Writing Contest Winners 2018-2019

Honorable Mention, Grades 6-8

Kate Wolfson
Grade 6, Gibbs School, Arlington
Ms. Rebecca Hawk, Teacher


Frank the Fisherman's Opening Day Speech

Welcome all to the opening of Frank's Fish Harbor Shop! While enjoying a plate of our most healthful, aesthetic fisherman's platters, sit back and relax for a view of the most WONDERFUL Deer Island Treatment Plant. Across the bay, you can see a side view of the island and all of the people working there. The windmills whirr in the bay breeze, and the brick buildings slightly resemble castles. There is even a pipe that reaches all the way into the ocean!

I will be giving you more information about the MWRA and will be taking questions throughout the speech.

As the years go by, Deer Island is trusted wholly with the benefit of all Bostonians around. It treats the waste and as a result has provided a thriving harbor for years, and it does not plan on stopping anytime in the near future.

Now, look across the water to the Deer Island Treatment Plant. Contrary to what you may think, the white egg-shaped tanks are not the only part of the treatment process. The MWRA has developed an efficient sewage and wastewater treatment system that consists of many elements, such as pumps, filters, and pipes that have been engineered to treat the waste. The engineers constantly try to improve the systems and come up with improvements.

MWRA employees use science to take water samples. Over 1,600 samples are taken each month! To supply the Boston area with clean water, the MWRA uses disinfectant chemicals to clean the water and rid it of dangerous bacteria. Clean water is a priority. Do you have any questions so far?

A Mysterious Onlooker at Table III: You say STEM is used in a range of ways. But how is math used?

Frank: Math is used in several ways. The workers must calculate the ratios of the untreated water to the disinfectant. Very precise calculations are used because if the mixture is off, it could be dangerous. Math is also used to determine the supply and demand of the water system, as well as calculating the reservoir water levels.

Ms. Breeze at table VI: I work in a technology department. How is technology used at The MWRA?

Frank: Well, Ms. Breeze, that is a wonderful question. Technology is used in multiple ways. To review, technology is anything that helps meet a need or solves problems. Water filters, for example, filter the water and solve the problem of dirty water. Therefore, water filters are part of the technology section. Meters are also a part of technology that meets a need. The workers and the people in Boston need to be able to see how much water is sent to each house and neighborhood, so meters were established to meet that particular need. Is that clear?

Ms. Breeze: Yes, thank you for telling me. It is nice to know that all of the aspects of STEM are being used at the MWRA. I used to think that the MWRA only consisted of the Deer Island Treatment Plant. Thanks to you, I now know more information.

Mysterious Onlooker: Just as Ms. Breeze said, you have provided us with new information that I wouldn't necessarily know, such as the amount of samples are taken per month.

Frank: No problem. In conclusion, the MWRA is an amazing facility. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math are all incorporated into the system at the MWRA. The white eggs across the bay are just the above-the-scenes view. Behind the scenes, the employees are working very hard to ensure that systems run smoothly and everything works for the whole of Boston. Using pipes, filters, meters, measurements, and of course the resourceful workers, the MWRA runs as smooth and as clear as the freshly filtered· water. Without further ado, enjoy your meals at Frank's Fish Harbor Shop! And thank you for coming!

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