Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2006)
# 4 October News New class offers different way to look at world , H illary K rippaehne __________ Staff Reporter Debating and discussing has become an everyday occurrence for students in the new International Relations class. Social Studies teachers David Frick and Stacy Erickson are teaching the new course. "It is an opportunity for students to understand what is happening in the world in a deeper way," Erickson said. She also thinks the class is perfect for people who are good at debate and interested in the world and traveling. Students take Anna Koll, Nick Stowell, Courtney Solem and Hailey Faccio listen as Stacy Erickson, social studies teacher, delivers a lecture in International Relations. Students are learning about the United Nations and participating in UN simulations. Photo by Cole Fiala Cookie Club takes bite out of hunger m R ussell H ill _______________ Staff Reporter Cookie Club is taking a bite out of hunger by offering different varieties of cookies for club members to test and also donating the baked goods to the Oregon Food Bank, which receives food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources then distributes the food out to food banks across Oregon. "We make, eat, and celebrate cookies," Breanne Tusinski, junior and co president, said. The Cookie Club also holds a fundraiser through bake sales to help raise money for the Oregon Food Bank. The club started when friends Tusinski, Alex Spady, junior, and Morgan Calverley, junior, were talking about cookies one day and decided it would be fun to have a club that would just eat cookies and celebrate all the different types. Then they thought they could take their love of cookies to a new height and sell them for charity. "It brings students together through a love of cookies. It also provides a fun opportunity to help others in a way that other clubs can't offer. So far it's doing well. We had a great turnout at our first meeting and we are having a lot of fun. We have had a recent set back in that the administration told us that we are unable to give out homemade cookies. We are trying to find a resolution and are not letting it crush our spirits," Tusinski said. "The people attending the club seem to enjoy it, but some people who aren't in the club seem to think it's a joke. We hope to show people that we aren't just eating cookies, we are helping the Oregon Food Bank," Alex Spady, junior said. After only one meeting, 50 people are in the Cookie Club. During the meeting on Friday, they ate cookies, talked with friends, and discussed ways to help and fundraise. They think they compare to other clubs in the school pretty well. "We may not be changing the world like GATA (Global Awareness Takes Breanne Tusinski, vice president, and Alex Spady, president, talk to members of the Cookie Club. Cookie Club members sample cookies while helping raise funds for the Oregon Food Bank. Photo by Sydney MacNaughton Action), but we are helping the less fortunate and we're also having a lot of fun while doing it!" Tusinski said. "If you want to do something, practical and applicable to help our neighbors who are suffering, then you should join and enjoy some cookies while you're at it," Meagyn Keys, club adviser, said. The Cookie Club meets Fridays during lunch in Room B204, you can also join via Myspace at www.myspace.com/ wlhscookieclub. Fundraisers earn money for global issues u K ate T olan _________________ Staff Reporter GATA fundraisers so far have included a used CD drive, selling fair trade chocolate bars. Currently, GATA is selling T-shirts. Students were asked to donate CDs and put them in boxes located in classrooms throughout the school. For every five CDs donated, donors received a raffle ticket for a $100 gas card. The winner, Nicole Aden, senior, was announced at the Homecoming Pep Assembly. Aden donated 65 CDs and gave the gas card to her dad in exchange for $100 dollars in cash. Divine chocolate bars, a fair trade product which pays workers fair wages, were sold for $1. According to the GATA website the response has been overwhelmingly positive. GATA members raised over $2,000 by selling the chocolate bars. GATA T-shirts in two different designs and 100% sweatshop free, are selling for $15 dollars or two for $25. The designs: a GATA logo of a rising sun and a G ATA shield with the colors of the Kenyan flag (representing West Linn's sister school). Battle of the Bands The upcoming Battle of the Bands on Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. will feature four Portland bands: Ross Beach, Stereovega, Aisle 3 and Welsh Rabbits. The competition will also feature a West Linn band. Auditions were submitted on CD, tapes and through MySpace pages in place of live auditions. The event promises a positive vibe and an Indie/ , Rock spotlight. "This will be the most exciting event that's happened since I've been here," Jamie Kelso, biology teacher and event coordinator, said. Along with Kelso, Stereovega is one of four bands playing Battle of the Bands. Photo courtesy of Internet several members from GATA are heading this event. A $1,000 prize for the winning team has been donated by private parties. The winner will be decided by a panel of three to four judges. Each team will perform a short set and in between, there will be slideshows and readings to promote awareness. "Battle of the Bands is going to be awesome; it will rock West Linn," Kelso said. lis lil issues f:88i!ftn§rs m continued on page 16 world problems and issues and attempt to solve them through the discussions and debates. "This class allows students to experience different world viewpoints and offers them the opportunity to walk in someone else's shoes," Frick said. There are 10 sections total for this class throughout the year. According to Frick, this means many students are interested in the new class. He is hoping students will gain, "an understanding of perspective, empathy and self knowledge concerning issues in the world. Hopefully they will get the motivation to apply that awareness to something that will make a difference for the better in the world." Students are also enjoying the class. "I like the discussions. We really get into them. Our class gets to be serious at times and goof off during others. It is fun," Shannon Sirvaitis, junior, said. Sirvaitis decided to take this class because it was new and because Frick had suggested he take it. Joseph Offer, junior, chose to take the class because he heard good things about Frick. Offer also likes going out in the world and experiencing new things. "My favorite part about the class is learning about other countries," Offer said. He jokingly added, "and he (Frick) has good pirate jokes." Both students explained they are enjoying the class more than they expected. They thought the class would be more book work and tests, but in reality the class is mostly discussions. "It is a hard class for shy people," Sirvaitis said. Erickson's favorite part of the class is the United Nation simulations. In these simulations everyone has a country. There is a crisis and everyone works as their country to solve the problem. "These kids will solve the world's problems," Erickson said. Frick decided to take on the extra class because, "so much of what we do in education seems to be about giving knowledge to students on an individual basis. This class allows them to see and understand their place in a global community." Erickson agreed. "Students don't just talk about it, they do it!" Fiber Arts adds to curriculum u E mmaue C ox _______________ Staff Reporter Fiber Arts, a new class taught by Diane Gauthier, art teacher, has knitted its way into the curriculum. The class focuses on hands-on projects with hemp, twine, embroidery, paste paper, batik, tie-dye, weaving and knitting. Fiber Arts is open to all students grade 9-12. There is no prerequisite for this class, only a pair of knitting needles and a $50 supplies fee are required. "It's hard to narrow down what to teach," Gauthier said. Students must come to class with an interest and enthusiasm to explore fiber arts. Projects are assigned regularly and are in no way limited. Once Gauthier has taught the class the skill needed for the project, the students are able to create their own project of any type as long as they use all the techniques they learned. "I like how it's kinda' relaxed. You can just come in and work on your project all day," Justin Williams, junior, said. Gauthier majored in art with an emphasis in design and textiles and has a Bachelor of Arts in Art from Portland State University and more recently, a Masters of Art in Teaching (MAT) from George Fox University. She came up with the course and worked all summer with her daughters designing projects Kassy Vernon, senior, works on a project in Fiber Arts. Students learn sewing and quilting among other things. Photo by Cole Fiala for the class. Gauthier loves sewing and quilting and has made clothes for her children since they were little. She enjoys giving the students a hands- on environment. "I like to tell them that this is a high-touch class, because we have so much high- tech already in our lives," Gauthier said. She hopes the skills they learn will provide springboards for hands-on professions. Gauthier hopes to instruct this class for many years to come. She is planning on designing new projects each year and developing new assignments for curriculum for years ahead. "Kids want to make things, and to be able to say, Hey, look what I made’," she said.
