UHS students commend dual enrollment program

By Steve Burwick

Star Staff

sburwick@starhq.com

Students at Unaka High School are excited to be part of the “Jump Start” Dual Enrollment Program at Northeast State Community College, through which they may obtain college credit before they complete their high school diplomas.

Nearly 500 students in the region served by Northeast State are enrolled in the program, and 10 UHS students are enrolled this year. Elizabethton High and Happy Valley High also participate, and Cloudland High has shown interest in the program.

“This is the first year we’ve been able to have the Dual Enrollment class here on campus,” said UHS Counselor Jon Minton. “We’ve had students take advantage of the program for the last four years, but they had to leave campus in order to take the classes.”

“I’m taking English in the dual enrollment,” said Natalie Johnson, who is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) and president of the Health Occupations Students of America Club. “Somebody from Northeast comes every day, and we’ve been writing a lot of papers. It’s basically to get us ready for the college experience. He gave us a syllabus and a calendar and we just go by that. It’s not as supervised as in high school; it’s more independent.

“We’re currently trying to raise money for our HOSA club,” said Johnson, who is active in other school endeavors as well.

“This is our first year doing the Powderpuff (Football), so we’re busy trying to put that together,” she noted. “This summer I attended Girls State in Murfreesboro, and I played varsity basketball for the last three years.”

Johnson said she intends to study medicine as a career.

“I would really like to stay here and attend East Tennessee State University, and then go to the Quillen College of Medicine and become a doctor and work in this community,” she said. “My mom is a registered nurse and my sister is going to graduate in May as an RN, so my family has always been involved in the medical field and it’s always interested me. I think it would be rewarding too.”

Matthew Wood, who is also in the National Honor Society and serves as vice president of HOSA, plans to take pre-pharmacy classes.

“I’m taking English Composition I,” said Wood. “I like it, and I think Mr. (Jason) Ward, who teaches Junior and Sophomore Honors Classes, really prepares us for the class. It’s a great program. It’s a challenge, but I think it’s a challenge that we can all meet.”

Wood said he hopes to enroll in a pre-pharmacy program and become a pharmacist. “That’s my goal,” he said.

Drew Peters is a member of NHS, the Clean Team and co-president of the Future Business Leaders of America Club (FBLA).

“I’m taking English Comp I, Comp II and British Literature,” said Peters. “Mr. (Richard) Kennedy is the instructor. He’s very helpful. I’m also taking a probability and statistics class. It’s not part of the dual enrollment, but I’m taking it at Northeast.”

Peters plans to major in graphic design at ETSU and pursue a career in video game design or cinema.

Alyson Houghton enjoys the Dual Enrollment Program, describing the instructor, Richard Kennedy, as “amazing.”

“Currently I am a full-time student at Northeast,” said Alyson, who is president of NHS and co-president of the FBLA at UHS. She has also been class president the past three years.

“I’m taking three other classes at Northeast along with the dual enrollment,” Houghton said. “I’m only taking Spanish I and II here at the high school. When I graduate high school, I should have 31 hours toward college. I plan to attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, and major in secondary education with a concentration in English and a minor in Spanish.”

Houghton expressed a wish to study abroad. “I’d like to go to Spain,” she said.

She also works part-time at Barker’s Restaurant, is active in her church youth group and enjoys volunteering.

“I’m taking English in the Dual Enrollment program, and I’m also taking Probs & Stats at the Elizabethton campus (of Northeast State),” said Lynae Peters, who is NHS vice-president and has served as yearbook editor the last two years. She is also a member of the Carter County Clean Team, a student anti-litter group. “The English class is wonderful, and I like the other class, too,” she said. “My boyfriend is in college, and he says that all these things will help so much.”

She said she intends to study nursing, probably at ETSU or King College.

“With the Dual Enrollment Grant through the Lottery Scholarship, there is assistance,” said Minton. “It still involves out-of-pocket expenses, but it’s a discounted rate. It’s a win-win situation for whoever qualifies. It’s an attractive program.”

People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES Mr. WARD 2009-2010

· Be in your seat before the bell rings.

· Remain in your seat for the entire class period.

· Keep any conversation in class to a minimum and relevant to current class topic.

