Writing Contest Winners 2018-2019
Second Place, Grades 6-8
Kaeleen Chen
Grade 8, Belmont Day School, Belmont
STEM is a JEM
At the MWRA,
The workers there will start their day.
They fix, measure, create and build
To keep your water glass refilled.
They keep the water fresh and good,
And they supply your neighborhood!
They will use STEM throughout the day
In many, many different ways.
To keep the toxins from your cup
And stop the sludge from building up!
First up is Science, with an S.
It treats water with much success.
Checks for bad chemical remnants
Rids water of contaminants.
It makes water safe to ingest
And makes sure we're all at our best!
Bacteria level is too high?
With science, they can say goodbye!
With chemicals like chloramine
Workers make water pure and clean.
The second letter is a T
And it stands for Technology.
Technology runs all the tests
To make sure water's at its best.
It has the power to detect,
Chemicals with bad side effects.
Computers track and document,
Assure results are excellent.
Software controls machinery,
To process waste efficiently.
And that's not all that it can do.
Sewers need technology too!
Machines will clean out all the scum,
So in the bay, clean water comes.
Filters remove all the trash,
So in clean water fishes splash.
Technology treats all the sludge,
Which microbes eat without a nudge.
Out comes rich pellets, for the trees.
Your plants will enjoy with much glee.
Engineering starts with an E.
Its power is easy to see.
Just like the others,
it is used
To cleanse the water of refuse.
To repair anything that breaks,
Design the tools plants operate.
The water pipes just sprang a leak!
The engineers will take a peek,
To detect what they need to tend
The water system they will mend.
They maintain the pipes underground,
So the water can go around.
Keep up the functions of the pumps
To make influent free of dump.
Engineers will also build
And create structures; they are skilled.
They design new facilities
To add treatment capacity.
They harness the green energy
From the wind, the sun, and sea.
To save the world from bad pollution.
Through these, they have found solutions.
The fourth and last one has an M
It's Math! The final one in STEM!
Though it’s the last, its work is great.
Measurements, formulas, flow rate!
Math helps workers with everything!
To clean out toxins the sludge brings.
The workers here do need to count
and measure out the right amount.
To keep track of investment spent
They will account for every cent.
Brand new equipment, what great costs!
Use math to ensure cash's not lost.
They are glad they have math to use.
Otherwise money they might lose.
MWRA loves STEM
What a great help STEM is to them!
Each of STEM has much importance
To help their daily performance
Before it was a shining jewel
Boston Harbor was full of stool.
So give to STEM your greatest thanks.
STEM cleaned the bay up when it stank.
The ocean' s still clean to this date,
Long gone's the sludge.
Let's celebrate!
So next time you turn on the tap
Please take a moment just to clap.
MWRA and STEM,
They are true heroes in the end.
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