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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2014)
10 schools february6 2014 VHS Seniors Present Projects By Scott Laird The presentation of Senior Proj- ects is an annual rite of passage at Verno- nia High School. Each year, as a precursor to graduation and the end of their high school days, students dress themselves up in business attire, head to school in the evening and nervously step in front of a panel of community judges to make an eight to ten minute speech. Follow- ing the speech the looks and sighs of relief are evident as the students realize they have taken one more big step to- wards graduation day. The Senior Project is a hands-on and experiential learning opportunity for students to work side-by-side with a ca- reer mentor. The students spend at least twenty hours working and observing while “on the job,” then must prepare a visual display and public speech which outlines their experience and what they learned. It is the only required public speaking that students must complete at VHS, so their nervousness is under- standable. The Senior Project presentations are the end of a long road. In their ju- nior year, students sign a Letter of Intent, describing the job shadow they plan to complete. In recent years, students have gathered, on the day of presentations, in the school gymnasium to present their projects in a more informal “arena” setting. Students have a chance to talk about and explain their projects to visi- tors and under class students under less stressful conditions. For the evening presentations, Senior Project advisor Rachel Wilcoxen introduced several minor changes to the structure this year. First, she allowed the students to self-choose the groups they would present in, allowing students to be with their friends and support each other. Wilcoxen also informed the students in the morning who would sit on their pan- el of judges, which also seemed to help relax the students. According to several of the judges, (most of them do this year af- ter year) this class of students seemed to be extremely well prepared and more relaxed. “These were some of the best Senior Speeches we have seen,” seemed to be the consensus. Here is a brief description of some of the Senior Projects this year: son. Johnson rode on patrol, checking locks on gates, look- ing for vandalism, and checking permits. Johnson explained that sometimes the Timber Patrol has to confiscate items collected in the forest, like mushrooms, and that they also investigate logging accidents or criminal activity on timber property. Stephanie Castro worked with local Message Therapist Heather Lewis as well as Physical Thera- pist Brian Lange in Portland. Castro is interested in pursuing a career as a Physical Therapist. She became interested after suffering a serious sports injury. “That was my in- spiration, because after my ACL surgery Brooke Johnson did a job shadow with I really liked what they did in Physical the Timber Patrol. “I want to work in Therapy,” said Castro. As part of her law enforcement and I also want to do Senior Project Castro also created an something in the woods, and this in- education plan for herself which includ- volves both of them,” explained John- ed researching college choices. Castro says she plans to enter a community college Registered Nurse pro- gram at either PCC or Mt. Hood, then attend Linfield College to get her Bachelors Degree in nursing so she could start working as a nurse. She would then attend Pacific University to get her degree in Physical Therapy. Brooke Johnson Mist Birkenfeld Fire Protection District Pancake Breakfast MaCayla Fennell did an internship at Tuality Hospital in the Labor and Delivery unit. Fennell says she was able to do many things while on the job MaCayla Fennell for twenty-four total hours, including performing hearing and PKU tests, and weighing some babies. The most excit- ing part of her experience was being in the operating room and observing a live birth during a cesarean section proce- dure. “It was different, but it was really great to watch because I am a very visual learner,” said Fennell. “It was great to see how it was done and how to take care of the baby afterwards.” Fennell says she “...absolutely” wants to pursue a ca- reer in OB GYN, which involves four to six years of college. Nikita McCord was interested in a ca- reer in Emergency Medical Services. McCord experienced two sides of this field by doing a job shadow with both a paramedic and a dispatcher. McCord traveled to the Warm Springs Reserva- tion for her shifts in the dispatch center. She said the dispatch was especially interesting because that center handles emergency medical calls as well as po- lice and jail calls. She also rode with paramedics in Jefferson County where continued on page 11 February 15th, 8am-11pm Adults: $5 Seniors, Kids 12 & under: $3 Pancakes & Ham Biscuits & Gravy Eggs & Sausage Coffee & Juice Mist Birkenfeld Fire Station 12525 Hwy 202, Mist QUALITY FABRICATION & INSTALLATION MARBLE GRANITE TRAVERTINE Contract Logging 503-324-2422 Free Estimates Timber Purchases Timber Management Oregon Professional Logger certified since 1996 FREE ESTIMATES Kitchen Countertops Fireplace & Furniture Tubs & Vanities CCB#159794 Phone 503-429-2617 ABSOLUTE@AGALIS.NET www.absolutemarbleinc.com ra th Health Se l Pa r lo ca tio ces vi since 1981 Absolute Na tu Bighorn Logging ne w Marble & Granite Dr. Carol McIntyre Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine 503.429.3928 cccmnd@yahoo.com naturalpathhealthservices.com 758 Weed Avenue Vernonia, OR, 97064 n!