Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1987)
Feature Drop-outs turn to Tri-City by Heleen Veenstra News Editor “The biggest advantage is be ing in a small school with no social classes so they (the students) can be friends with everybody,” said Helen Hum phreys, full-time teacher at Tri Qty Alternative about their pro gram. Tri-City Alternative is a pro gram, which is connected to Qackamas Community College, where high school dropouts have the opportunity to earn high school credits or their high school equivalency, with the goal to transfer back to a high school, to a college, or to get a job. The program is based on in dividualized instruction. Some of the students work on their high school credits which can be done in Basic English, Basic Mathematics, Career Explora tion, Personal Finance, U.S. History I & II, Government, and Global Studies. In the GED program the stu dent can challenge five different areas which are English, Mathematics, Reading Com prehension, Social Studies and “They (the students) need to get into a school where there are fewer people and more attention. ” Science. This program gives the students the opportunity to go through their high school career faster. “Our GED students are not going back to high school.” About the credits students earn Humphreys said, “All high schools accept credits we give for make-up classes.” The reason for students to drop out of high school are all different. Some of the students come to Tri-City because they were too late in the semester to go to a regular high school and get credits. These students are mostly students who moved lere in the middle of the semester. Another group are the students who have been expelled from high school. Other students who go to Tri-City are he ones with family problems, need to get into a school here there are fewer people nd more attention.” GED students are at Tri-City ause they need to get rough their high school career ast because they have a job and their families. Students go to school on Mon their old high schools or to a new To keep track of the points The program for the GED high school where they feel com day, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sandwick keeps a book. “I think students is based on how to patible. Thursday from 9-2 o’clock, and it’s a kind of good idea actually,” prepare for a job by getting Another purpose is to get on Friday from 9-12 o’clock. Hayes said. recommendations and how to students involved in a college Jon Hayes, student at Tri-City, Every Monday the students handle job interviews, Hum situation. Debi Anderson, 16, is a explained that every morning get an assignment sheet with the phreys said. student at the program who is they come in they have to check work that needs to be done for Another group are the in. He said that students have to the week. On Fridays the students who got out of “It ’s a lot of work, but call in if they can’t come on time students are supposed to turn in drug/alcohol programs. These or at all, so they “gain respon their assignments. are the students “who do not somehow it's easier sibility.” Students can earn three high want to go back to their high than a normal high The program has a point school credits every nine weeks, schools where they got in trou school. ” system so if “you do something and if they worked 65 hours or ble.” wrong you lose points.” Each more a term, each student gets Humphreys explained these taking a typing class at CCC this student starts out with 24 points one credit extra. students take classes at the Tri- term. in the beginning of the term. Concluding how he likes to Helen Humphreys and Donna With perfect attendance each go to Tri-Ciy Alternative Pro City program because they do not want to face their “old drug McDonough are full-time week the student gains five gram, Hayes said, “It’s a lot of friends anymore.” teachers, Jerry Gerspach is a points, but for coming late or not work, but somehow it’s easier Pam Curtis, drug counselor, part-time teacher, and Mildred showing up, points get sub than a normal high school.” works at Tri-City part-time. Sandwick is a part-time secretary. tracted. Curtis gives education on the subject and leads two support groups. One for chemically dependent families and one for the clean and sober. likes to travel and he has been to own shop. I will probably go to Students who participate in by Heleen Veenstra News Editor Arizona, Manhattan and Southern California then.” the program are from the south Debbie Anderson, 16, used to The atmosphere is nicer, California. Lugo said, “I used end of Clackamas county. There is one program in Oregon making friends is easier and be to live in Arizona.” He lived in go to Putnam High School, but City and one in Clackamas and ing able to set your own work Oregon first, then moved to she dropped out “cause I didn’t they are both exactly the same. pace. These are some of the ad Arizona and “then we got really like the way Putnam was, the classes. I decided to come In each program 150 students vantages students named to ex bored and moved back.” After the interview Lugo said