Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2007)
C News o n Class takes on projects to better Oregon _ I ke M c G innis _______________ Staff Reporter This semester, students in the class "Oregon: The People," are attempting to make big changes in Oregon. Todd Jones, teacher, is requiring his students to take on a project to better Oregon, whether it's helping out with Habitat for Humanity, or gaining signatures and speaking at public hearings before the legislature. "The environmental projects will have a direct impact on the areas cleaned and restored," Jones said. "The advocacy projects we hope will add a youth voice to important issues." The class started the semester with a paper about a current issue in Oregon. After the paper was written, students made presentations that showed the class the controversies of issues and expressed their personal * opinions. The topics included, Measure 37, tax reform, salmon recovery, the lottery, higher education, Native American casinos, affordable GATA members walk to save lives m K atie C arnahan Staff Reporter After three days of taking finals, school officially closes for the summer on June 20. But for some GATA members, summer will be on hold while they participate in the the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. "Community service is so important, and even though GATA is so global, it all starts in the community. I think it is awesome," David Frick, GATA adviser, said. Students will camp out at the Rosemont Ridge Middle School track on June 22 and 23, stay up all night, switching off people who will be walking around the track every hour. 'Tach team is divided up so mat no matter what time of night it is, or how early in the morning it may be, at least one person is always walking the track," Lucy Lawer, junior, said. The event itself is free, but donations are being solicited for the foundation. So far $1,120 has been raised at the event. Teams from all over the Portland area will be attending the cancer walk and anyone can be on a team. "This is not in any way an event that excludes people. The event is open to anyone that wants to attend, whether they are in GATA or not," Lawer said. The American Cancer Society has put on this event every year. Relay For Life is a way to allow people of all ages to not only do something for a good cause but to actually learn something too. "Last time we did this, two years ago, it was so much fun. It's a great way to kick off the summer. Just remember, cancer never sleeps, so neither will we," Lawer said. Sign ups for the Relay for Life are available in Room E106. New ASB discusses future plans leu 111 ■ that? continued from page 2 outside of dances that different types of people can enjoy, because not everyone wants to get down on a dance floor. We could do this by just brainstorming some ideas, and getting people's opinions on what could be more fun." "I would really like to get more student involvement in activities, to boost school spirit. My plans are to bring new, fun, and creative ideas to help accomplish this task." housing and much more. Once the presentations were finished, Jones challenged his students to take on one of the current issues they discussed and try to personally make it better. According to Jones, last semester he taught the class in chronological order and ended the class with the presentations which gave those students no chance to make a difference on the current issues in Oregon. This semester, he flipped the two to make the current issues first to give students time to start their projects. Jones said students are doing surveys and gaining signatures for a bottle bill to give to the legislature. Those students want more types of bottles to be recyclable with the five cent deposit. There are students trying to gain signatures to change CIM testing and also students doing the same to protect Mt. Hood from further development. "I think it's going to be awesome, because we can make a real difference. I'm really excited to work with the people that are high up (in the decision making process) and making differences," Alexander Waibel, senior, said. Waibel is working with a group to discontinue CIM testing and is planning on going to the legislature to present its findings gleaned from surveys. There are also students who will make a change by doing Habitat for Humanity, housing construction and collecting food for the West Linn food pantry. "It feels good knowing I'm going to make a direct impact," Thomas Lord, junior, said. Lord will be working with Habitat for Humanity for his project. "I have done Habitat for Humanity before and I know the hard work will pay off," Lord said. One project that really intrigues Jones is a group of students who are going to present to the West Linn Chamber of Commerce, to teach small businesses in West Linn how to be more environmentally sustainable. The real question is, can high schoolers really make a difference? Jones answered, "Your (teenage) voice is so seldom heard that when you do speak up, it tends to get people's attention." No changes made to lockdown procedures ■ K elsey S chrader Staff Reporter Since the Virginia Tech shooting, experts have been debating how to make the school environment safer. These ideas range from stricter gun control to expelling troubled students. Administrators at every school grapple with the problem. "It's tough to prepare for a scenario if you don't know what the scenario is going to be," Curt Scholl, Assistant Principal of Student Services, said. "The balance between what is safe and what is reasonable isn't easy. But we are doing what we can." So far, no changes have been made to the school district lockdown procedure in case of a school shooting. The current procedure is: r is ili ills® •si”:®" ■ : IP W : - •Determine any imminent dangers. •Announce "signal words" (signal words are used to initiate a lockdown without alarming the students). •Detain all students in classroom. •Secure classroom by locking doors, closing windows/ shades and turning off lights. •Ask students to lie on the floor away from windows and doors. •Make sure no one leaves the room. •Remain in lockdown until released by someone in authority. Earlier this year, the administration held a school wide lockdown drill during third period to inform students what the procedure would be in case of a school shooting. Teachers were asked to discuss and practice the procedure. "Personally, I felt like the teachers didn't think this could happen to us," Krista Hazel, sophomore, said. "I feel like it could happen to us. I think it could happen to anybody. We need a better plan." "The school is trying to do a good job," Allister Bunch, School Resource Officer, said. Bunch created a Powerpoint about the current lockdown procedure and what to do in case of a school shooting. Statistics imply that schools are safe. According to the Virginia Youth Violence Project, the probability of a school experiencing a student- perpetrated homicide is about 1:11,520. all classes, averaging 24 students per class ! .. M V -v • Outstanding faculty, 4 0 % with PhDs . M tM m ï • Affordable tuition . . ' . . I lit® ; • ; P M M p ii I l É É 111 M' * >-"i " >} II11 k .% : • State-of-1 42 program stnat ransfer to Oregon colleges and universities ,/ ' V- 1: .y . m ; i ! Jake Fogle Jake Fogle What is your role on ASB, and what does it entail? "I am an assistant to the senior members on ASB. As an assistant I will basically just help to make the seniors job easier." What do you feel WL could improve upon? What are ir plans to accomplish What is your role on ASB, and what does it entail? "I am pretty much a slave to the seniors on ASB." What do you feel WL could improve upon? What are your plans to accomplish that? "More spirit, school involvement and fun activities. I'm going to do whatever I can to help out, and to get WL pumped up." ■ W m ? WÆÆimMmmmmÊmÊ, mm 32 programs that train you for the workplace Avary Kolasinski Avary Kolasinski - I::,!:: 1 " 1 : ■y > P ' Wrap that all up in a setting of fantastic natural beauty and incredible outdoor sports, and what could be better?