· Pick up all trash and place in trashcans at the end of class.

· You are not dismissed by the bell. The bell is to inform the teacher it is time to stop teaching. Students are dismissed by the teacher. Please remain in your seat until the teacher dismisses you.

· Turn your cell phones off before entering the classroom. If your cell phone is confiscated, your parents will have to claim it at the office the next day.

· All other rules, including dress codes, listed in the student handbook will be enforced. If you are seen with any non-allowable item you will give that item to the teacher upon request.

· Demonstrate the same respect and courtesy for others as you wish to receive.

· You are responsible for bringing your own materials to class.

· Place assignments in corresponding boxes at the beginning of each class.

· You will find previous days’ assignments in notebooks if you are absent.

· Use blue or black ink only for all assignments; including quizzes, tests, and essays.

· Assignments will be turned in on white paper. Use college ruled paper for essays.

· Late assignments will lose 10 points per day.

· Extracurricular activities, including athletic events, club events and after school jobs do not excuse students from deadlines. All procedures regarding late assignments will apply.

· If you turn in an assignment on time and are dissatisfied with your grade, you may redo the assignment and turn it back in the day after it is returned to you.

· You have 5 days following your last day absent to make up any work.

· Quizzes cannot be made up. If you are absent on the day a quiz is given, you are excused from it and it will not count against you.

· Any missed tests will be made up before or after school by appointment within five days.

· Fold all assignments lengthwise.

· Assignments need to have the following heading printed on the outside fold:
· Name: First and Last
· Class: English II, English III, etc.
· Period: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.
· Date: month/day/year (08/14/07)
· Assignment: Essay Title, Page #s, etc.

I think I’ll use this space just for discussing things that are pertinent to what is happening on the hill. Stay tuned.

It’s Monday; I’ve been sick all weekend.  So you have a sub.  Do not put yourself in a bad situation.  Do the work; behave like reasonable people.  I’ll see you tomorrow.

·         Be in your seat before the bell rings.

·         Remain in your seat for the entire class period.

·         Keep any conversation in class to a minimum and relevant to current class topic.

·         Pick up all trash and place in trashcans at the end of class.

·         You are not dismissed by the bell. The bell is to inform the teacher it is time to stop teaching.  Students are dismissed by the teacher. Please remain in your seat until the teacher dismisses you.

·         Turn your cell phones off  before entering the classroom.  If your cell phone is confiscated, your parents will have to claim it at the office the next day.

·         All other rules, including dress codes, listed in the student handbook will be enforced. If you are seen with any non-allowable item you will give that item to the teacher upon request.

·         Demonstrate the same respect and courtesy for others as you wish to receive. 

·         You are responsible for bringing your own materials to class.

·         Place assignments in corresponding boxes at the beginning of each class.

·         You will find previous days’ assignments in notebooks if you are absent.

·         Use blue or black ink only for all assignments; including quizzes, tests, and essays.

·         Assignments will be turned in on white paper.  Use college ruled paper for essays.

·         Late assignments will lose 10 points per day.

·         Extracurricular activities, including athletic events, club events and after school jobs do not excuse students from deadlines.  All procedures regarding late assignments will apply 

·         If you turn in an assignment on time and are dissatisfied with your grade, you may redo the assignment and turn it back in the day after it is returned to you.

·         You have 3 days following your last day absent to make up any work.

·         Quizzes cannot be made up. If you are absent on the day a quiz is given, you are excused from it and it will not count against you.

·         Any missed tests will be made up before or after school by appointment within five days.

·         Fold all assignments lengthwise.

·         Assignments need to have the following heading printed on the outside fold:

·         Name: First and Last

·         Class:  English II, English III, etc.

·         Period: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc.

·         Date: month/day/year (08/14/07)

·         Assignment:  Essay Title, Page #s, etc.

Wait Staff:  I know it’s a hard job; I did it.  I know people are annoying, obnoxious, and sometimes just plain stupid.  I know for most of you this is not a career and you’ll be gone in six months.  Nevertheless, for that time, could you at least look like you want to be there?  I don’t expect a song and dance, but if you could not look like you just came from the Holocaust Exhibit that would be great.  I tip really well.

