Coach hosts eclipse party for students
By John Earp
Last Saturday morning, about 30 students from Jal Junior High School science classes attended an eclipse party in the courtyard between the high school, elementary school, and the elementary gym. The viewing party had been arranged by Coach Joe Soliz, who teaches science at Jal Junior High. Soliz has just come back from retirement to teach and perhaps coach for a few more years, and says he is very excited by the enthusiasm for science he has seen in his students this year. Students were given eclipse glasses, which allowed them to view the eclipse directly without injuring their eyes.
Soliz says he is hoping to organize more science events like this for his students, saying he has just gotten permission from the district to look for a programmable Celestron telescope that would enable the classes to hold stargazing parties. He said he has not yet presented the entire idea to administration yet, but plans to. He also mentioned that the hydroponics equipment and 3D printer that had been ordered last year had come in and that he was hoping to get it set up soon. He says, “I’m excited for the kids. I’ve told them some of what I’m hoping to do. It’s about them wanting to do things. My sixth graders, man, I tell you what, if I could just bottle their energy that would be great. But they’re all on board. I want to do plenty more.”
Connected to all this, Soliz plans to start up a science club, which he has sponsored in the past at other schools he has taught for. He envisions the club taking field trips to places like museums or to Carlsbad Caverns. Soliz calls it “Third Rock Science Club. We’ve had it every place I’ve been. That’s what lets us do a lot of things. That’s where we bring the parents in and they become part of everything we do. I haven’t been excited like this in probably 10 years. Now’s a really good time to get some things going for these kids. I’m not saying nothing bad about sports, but not all kids play sports, so you’ve got to give them some outlets. I’m turning my coaching attitude towards the classroom, you know what I’m saying? It’s getting me excited again.”
Soliz says the science club will “encompass whoever wants to join us. It’s things that are going to be outside the normal classroom. In the past, I’ve offered kids a chance to come and review for tests, for the state testing. I’ve done a lot of different things. The kids in other places have helped me put the science fair together. It’s a lot easier to have a club behind it. It’s a lot different when you have the kids involved in a club and you can work together for a common cause.” Soliz says he really appreciates the administration’s support in Jal Schools, saying, “They don’t say no. They want things to happen here.” Soliz says, “How are they going to know what’s out there if nobody ever shows them?”
