Seniors here are wrapping up year-long projects that have stretched them academically, personally, intellectually and, for some, even physically beyond what they ever thought they could accomplish.
On April 8, the students made presentations of their projects to a panel of six judges–a doctor, a veterinarian, an attorney, a businesswoman, an educator and an editor– from surrounding communities. Without fail, the judges came away convinced that the students had accomplished something extraordinary.
But the judges weren’t the only ones impressed. Parents and educators who see the students on a daily basis testify of changed attitudes and transformed lives.
“It’s been amazing to watch the transformation, maturity-wise,” said Melissa Miller, the educator at Pitkin responsible for guiding the seniors through their projects in a class called, fittingly enough, Senior Projects.
“”I think the students have even been amazed themselves,” she added.
She’s right. A majority of the students told the judges that they had attempted, without success, to drop the class.
Most of the students were terrified the first day when Miller told them they’d have to complete a 10 page research paper, a service project, keep up with a portfolio and then, at the end of the year, make a presentation to a panel of judges, adult professionals they’d never met before. The real terror began when the students realized that if they failed the class, they’d fail to graduate.
Despite the rigorous work involved, however, the students have come away from the class with confidence, motivation and a self-awareness that is rare among fresh graduates.
“This class has made me realize that I can make a difference,” said Emily Martin, who volunteered at the Beauregard Association of Retarded Citizens. Martin also raised about $200 for the organization through a bake sale and a raffle.
“Several students have commented that this is the first time they’ve initiated, worked through and finished a project by themselves,” said Pitkin Principal Don Roberts, whose daughter also completed a project this year.
Roberts has noticed that the seniors are more thoughtful of others, he said. “They’ve come from teenagers to young adults in the past year.”
Roberts is especially taken with the results of his daughter Brittany’s project, which focused on creating a foundation in order to supply emergency first-responders with stuffed animals to give to children who are victims of disaster.
The foundation, called Addie’s Angels in memory of Brittany’s niece and Robert’s only granddaughter who died as a victim of abuse, has not only provided for a need in the community, it’s provided a way for the Roberts family to find healing, Brittany said.
Her father agreed, noting how his daughter “took something negative and made something very positive, and in the process got some closure.” Her work has helped her parents see her more as an adult. “We are more at ease talking about things to her that we could not earlier,” he said, referring to the details of the incident which took his granddaughter’s life.
Miller noted that many people had to come together in order for the students to be successful.
Each student had to engage a mentor, someone from the community with some connection to the subject matter, yet not a family member, a task which came easily for some and was more challenging for others.
“It’s really forced families, students, faculty and the community to work together,” Miller said.
According to Miller, Senior Projects is here to stay, and not just at Pitkin.
“Its a new class in the state, part of high school redesign, a nationwide goal to add rigor and relevance to learning,” she said. “We absolutely met that goal.”
Here’s a sampling of some of the projects Pitkin seniors completed:
Randy Taylor worked to raise music appreciation and awareness by hosting a Guitar Hero tournament. With the funds raised from that event, he plans to buy prizes for a school-wide talent show.
Cade Weldon raised over $1,400 for a cancer surivor by hosting a benefit incrediball game.
Trista Martin organized and enlisted the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office to present personal safety workshops for ladies in the school and community.
Jacob McCullough job shadowed Channel 5’s Tom Konvicka and now provides a daily weather forecast for the school.
Marcus Sesvold delivered desks and donated school supplies to South Cameron High School after hurricanes destroyed their school.
Josiah Johnson created and managed a school paper recycling program.
Almost twenty students completed similar projects, Miller said, and all of them came away with something more than they brought to the work.
“I never believed that I could build up enough courage to perform a task of this size,” said Sesvold, who, in his presentation, dared others to make a difference.
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Seniors here are wrapping up year-long projects that have stretched them academically, personally, intellectually and, for some, even physically beyond what they ever thought they could accomplish.
On April 8, the students made presentations of their projects to a panel of six judges–a doctor, a veterinarian, an attorney, a businesswoman, an educator and an editor– from surrounding communities. Without fail, the judges came away convinced that the students had accomplished something extraordinary.
But the judges weren’t the only ones impressed. Parents and educators who see the students on a daily basis testify of changed attitudes and transformed lives.
“It’s been amazing to watch the transformation, maturity-wise,” said Melissa Miller, the educator at Pitkin responsible for guiding the seniors through their projects in a class called, fittingly enough, Senior Projects.
“”I think the students have even been amazed themselves,” she added.
She’s right. A majority of the students told the judges that they had attempted, without success, to drop the class.
Most of the students were terrified the first day when Miller told them they’d have to complete a 10 page research paper, a service project, keep up with a portfolio and then, at the end of the year, make a presentation to a panel of judges, adult professionals they’d never met before. The real terror began when the students realized that if they failed the class, they’d fail to graduate.
Despite the rigorous work involved, however, the students have come away from the class with confidence, motivation and a self-awareness that is rare among fresh graduates.
“This class has made me realize that I can make a difference,” said Emily Martin, who volunteered at the Beauregard Association of Retarded Citizens. Martin also raised about $200 for the organization through a bake sale and a raffle.
“Several students have commented that this is the first time they’ve initiated, worked through and finished a project by themselves,” said Pitkin Principal Don Roberts, whose daughter also completed a project this year.
Roberts has noticed that the seniors are more thoughtful of others, he said. “They’ve come from teenagers to young adults in the past year.”
Roberts is especially taken with the results of his daughter Brittany’s project, which focused on creating a foundation in order to supply emergency first-responders with stuffed animals to give to children who are victims of disaster.
The foundation, called Addie’s Angels in memory of Brittany’s niece and Robert’s only granddaughter who died as a victim of abuse, has not only provided for a need in the community, it’s provided a way for the Roberts family to find healing, Brittany said.
Her father agreed, noting how his daughter “took something negative and made something very positive, and in the process got some closure.” Her work has helped her parents see her more as an adult. “We are more at ease talking about things to her that we could not earlier,” he said, referring to the details of the incident which took his granddaughter’s life.
Miller noted that many people had to come together in order for the students to be successful.
Each student had to engage a mentor, someone from the community with some connection to the subject matter, yet not a family member, a task which came easily for some and was more challenging for others.
“It’s really forced families, students, faculty and the community to work together,” Miller said.
According to Miller, Senior Projects is here to stay, and not just at Pitkin.
“Its a new class in the state, part of high school redesign, a nationwide goal to add rigor and relevance to learning,” she said. “We absolutely met that goal.”
Here’s a sampling of some of the projects Pitkin seniors completed:
Randy Taylor worked to raise music appreciation and awareness by hosting a Guitar Hero tournament. With the funds raised from that event, he plans to buy prizes for a school-wide talent show.
Cade Weldon raised over $1,400 for a cancer surivor by hosting a benefit incrediball game.
Trista Martin organized and enlisted the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office to present personal safety workshops for ladies in the school and community.
Jacob McCullough job shadowed Channel 5’s Tom Konvicka and now provides a daily weather forecast for the school.
Marcus Sesvold delivered desks and donated school supplies to South Cameron High School after hurricanes destroyed their school.
Josiah Johnson created and managed a school paper recycling program.
Almost twenty students completed similar projects, Miller said, and all of them came away with something more than they brought to the work.
“I never believed that I could build up enough courage to perform a task of this size,” said Sesvold, who, in his presentation, dared others to make a difference.
