SYRACUSE – Wawasee High School students Stephanie Camargo and Shelby Swartz have been busy this holiday season in more than scholastic activities. The two young women presented the Wawasee School Board with information on the latest project of the Leadership Committee, a group of around 22 students, whose mission statement is “To honor and serve those in need in our community.” Coats for Kids is their current endeavor. More than 300 coats and 150 blankets have been collected at collection sites throughout the school district. On Sunday from 1-4 p.m, the group will accept donations at the annex gym. The committee asks for any good coat, any size, to be passed on. Currently, coats can be dropped off at each of the schools in the district and at Shopko. Wawasee parent Angel Hardy, owner of local dry cleaning businesses, offered to clean those items that need cleaning at no charge. “Yummy” is the word board members used to describe the new culinary arts program at Wawasee High School. The board toured the area prior to the regular meeting, and was served chili, corn bread and cookies, all prepared by students. Program director Dan Bauer explained how students, working in conjunction with Ivy Tech, can earn credit in the culinary field. “All restaurants in the state need a person with one certification,” he said. Students now have this opportunity. The program was begun three years ago out of the home economics department. It is partnered with West Noble and Fairfield high schools as a two-year program. The first year focuses on food theory, proper knife technique and how foods go together, Bauer explained. The second-year students learn the process of baking and breads. An open house for the culinary arts area and new cafeteria will be Friday at 5 p.m. The Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative had another bit of good news to announce. Director Kim Nguyen announced the receipt of a $10,000 grant for welding from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. The welding department is at West Noble High School, and used by all three schools in the co-op. Nguyen told the board that the money would be used for an ironworker, a machine that will bend and cut metal. He added that the program is working with local businesses in the hope that the students will eventually find jobs with them. Four teachers from Wawasee Middle School explained their Northwest Evaluation Association data review process, a method of measuring not only students’ achievements, but also their growth. Unlike the scoring used by the state, or information from ISTEP, this method provides information the teachers and students themselves use to track progress. Teachers Mike Malcolm, Nancy Rehling, Ryan Edgar and Sallie Hoy were enthusiastic in their presentation of growth charts, seating charts, data walls and instructional strategies. The board was receptive to the promise of a practical, regular series of tests that can be easily used by all parties. In other news, donations of a storage shed and mower were accepted from the Kiwanis, organizers of the Syracuse Youth League. The new catalogue of courses now includes statistics, marine mechanics and physical education outdoor water courses. The human body system will be offered under science. This course, along with three other medical field-related courses, are designed to allow students to intern with IU Hospital, Goshen, in the future.