here and I like it a lot better.” are involved throughout the press why they like to go to the “ Work at your own pace in year. About 30 students are Tri-City Alternative Program. "thanks” and after asking him there at a time, but they are free The following are the responses for what, he responded, “you stead of being rushed,” is what got me away from work.” she likes about this program to enter and exit from the pro of three students. Jose Lugo, 17, used to go to Shawn Teedle, 18, is going to Anderson said. gram whenever they want, so The classes Anderson is taking the number varies. There are two other programs “7 want to be a fashion designer. I want to go into are Career Exploration, Advanc ed English and Global Studies. in the northwest related to Tri- fashion merchandising first and than I want to start She is also taking a Typing I class City alternatives. One is the at Clackamas Community Col Targeted Learning Center, designing.” lege. which is almost the same as Tri- “I took typing before in high City, with the exception that it Oregon City High School and is the Tri-City program because school but didn’t learn a lot, so I is for adults instead of high going to Tri-City now because “I quit Canby High School.” “I was kicked out for fighting school students. Tweedie said that he has decided to take it again so I could Vocational Options program is police.” gone to the program for four team to type better.” About going to college Ander a program where the tuition is “I went here once before and months now and he likes it paid by the school district and the I like this place.” The first time because “you can do more your son said, “It’s kindda like high students who go there are in Lugo went to the program for own work. You can be your school, sitting in your desk. Here people move around a lot.” terested in becoming job one week. own person.” „ “I’ve been here for thre? Lugo said that after that week prepared. He is at Tri-City to get his high “They (the students) are not he left home and quit school. school credits for Literature, terms, I’ll either go back to the expected to go to the high school, After a year of living on his own English and Career Exploration. high school or to the college to but we expect them to get a job he moved in with a foster family Career Exploration is a class get my high school credits and get before they leave,” Humpreys and he started high school in where ’’you evaluate what career my diploma.” Oregon City. But after three said about that program. Getting individual help and months he had to go away and “7 took typing before in high school but didn ft learn giving attention to real world now he is going to Tri-City. issues are courses that are stressed “It’s work at your own pace. a lot, so I decided to take it again so I could learn to in the program. Each week the It’s more comfortable and laid type better.” students alternate between two back,” said Lugo to explain activities, fieldtrips and guest why he likes this program. you want, what schools you need Anderson expressed that she speakers. Lugo is studying for his high and where the jobs are.” went to the Tri-City Alternative Humphreys stated that even school credits. He is taking Per Asking for his career plans program instead of college though students do not stay at sonal Finance, English and “I Tweedie responded, “I want to because “When I started here I Tri-City for a long time they don’t remember the other one.” be an auto body mechanic.” was 15 and you have to be 16 at a come by and visit a lot. “I want to be a fashion “My brother went here and got college.” The purpose of the Tri-Ciy designer. I want to go into his GED and I knew I could get She said she thought about go Alternative Program is not to fashion merchandising first and my high school credits here, so I ing to another high school, but keep students there for a long then I want to start designing.” decided to go here. ” Tweedie said she isn’t sure because she doesn’t back into He said he wanted to go into that when he is done with his know anybody at another high designing because “I’ve always credits he will go to Clackamas school. loved clothes. I think the styles Community College to get his “My mom talked with my counselor and he mentioned this, “7 like to apprentice at a place for a while and then so she called here and found out about it (the program),” Ander open up my own shop. ” son pointed out, to explain how she got involved in the program. nowadays are really dumb, so I two year degree in Auto Body All of the students seem to be want to design my own.” Mechanics. happy that they have the oppor “I would like to go to Europe Tweedie pointed out that he tunity to go to the Tri-City to see the styles. I know you became interested in cars “when I Alternative Program instead of guys (Europeans) are way got my first car and it needed a high school where they ahead, and this (the American bodywork. weren’t able to succeed. styles) is just a joke.” “I like to apprentice at a place Lugo pointed out that he for a while and then open up my Students like informal atmosphere Pag» 3