No Man’s Land:  It’s the section of tables between the booths that no waiter/waitress wants.  If you aren’t going to assign someone specifically; put the chairs in back until needed.

Low Supply:  “ I’m sorry; we’re out of that”.  This is fine if I am at a restaurant that features unique daily specials or only uses seasonal, available ingredients.  However, if your menu says, “proudly served here for over 30 years” there’s no excuse.  If you do run out of something, place a piece of black tape over that item on the menu.  There is no need to tease.

Music:  I am sick of eating to the following genres:  Classic Rock (seriously, if I hear The Eagles during one more meal I’m sending Don Henley the check), Current Hit Country, Soft Rock, and Lite Jazz.  I know the idea is to play something familiar or soothing so the customer is comfortable and will eat more.  Just for kicks though let’s mix it up.  How about Classic Country and Modern Rock?  Why not Hard Jazz or even Classical?  Surely, restaurant owners and operators have personalities.  They express it in their food, why not the music?  P.S.  If you are a theme restaurant, never mind.

 Children:  Ok, technically this isn’t a restaurant problem.  If your child is not capable of sitting still for at least an hour, don’t bring them to a real restaurant.  I don’t care if kids under five eat free; no one wants to hear them crying or see the smashed crackers under the table.  This is what McDonald’s playgrounds are for.  It’s a free service; take advantage.

Portions:  I know I’m overweight, but there is no way I can eat all that at one sitting.  The worst offender is the dessert.  Recently as part of a party of four I experienced Chocolate Cake for Two.  Two what!? Sumo wrestlers!? The four of us couldn’t eat it.  We’re throwing away too much food.

I was “memed” by the wife. 

1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

Honestly, I’d never heard of this before, but here goes:

From “unChristian:  What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…And Why It Matters”

It has no spiritual verve, they say.  “Christianity is so predictable,” one person we interviewed said with contempt.  Two-thirds of young outsiders said the faith is boring, a description embraced by one-quarter of young churchgoers as well.  The image of being sheltered means the Christian faith seems dull, flat, and lifeless.

I know that’s actually four sentences, but it finished a paragraph and I couldn’t help myself. 

Who to tag? How about some facebook friends:

Jaci (Australia)

Emily (one of “my kids”)

Danielle (current student)

Chris (old buddy)

Dave (all around good guy)

Sunday, we attended a concert at Freedom Hall. Toby Mac and his Diverse City crew are touring in support of their third album; “(portable sounds)”. Along with the hip-hop, funk, rock act; sister trio Barlow Girl and Canadians Thousand Foot Krutch are entertaining audiences around the country. Toby’s goal has always been a racial and musical mix. You hear it in his music, see it in his band, and it is evident on this tour. If you like hip-hop, you dig Toby himself; if you like more radio friendly pop/rock, there is Barlow Girl; if you want the heavy stuff, TFK certainly delivers. In other words; there is something for most rock fans. There is certainly enough energy to keep you on your feet.

I loved TFK’s last album and what I heard from the new one sounds just as good. They had those of us with a penchant for the loud guitars and a bit of yelling happy as the first act up. Barlow Girl followed; and while they aren’t necessarily my cup of tea, there was certainly ample audience response. (The ladies also connected in non-musical ways as they gave mini-sermons on a generation meant to change the world.) When Toby and his crew hit the stage, it is evident from the first beat that you will not be sitting down until they are done. I saw Toby several times on his last tour and this show may be even better. I have been to many concerts in my life, and no one does it better. Even if you don’t like the music, you cannot deny the effort and entertainment. So did we have a good time? You better believe it. Will I see Diverse City again? Whenever I get the chance.

Check out the pics of me and the guys from TFK; me and Toby; me and B. Haley (drummer for Diverse City), the wife and B. Haley; and both of us with the Barlow Girls.

So, we have the first week out of the way.  Not a bad start.  I am still working on remembering some of your names.  Don’t take it personally if I call you by someone else’s moniker or simply “Hey, you”.  So far things have been rather easy, huh?  Don’t get too relaxed, for we will soon dive into much more choppy waters (that kids, is a metaphor).  Never fear, I’ll make sure the oxygen tanks are full.  Just remember to keep breathing and come up slowly.  We wouldn’t want you to get the academic bends (and that is an extended metaphor).