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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2017)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 6, 2017 5A CTE offers new experiences for students Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories examining career and tech- nical education programs. This week, students and in- structors offer perspective about how CTE classes are changing learning in class- rooms. By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Dallas High School junior Joe Foster said he’s never experienced a class like engineering. A new partnership with Chemeketa Community College made the class pos- sible. Chemeketa instructor Steve Greco teaches the class, which provides college and high school credit to students. The handful of students taking the class have been busy building robots and hydraulic models. “I’ve wanted to get into engineering to see what it was about, so I took the en- gineering class instead of the all the others they had to offer. I didn’t really know to expect. It’s interesting,” Fos- ter said. “He kind of gives us a goal, and we try to figure out how to do it. We work to- gether.” Foster said it’s the essen- tial nature of the teamwork that separates the class from others he’s taken during high school. He said Greco gives them challenges and the groups have to figure out how to achieve goals, such as build- ing a robot that can follow lines or avoid running into something. Foster’s teammate, Tristan White, said unexpected roadblocks come up and need creative solutions to solve them. “We also have to figure out how to fix those things. If there is a problem, we break it down and try to see what we can do to fix it,” White said. “That’s pretty good for anything that has to do with engineering. Even if we are not making robots in the future, that is good for anything, really.” Greco said his goal is to introduce students to col- lege-level work and — he hopes — spark interest in continued education in the field at Chemeketa. “It benefits the students by exposing them to college- level material and resources that many of them would not likely see in a high school setting,” he said. That could be said of all six of the programs now part of Dallas High School’s ca- reer and technical educa- tion. In Kelleigh Ratzlaff ’s Foods for Life culinary class, a clock ticks down the time groups have left to prepare dishes for the judges. Their mission is to make a ramen noodle dish using packaged noodles but not what Ratzlaff calls “the silver packets of death” — sauce flavoring provided in the packet. Groups must use a ran- domly selected source of protein and a lot of vegeta- bles to add flavor to their dishes. The judges are high school staff members who critique each offering on presentation, taste and cre- ative use of ingredients. Ratzlaff said the “Chopped Challenges” have a way of inspiring creativity. JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Tristan White, left, and Joe Foster, at computer, program their robot to perform specific tasks during Dallas High School’s engineering class last week. She said groups have experi- mented with making teriya- ki sauce or fashioning the noodles into hamburger buns or even a pizza. She said with each chal- lenge, she sends request for staff members to judge, warning that she doesn’t know what to expect. Last week, her class was crowded with volunteer judges. No one was disap- pointed in what the students prepared. “They blow me away,” Ratzlaff said. The Foods for Life class is introductory level — a course Ratzlaff hopes all stu- dents take because it gives them the basics to cook with real ingredients and a basis JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer A student-prepared poached egg and ramen dish. to continue learning if they choose. This year the program has the introductory class and two advanced classes for those who had taken culi- nary I and culinary II in the past. Those classes will be redesigned with career training in mind, and rein- troduced next year. The food and culture class hints of what is to come. Ratzlaff tests students on their measurements or “kitchen math” and has them researching the cul- tures of the food they are cooking. Junior Andy Ban said the class gives students room to be creative, a part of the class he likes and a reason he may continue next year. “Next year, there may not be as much cooking as there used to be because I will be focusing on management, and they have to have their kitchen math down,” Rat- zlaff said. She’ll teach management procedures and standard recipes that students seek- ing a career in the industry will need to have down. “More of that restaurant management, leadership and communication, I’m going to be really digging into that next year,” she said. Tim Ray, the school’s CTE coordinator, said they’ve discussed designing a cap- stone class, like opening a bistro or a food truck-like business that students could operate. “We’ve talked about that, and I think it would be ab- solutely phenomenal,” Ray said. “It could be the cap- stone class that really ties all of this together. The kids get the management piece, the get the leadership piece, they get all of those things.” Next week, hear from school leaders and business representatives about their goals for CTE at DHS. A Festive Evening of Victorian Christmas Carols All are Welcome! Sunday Dec. 10 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Enjoy a festive evening of Christmas carols from the Victorian era under the direction of Dr. Solveig Holmquist. The group of select singers is dressed in costumes of the time period, singing prepared carols. and sharing a bit of the carol's history. Cookie reception following. Free will offering 320 SE Fir Villa Road, Dallas 503-623-2233 • www.dallastlc.org BUY ONE GET ONE FREE All Breakfast MENU ITEMS Offer good Tuesday-Friday 9am - 2pm Always a Favorite 503-837-0394 154 S. Main St, Independence Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Exp. 12/31/17. Offer good for dine-in only. CATERING AVAILABLE • MUSIC FRIDAYS ADVERTISING ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED PT/FT Positions available • Benefits over 30 hours. • Sell print/digital advertising for Polk County Itemizer-Observer for established accounts, as well as new businesses. Would you like to work with a fun group that is invested in the community? The Itemizer-Observer has been caring for this community since 1875. We are looking for a few individuals who love their community and want to make a difference. • The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who can work autonomously, is highly motivated, and goal oriented. Network with area businesses and organizations to sell advertising, both print and digital, as well as special sections. Sales ex- perience is a plus but customer service is pre- ferred. • Must have a valid Oregon driver's license, auto insurance, reliable transportation, and a mobile phone are required for this position. • EOE • Pre-employment drug screening and motor vehicle driving record check required. • Proof of auto insurance and a valid driver's li- cense is required at time of hire Please bring resume to: Polk Co. Itemizer-Observer Address or email Attn: Heidi Leppin hleppin@polkio.com MUSIC FRIDAYS • NEW MENU Trinity Lutheran Church presents BANQUET ROOM NEW MENU • BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY EVENTS
