Journalism Class
Mike Putz
This quarter I teach a high school
journalism class. I have 12 students who are all doing a pretty good job in class. The class takes a look at print and broadcast
journalism, with the emphasis on print journalism. They have an opportunity to write a variety of news stories, ranging from
straight news stories to feature stories to more investigative pieces. Students have also written editorials as well as guest
editorials. Some of their writing will be submitted to the Edgewood Reminder throughout the quarter. Their writing can also
be found on the high school website.
News in the Science Department
Holly Wille
7th grade Life Science
The 7th graders have been learning about
nontraditional land plants. The oldest plants known to man were algae and they lived in water, seventh graders have
been learning about the adaptations necessary for algae to change and survive on land. The next few weeks will be spent
studying traditional plants, plant parts and uses.
8th grade Environmental Science
The 8th graders just finished
a chapter on air pollution - where it comes from, how it effects the environment and how to prevent it. We will next
be studying the atmosphere. Topics such as global warming and ozone depletion will be discussed.
10th
grade Chemistry
We have been studying the history of an atom, atomic structure and electrons and energy.
Students will do spectroscopy to create emission line spectra and real life applications will be discussed such as fireworks
and northern lights.
Commentary on the
NHS Selection Process
Art Johnson
Students who are
not selected for membership, but who meet the academic requirement of a 3.25 GPA often wonder why they were not selected.
The deliberations of the Faculty Advisory Council are confidential, and no record of the discussion is kept, but the
experience of many years on the Council leads to the following thoughts:
All students with the required grade point average are eligible
to be considered, but academic performance is only one-fourth of the equation. The members of the Council
consider the other three criteria equally in making their decisions. Good grades alone will not result
in selection to NHS. Many times, students with superior grades are not selected to membership because they
have an inconsistent record of service to others, their leadership skills are not widely demonstrated in their activities,
or there are character issues that are unresolved.
Most people realize the importance of giving of one’s self
in service to others in church, school, and society at large. Only rarely is a candidate passed over because of lack of service
to others, but there is a common misperception among students concerning the nature of service. Holding
a job, or doing household or farm chores are all worthy activities, but they do not qualify as service. True
service to others is voluntary, unpaid, and generally outside the family context. Serving Mass, tending
to the elderly, and the like are not service if you do them reluctantly, complain about them, or do them because your parents
insist.
Some students who are not selected to membership complain that only students participating in sports seem to be selected.
A quick look at the roster of members over the years proves this to be an incorrect perception. What
the committee wants to see is active and loyal participation in wholesome activities outside of school, and in some
extra-curricular activities of the student’s choice: vocal music, band, speech, drama, FFA, FBLA, athletics, and/or
others. Athletes are often selected simply because a majority of our students do participate in athletics.
Also, it is often through sports that a student readily demonstrates leadership skills and character.
Character is seldom
an issue in making the selection of honorees. The Council looks for honesty, diligence, and responsibility
in the candidates. Only rarely is a student excluded for the reason of less than desirable character.
In the few cases over the years where this has been the case, the student’s record perhaps included documented
instances of cheating; the student was disciplined on more than a few occasions for failure to observe school rules; or some
serious character flaw was evident, such as criminal behavior, or flagrant disregard for the law or school rules and regulations.
The largest
single reason that eligible candidates are not selected is a lack of demonstration of effective leadership. Without
leadership, no organization, business, nor political body can survive. Although it is only one of four attributes, a demonstration
of leadership is a very important aspect of selection. The list below provides guidance for students in
what the Council seeks in its members. While it is possible to lead purely by example, it’s hard
to lead if a student is not involved in organized school activities or outside school activities such as 4-H, church youth
groups, or scouting. It’s hard to lead if the student is unwilling to speak out when necessary.
It is hard to lead without a positive attitude. It’s hard to lead if interpersonal skills
are underdeveloped.
The Council has, of course, over the years, made mistakes in both directions—a few who probably should
have been honored were not, and a very few who were honored turned out to be duds. Indeed, we have had
to dismiss a few students from the organization over the years for failing to maintain high standards of scholarship, leadership,
service, or character. Dismissals are never publicized in any way, but rather are a private matter among
the student, their parents, and the advisor, the principal, and if necessary, the Council.
It should also be remembered that if a student
is not selected, the sun will most assuredly rise the next morning, and that, in the long run, it will matter little if the
student does not get to wear the gold stole at graduation. It is, after all, really the quality of the
person inside that counts the most!
Takin’ Care of Business
Jodi
Ehlers
A
Morning of Accounting
Beginning
Accounting I students are just getting into the depths of accounting with the journalizing transactions into
a general journal and posting debit and credit parts into general ledgers. Students have workbooks to record their daily homework
into but are able to experience “real world” accounting on the computers in the business lab. Automated Accounting
8.0 includes computer simulations of all accounting concepts in the course. Currently, students are learning to post long-hand
in the workbook and then experience the ease of posting electronically.
Advanced Accounting has worked hard to refresh their memory of accounting
concepts as many students took the beginning accounting class in semesters past. Students are studying the payroll process
and attempting to understanding tax withholdings and how they affect a person’s net pay. Coursework they will explore
in the near future includes lessons in depreciation and cost accounting.
Introduction to Business
Possibly the largest Intro class
ever to be held at Ed-Co, this quarter’s 23 students have completed lessons in free enterprise, various world economies,
and the laws of supply and demand. More recently, students have learned first-hand how businesses are organized (sole proprietorship,
partnership, corporation, etc) and how they carry out the five business functions (plan, organize, staff, lead, and control).
Students learned real-world examples during a tour of the Edgewood Locker. Jim Kerns explained some history of the Locker
how he and Terry Kerns became partners in the venture. Kerns talked about staffing and how they find and hire good people
and the regulations the meat industry has to operate under.
Edgewood is home to many good real world examples of entrepreneurship and successful operations.
Students were surprised at the processes of a working locker and were able to observe the shrink-wrapping machine, sausage
grinder, and breakfast link machine. The tour ended with some samples of Locker beef sticks for everyone.
Future Business Leaders
of America
Ed-Co
FBLA is gearing up to host a local community service project at the high school. The chapter will hold a Red Cross Blood Drive
in the gymnasium of the high school. The drive has a goal to collect 120 pints of blood the afternoon of February 25th.
The chapter is in charge of publicity, scheduling / appointments, refreshments, and staffing the drive. Anyone interested
in donating can set up an appointment by calling the high school office for an appointment or just walking in the day of the
drive. Donors will receive a free “I Bleed Black and Gold” t-shirt sponsored by the Ed-Co banks – Community
Savings Bank and Farmers Savings Bank. Thank you, in advance, for your support of our blood drive.
