By: Manuela A. Jimenez, M.A in Educational Leadership

PERTH AMBOY—On Friday, October 26, 2018, Middlesex County STEM Charter School (MCSCS) held a ribbon cutting ceremony, in order to celebrate the school’s inauguration. The event occurred roughly a month after beginning classes; and was widely attended by the community. MCSCS, is a Kindergarten through 5 Grade school, currently serving students in grades K through 2; and will expand one grade level per academic year.

This event symbolized the achievement of a collaborative effort, that started in Fall of 2017. To ensure this accomplishment, a group of devoted staff members, teachers, and community members, worked collectively in order to establish Middlesex County STEM Charter School (MCSCS). A school with the mission to provide rigorous science, technology, engineering, and math curricula in a diverse and nurturing environment to spark students’ interest at early ages in STEM careers.

With the goal of improving the quality of education in the City of Perth Amboy, MCSCS’ Chief Education Officer, Dr. Namik Sercan, perceived the school’s ribbon cutting inaugural ceremony, as the beginning of a reputable educational trajectory in the city of Perth Amboy.

Dr. Sercan stated that “addressing the educational needs of the students and parents is the key to the socio-economic growth and wellbeing of our township, Perth Amboy, N.J”. He envisions that MCSCS will be able to emulate the success of its sister-school, Central Jersey College Prep Charter School (CJCPCS); the recipient of many academic awards, including the 2016 National Blue-Ribbon Award for educational excellence.

“Middlesex County STEM Charter School will continue to provide students with excellence in education through collaboration and support,” in order to thrive, he said, after explaining the school’s mission, vision, and curriculum initiatives, Dr. Sercan; reassuring the Perth Amboy NJ community that the school will thrive.

To conclude his speech, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Sercan, culminated by gratefully thanking all of the stakeholders whom believed and supported MCSCS’ vision from the beginning; the honorable Perth Amboy N.J City Mayor Wilda Diaz, the MCSCS Board of Trustees, Perth Amboy City Administrators, MCSCS’ business partners, and the general public who attended the school’s inauguration.

“To know that we are preparing out young people starting from kindergarten through grade 5, in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math is remarkable,” the honorable City Mayor, Wilda Diaz, said, in support of MCSCS.

Mayor Diaz, said that MCSCS is a great improvement for the community, as many companies in the United States are forced to recruit international engineers because they are often times unable to find suitable prepared candidates in the United States.

Therefore, she stressed the importance of having the STEM Charter school in the City of Perth Amboy, “this is the only STEM-based school in the area; and it will provide the youth with more opportunities to lead in STEM based fields, in the 21st century,” she said, “and know that the children of City of Perth Amboy is enriching,” Mayor Diaz added.

Furthermore, Mayor Diaz responded by asserting the youth are the future of tomorrow. “That’s why you deserve this educational opportunity; I like that the school provides a small student-to teacher ratio; I think that is so important,” she said.

Mayor, Diaz concluded her speech by encouraging current MCSCS community members to informing other families in the community about the school “you guys need to get the word out there, for more families to be able to have access to this great educational opportunity, in the years to come,” she said.