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Cardozo Science Lab Now In Service
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From left, Elizabeth Meza, Egidio Oliveira, Florencio Estrada, Jesus Aguiniga, and Ron Peterson were in great spirits at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the new Science Lab Building at Cardozo Middle School on Tuesday, Aug 6. VIRGINIA STILL/The News

The Science Lab building has been completed after almost a year and was ready to take on students just in time for the first day of school. A special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was hosted on the campus of Cardozo Middle School (CMS) on Tuesday, Aug 6.

The outdoor ceremony was held in front of the new Science Lab building on the campus and the blue ribbon was draped across the entrance.

Guests arrived including many school staff members, Riverbank City Councilmembers Darlene Barber-Martinez, Cal Campbell, and other community representatives.

Cardozo Principal Kevin Bizzini opened the ceremony with a speech welcoming all the guests.

“As we strive to foster student interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, our new state of the art Science Lab will provide that motivation for students,” said Bizzini. “The new lab engages students in a rich learning environment that cannot be duplicated with just posters and projects.”

Egidio Oliveira, President of the Board of Trustees for Riverbank Unified School District (RUSD) was up next and said he was excited and pleased that the science building was completed.

“In our discussions with the science lab and Cardozo whether or not we should spend a million dollars it seemed to me an easy decision,” said Oliveira. “You have to invest in future generations.

“I don’t fear that we did too much, I only fear that we did too little.”

Science teacher Florencio Estrada approached the podium with enthusiasm and a little nervousness but was very excited about the new lab.

Student Body President Jesus Aguiniga prepared a speech and expressed that the new lab will help students like himself reach new heights.

District Superintendent Dr. Daryl Camp gave closing remarks and thanked architect, Timothy P. Huff and Associates and the lead contractor, C.T. Brayton and Sons.

“Public schools need to invest in science today to support our rapidly changing and aging communities,” said Camp. “I’d like to thank the community members who had the vision to support the 2005 bond to support the building of this facility.

“Thousands of students will benefit from this classroom over a number of years.”

School board members Elizabeth Meza, Ron Peterson and Oliveira, along with student representative Aguiniga, and teacher Estrada, had the honor of cutting the ribbon.

Guests were offered some light refreshments and invited to explore the new Science Lab after the ribbon cutting.

The new state of the art lab is equipped with a safety shower and eyewash station, a laboratory fume hood, a chemical storage room with flammable and corrosive cabinets and lab stations with electrical outlets, gas valves, an integrated hot/cold water faucet and sink.

Estrada will now have a prep room with fume hood, stainless sinks, a dishwasher and storage cabinets.

“I feel excited about the new state-of-the-art lab,” said Estrada. “Cardozo kids will now have the opportunity to conduct more hands on investigations and experiments in a safer laboratory learning environment.”

“It was a pleasure to go to the grand opening of the Science Lab, it’s a beautiful building and the Riverbank students deserve it,” said Peterson. “It was a promise made to the community eight years ago and it’s fulfilled.”