| Marine Academy of Science and Technology | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 305 MAST Way Sandy Hook, New Jersey 07732 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public magnet |
| Established | 1981 |
| School district | Monmouth County Vocational School District |
| Principal | Dr. Paul Christopher |
| Faculty | 26.9 (on FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 274 (as of 2008-09)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 10.2[1] |
| Color(s) | Blue, gold |
| Website | MAST |
The Marine Academy of Science and Technology (M.A.S.T.) is a coeducational four-year magnet public high school located in Sandy Hook, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. The school offers learning in all subjects, specializing in marine technology and science. It is one of five career academies administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD). The M.A.S.T. program requires each student to participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC)every year as well as an Annual Military Inspection (AMI) in the spring.
The Marine Academy was founded in 1981 as a part-time program which has since grown to become a full-time diploma-granting program. The school's curriculum focuses on marine sciences and marine technology/engineering. The school offers small classes with close personal attention.
As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 276 students and 26.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 10.2.[1]
The Marine Academy is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. For the 1997-98 school year, the Marine Academy was designated a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education,[2] and was selected by the Department of Education as a New American High School for the 1998-99 school year;[3] these are just two of the many honors and awards the innovative program has received throughout its years. On April 15, 2007, in honor of the Marine Academy's 25th Anniversary, a proclamation by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders declared April 15 as "Marine Academy of Science and Technology Day" in Monmouth County.
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M.A.S.T. campus is located in the Fort Hancock Historic Area, as part of the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. The school is adjacent to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in the country, and is within walking distance of several beaches. The campus includes thirteen newly renovated buildings and various laboratories devoted to Marine Biology, Oceanography, C.A.D., and Multi-Media Laboratory. The buildings were previously mess halls and latrines for the "Tent City" that was set up at Fort Hancock for a time during World War II. A Technology Workshop, a Media Center containing a Computer Classroom, a Naval Science Building, and other classrooms round out the facilities. Also, there is hands on instruction on the school research vessel, the R/V Blue Sea. The "R/V Blue Sea" is currently berthed at the Coast Guard Station on Sandy Hook. This vessel is extensively used throughout many core classes in the curriculum including marine biology, marine chemistry, marine physics, oceanography. [4]
All students at the Marine Academy participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC). The unit is designated as an Area 4 school and participates in many inter-unit competitions, the most prominent of which is the Drill Team. Motivated cadets can participate in several disciplines including Freshmen, Color Guard, Armed Platoon, Unarmed Platoon, Unarmed Exhibition, and Armed Exhibition. In the past, MAST has been successful at three area competitions; Neptune, Linden, and Area 4. Exceptional performance in the Area 4 Drill Competition (placing first in 2008 and 2010) has qualified the school for national competition in Pensacola, Florida for both those years.
Each year, cadets at MAST are subject to a Physical Fitness Test (PFT). The standards for this exam are based upon Navy guidelines. Grades are based upon a point scale and range from Unsatisfactory to Outstanding. These superlatives translate into number grades and are a portion of the Naval Science grade for credit. Additionally, satisfactory PFT performance is criteria for advancement and promotion.
At the end of each year, qualified cadets are promoted to a rank and billet commensurate with academic performance, ability, and PFT results. The MAST unit is organized into a battalion with four companies and a headquarters section. The highest rank a cadet can achieve is Cadet Commander.
In early June, M.A.S.T. hosts its Freshman Cardboard Boat Armada at Plum Island, on Sandy Hook. The project is part of the Technology: Problem Solving and Design class but is cross-curriculum. Beginning in mid to late April, teams of up to seven freshmen are subject to design and build a cardboard boat, along with enough cardboard paddles to support their team. The teams are limited to a specific amount of cardboard based on their combined total weight, and are also limited to a can of rubber cement and 3 cans of caulk (although, humorously, some are said to have used over 11.) On the day of the Armada, Plum Island is flooded with reporters from local newspapers and news channels. During the 2008 Armada Challenge, 8 boats survived, 3 sank, and 1 disintegrated afterwards. Some names of teams from the 2008 challenge include Boogzy-Boo and The Conundrum Crew, The Polar Bear Rescue Squad, Six Chicks, Tippy Turtlez, and The Lady Vikes.
The June 2009 Cardboard Boat Armada would be the last Armada to be held at the Marine Academy. The freshmen Technology teacher who organized the project has cited environmental impacts as a reason for discontinuing the project. It has also been stated that the potentially dangerous fumes emitted by the rubber cement and paint were another factor in the termination of the project. The end of the year project will instead be changed to another project that fits the current curriculum, such as possibly designing a skimboard.
Marine Academy of Science and Technology is one of five career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District. These are referred to as sister schools: