# Regional Science High School for Region 1

Regional Science High School for Region 1 (RSHS) is a Magnet school of the Department of Education (Philippines), established in 1994 by virtue of DECS Order No. 69, s.1993. The school has a curriculum that specializes in science and research (different from Special Science Program/Engineering and Science Education Program schools).

## History

The school started with a single classroom consisting of 60 bright students coming from different provinces in the Ilocos Region, with Dr. Igmedio M. Cariaga as principal. For almost four years, it shared classrooms with its mother school DFLOMNHS located at National Highway, San Blas, Bangar, La Union. Then in July 1998, RSHS moved to its present site at Ma. Cristina East, Bangar, La Union. The RSHS-1 campus was donated by the Municipal Government of Bangar.

## Panorama
### Milestones

| Date | Event |
| 1994 | The eleven Regional Science High Schools were established nationwide by virtue of DECS Order No. 69, s.1993. |
| 1998 | RSHS-I moved to its own home at Ma. Cristina East, Bangar, La Union |
| 1998 | RSHS joined an international competition for Investigatory Projects. Alvin Jay Mostoles, then a third year student, represented the Philippines for its invention "Stone Segregator", in SEAMEO Science Fair, held in RECSAM Penang Malaysia. |
| 2000 | RSHS-I joined the National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT). It ranked 43rd among top performing secondary schools in the Philippines. |
| 2000 | RSHS-I had an internet connection, the first public secondary school in La Union to do so. |
| 2001 | For the second time to join NSAT, RSHS ranked number 29 all over Philippines |
| 2002 | Mr. Rogelio C. Valdez, a Science Project adviser, was nominated as the best Science Project adviser in the 53rd Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Kentucky, USA. |
| 2002 | RSHS held its Graduation exercises on its own campus for the first time. |
| 2004 | A group of RSHS students represented the Philippines in the Future Creation Fair, JIII, held in Tokyo, Japan. |
| 2004 | The first National Achievement Test was held. RSHS-I ranked number 10 nationwide. |
| 2005 | RSHS-I ranked number 2 nationwide in the National Achievement Test |

## Admission

Admission to any RSHS is a three-step screening given to all qualified elementary students. To be eligible for admission, applicants must be Filipino students who belong to the top 10% of the graduating class and must have special aptitude in science and math. The screening includes two examinations and one interview.

## Curriculum

| Subject Area | Curriculum Grade 7 | Curriculum Grade 8 | Curriculum Grade 9 | Curriculum Grade 10 |
| Science | Earth and Environmental Science; Natural Science | Basic Biological Science; Advanced Biological Science | Chemistry 9 (Basic Chemistry); Physics 10 (Basic Physics); | Chemistry 9 (Advanced Chemistry); Physics 10 (Advanced Physics) |
| Mathematics | Elementary Algebra | Mathematics 8-A (Advanced Algebra); Mathematics 8-B (Geometry) | Mathematics 9 (Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry); Analytic Geometry; Advanced Statistics | Calculus with Linear Algebra |
| English | Grammar, Communication Skills, and Literature | Grammar, Communication Skills, and Afro-Asian Literature | Grammar, Communication Skills, and Asian Literature | Grammar, Communication Skills, and World Literature |
| Filipino | Filipino 7 (Ibong Adarna) | Filipino 8 (Florante at Laura) | Filipino 9 (Noli Me Tangere) | Filipino 10 (El Filibusterismo) |
| Social Science | Araling Panlipunan 7 (Philippine History) | Araling Panlipunan 8 (Asian History) | Araling Panlipunan 9 (World History) | Araling Panlipunan 10 (Economics) |
| MAPEH | Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health 7 | Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health 8 | Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health 9 | Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health 10 |
| Computer Education | Computer Education 7 | Computer Education 8 | No Computer Education [for this curriculum] | No Computer Education [for this curriculum] |
| Research | Research 7 (Technical Writing and Basic Statistics) | Research 8 (Advanced Technical Writing II) | Research 8-A (Intermediate Research in Science) | Research 8-B (Advanced Research in Science) |
| Electives | No Electives for this Year Level | Advanced Technical Writing; Biotechnology; Botany; Business Mathematics; Journalism I; Pamamahayag I; Drafting | Speech and Drama; Technical Writing; Journalism 8; Pamamahayag 8 | Creative Writing; Environmental Chemistry; Geology, Meteorology and Astronomy; Linear Algebra; Journalism 9; Pamamahayag 9, Theater Arts; French 8; Humanities; Electricity |

## Student opportunities
### Research

Students are provided with original research opportunities in the biological, physical, and social sciences, as well as in field of mathematics and programs that hone students' investigation skills and prepare for academic competitions.

### Publications

* The RSHS Catalyst, the official English publication of RSHS
* Ang Tagatuklas ('The Explorer'), the official Filipino publication

## Facilities and resources

The RSHS for Region 1 campus contains three buildings: the old academic building, a laboratory building, and the administrative building. The academic building houses all the lecture classes of the students and ICT laboratory. The laboratory building houses science laboratories. The Administrative building houses the Office of the Principal, Faculty Office, and School Library.
Located beside the Administrative building, the laboratory building houses the four laboratories: the General Science Laboratory, the Biology Laboratory, the Chemistry Laboratory and the Physics Laboratory.
The RSHS Library supports the students by providing resources ranging from traditional print and microform to electronic subscription e-journals and databases. Located on the administrative building, the library is composed of the General Library, which stores encyclopedias; the Natural Science Section which covers sciences, mathematics and ICT; the Human Sciences Library which covers history, languages and literature, and other fields of social sciences; and the Multi-media and Internet Library.
The school has also one covered court where sports activities and other productions are held. Construction of the facility began in 2001 as part of the project of the 5th batch of SCIons (class 2002).

## Performance
### NSAT and NAT and other examinations

Regional Science High School for Region 1 is one of the top high schools in the National Secondary Assessment Test (NSAT) and National Achievement Test (NAT). Likewise it also maintains a high passing rate in college entrance examinations from top caliber universities in the Philippines, such as: University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), Ateneo de Manila University College Entrance Test (ACET), De La Salle University College Entrance Test (DLSU-CET), University of Santo Tomas College Entrance Test (UST-CET) and Saint Louis University- Baguio City College Entrance Examination (SLU-CEE). RSHS-1 seniors also showed good passing rate in the Department of Science and Technology Scholarship Examinations.

### Competitions

* National competitions
** National Intel Philippine Science Fair
** Philippine Super Quiz bee Science
** DAMATHS Olympiad
** National School Press Conference
* International competitions
** Delegate to the SEAMEO Search for Young Scientists, Penang, Malaysia-July 5–9, 1999
** Delegate to the 53rd Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Kentucky, USA – May 12–18, 2002
** Delegate to the Future Creation Fair, JIII, Tokyo, Japan-August 26–31, 2004

## Alumni

RSHS-1 alumni are called "SCIons" from the word "Scio" (Latin) word which means science, knowledge and to know; "ions" which implies their importance to society; and the word itself "scion" which denotes descendant of Galileo Galilei, the Father of Modern Science.
Roughly one percent (1%) of alumni are in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The rest are in the humanities, journalism, law, business administration, accountancy, medicine, public administration, and the military.