Lawrence/Nelson students at the middle/high school had a hands-on day of learning on their first day back, January 6th, 2020. The day started with the freshmen and sophomores visiting the Nelson Public Library where Mary Statz, Sarah Wheeland, and Tina Albrecht taught them about using the vinyl cutter, button maker and heat press. Students completed projects on site and several were heading back to the library after school to do more! We are working on a date to send elementary students and middle school students to complete projects as well. Beginning the first of February, these machines will be traded out for a laser cutter, 3D printer, and an embroidery machine.
This activity was followed up by the FFA Alumni serving all of the students and the staff grilled hamburgers for Beef in the Schools for January, and guest speaker Kerry-Anne Webster from Area Substance Abuse & Alcohol Prevention (ASAAP) talking to middle school and high school students about healthy relationships and juuling.
From here, the freshmen worked with Mrs. Connie Porter, guidance counselor, exploring colleges, as well as:
- reviewing transcripts
- starting an activities resume
- completing an interest inventory
- completing their four-year plan, and
- completing a college terminology quiz with prizes.
While they were doing this, the 10th - 12th graders took part in an Adulting 101 day on site and at the extension office. At the extension office, Jean Stichka and Ruth Epley taught students how to sew on a button and how to patch a pair of jeans, with students completing this activity on their own. Again, students expressed an interest in returning and working one-on-one with Jean on future sewing projects!
In the south parking lot, Lawrence/Nelson alumni Anders Jensen worked with students on how to check the oil and water in their vehicles, as well as checking tire pressure, and changing a tire. While some students might have known this information previously, several stated they had no idea how to do any of these things, so make sure you ask them to start doing this at home!
In the classrooms, students learned the difference between an activities resume and a career resume, completing games and played Interview Elimination with Mrs. Wit and Mrs. Epley after using their resume skills to land an interview. Hopefully, students remember what was covered in future through these resume building activities and interview scenarios. Those who "landed" the job in each of the groups included Trevin Kotinek, Darren Kathman, Annie McCartney, and Elsa Jorgensen. If you need interviewing advice, hit them up, because they had all of the skills needed to get the job done!
Mrs. Trausch went through mock interviews with students from the very basic of introduction on how to shake hands, to the dos and do nots of an interview, and students had a series of questions that they were interviewed on as well.
And finally, Kylie Kinley from the Nuckolls and Thayer County Extension Offices worked with the students through a drone simulation, providing them background knowledge on drones and answering lots of questions our students had regarding drones.
All in all, it was a full day of fun learning activities, and we sincerely appreciate the help from our community members in making this day happen. It is something we would like to start each semester with. We had planned to feature Cory Kopsa from the radio station on radio/tv interview skills as well as Sandra Schendt on filling out W4s and tax filing information, but the date didn't end up working out for either of them. We will keep you posted on future Adulting 101 events, but if you have suggestions, please feel free to send them to depley@southcentralusd.us.
