for the district, said the school has been working with the University of Indiana and two other new tech schools in Indiana on this project.

The project allows high school students of any grade level to work in a group to either bring awareness or provide a solution to hunger issues going on in the third-world countries across the world. With the METSA program revolving around a real-world working environment, students are able to generate and discuss ideas that would not be possible in a regular classroom environment.

"Teachers went to a seminar in Bloomington, Ind., where they presented an all-school project. Turner has shown interest in an all-school project but has never done anything," said Mansoureh Tehrani, METSA director at R.L. Turner. "I received an email in December from the University of Indiana ... looking for schools to sign up for this year's project, so we jumped at the idea."

Tehrani joined together with METSA directors of two other schools and the director of the global center at the University of Indiana to create the "Healthy Child, Healthy Planet" project.

"We received permission from the main campus at R.L. Turner to collapse the school. That means students of all grade levels in the METSA building at the same time," Tehrani said. "When you are a school within a school that can be a difficult thing to do."

There are more than 320 students in the METSA program at R.L. Turner; each group presented their project on how they would help a third-world country and child hunger. From there, Tehrani and other health professional judges ranked the students' projects. The top six then presented in front of the entire METSA academy. The winner will then travel out of state to compete against other METSA programs.

"There are several places we could travel; we just have not decided yet," Tehrani said. "One is in Chicago. However, the University of Indiana is figuring out those details."

Prior to traveling out of state, the METSA winner from Turner will present at an upcoming Carrollton Rotary Club as well as present in front of the C-FB ISD school board.

"My group's project is about educating the children in India so they can provide food for themselves," said Amber Castillo, METSA student. "Generally most people go there and give them the food and resources, and we want to give them the education to feed themselves."

Tehrani said she has been impressed with the wide range of ideas that students have come up with. Since METSA is project-based learning and Turner is participating in this project for the first time, the school is still trying adjust on the fly to make sure students are getting the most out of the project.

"Normally, after the third year teachers feel comfortable with a project," she said. "We are still trying to feel everything out, but we are very happy by what students have produced so far."

For information on the METSA academy, go to cfbstaff.cfbisd.edu/tehranim/ metsa/index.htm.

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