“Inter High” brings students, staff together

Associated student body presidents and faculty members from seven high schools got together at Lake Quinault last week for Inter High, a workshop event that aims to acquaint students and let faculty members get a taste of curriculum at different school districts.

The event drew students from Taholah, Mary M. Knight, Lake Quinault, Naselle, Oakville, Wishkah and North River and offered four different workshops for those in attendance.

Barb Marshall, who teaches career and technical education classes at the Lake Quinault High School, said the event is a way to get students together in an environment that lets them discuss education and how their respective schools might differ from others.

Student advisers from each school got a chance to see how certain aspects of Lake Quinault’s curriculum compared to their own, as well.

“You guys are the leaders of your schools,” Marshall said to the group at the opening ceremony. “Get to know each other.”

The students were broken into four groups and each attended educational workshops throughout the morning.

One of the workshops was hosted by Lake Quinault Student Body President Romenita Begay, who gave a presentation on bullying. Begay said students at Lake Quinault cannot use their cellphones during school hours and she thinks that has mitigated cyberbullying.

Lori Dearmore, a faculty member at Naselle, thought the policy, and its effect on bullying, was good for students to be aware of.

“I think it was good for a student from our school to hear that,” she said.

Ian Strait, a music and technology teacher at Lake Quinault, gave students a presentation on 3-D printer technology. Students in the workshop learned how to use SketchUp, a computer program that is used to design models that will print three dimensionally.

Marshall said implementing new technologies into their curriculum has been important to the district.

“The kids are so good at it. That’s their life now,” she said.

Athletic Director Keith Samplawski explained that without new technologies, students would be lagging behind their peers in other districts.

“We’re out here so far from the big city. We need to keep the kids on a level playing field,” he said.

Lake Quinault School Board member Anita Blackburn was teaching students how to make dream catchers in the school’s home economics room. Even though some were struggling to correctly tie their yarn to make the ornament, students still seemed to appreciate the importance of the event.

“There’s no hope,” joked Jessie Ritchie as he unsuccessfully attempted to put the dream catcher together.

The 18-year-old Ritchie is the vice president of Taholah High School’s student body. He said that he enjoyed the fact that students were able to get together and convey their thoughts on education.

“I think it’s pretty cool. Kids can express their opinions on how things should be run,” he said.

In the school’s wood shop, math and physical education teacher Darren Marshall was facilitating a cedar plank carving session for students.

Associated Student Body Adviser Jerry Walther said the event is a great way for both students and faculty member to get ideas for curriculum that they could incorporate into their schools.

Walther said the event “gets the adults out of the way to let kids work with kids.”