Budget did not influence JanTerm passion project grading

Against student perception and concern, high project budgets did not lead to better or easier grades.

By: Willow Nusbaum & Eli Chilton

As Discovery High School’s (DHS) JanTerm passion projects ended, some students expressed concern that projects with higher budgets had an easier time receiving good grades. An investigation by the Digest team concluded that passion project budget was not correlated with final grading in any way and that most studentsinthehigh-incometownofCamasdidnotfeel limitedbyprojectbudget.

While there were no grades officially released for this year’s JanTerm, there was grading data available for the previous year’s projects, which was used as a base for our statistic collection. Digest conducted personal interviews with many students and compiled a wider base of student data via a simplistic survey. The results of both the interviews and surveying implied there was nonoticeabledisparitybetweengradesandbudget.

Many students believe that the majority of people got very poor grades on their projects from the Intersession. However, some students claimed—with contrarian subtext—that you just needed to follow the providedrubricscloselytogetagoodgrade.

“I know there were a lot of people angry with [the grades]andstuff,butIjustkindoffollowedtherubric… and then I got like a three,” said an anonymous DHS student.

If the teachers followed the same rubric last year that was followed this year, then the final project grades should not be based upon the final product itself. Instead, project grading should be based on how students present their process and justify their month’s worthoflearning.

These grading principles may cause frustration for students putting large amounts of money into their project. A select few students—somewhat notoriously—spent a high amount of money on their projects(withthehighestbudgetbeing$ ).

Valentine’s Day is here!

Whatarethecouplesatourschooluptothis Valentine'sDay?

By: Ivan Frazee & Haylee Kohler

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and Discovery High School (DHS) prides itself on the principle that love is love, regardless of gender identity. What better way to celebrate than getting to know some of the couples and couples’ activities around our school?

On top of a rise in waffle-related gifts, it appears that personalized Valentines day presents were common among couples this year. Dinner dates were consistent between every couple, which was in line with normal Valentine’sdayactivities.

the teachers want from you, not the overall product. If students are unhappy with the project’s product, they can always continue the product or create a better one in the future. Neither of those options hinge on financial standing unless students deliberately choose projectsthatwoulddictateit.

Our data shows that Discovery students living in Camas have a comfortable amount of money to spend on projects like those championed in JanTerm. Of all students surveyed, only one said they weren't able to affordtheirfirstchoiceofproject.

However, even if grades were given out equally, DHS studentopinionsremainedmurkyandundecided.Some students believed that those who spent a significant amountofmoneyontheirprojectssimplytooktheeasy route.

“I feel like they had put in less effort,” said Imogen Jones, a senior at DHS. “I do think it was a bit of a cop-out.”

“Monthly,wedoameetupataparkandwedoamovie date,” Sampey said. They plan to uphold this tradition on Valentine’s Day with some additional gifts for the event. “We’re watching my favorite movie and I got her rings from Howl’s Moving Castle,” Sampey reported. “That way it matches the theme. I also got her a strawberry cow plushie.” In addition to those thoughtful gifts, Sampey got her a heart shaped waffle maker. ” He seemed very excited about his gifts, hopefully Ava loves them too! We asked another sophomore couple, Ivan Frazee and Riley Velazquez, abouttheirplansforthisValentine’sday.

“We might go to Top Burger for milkshakes or burgers. We might go check out Tommy O’s.” Frazee stated. He didn’t have set plans but seemed excited to spendthedaywithRileyeitherway.

“I’m going to get them these stroopwafels he’s been excited about,” Frazee said when asked about potential Valentine’s day gifts. “I’m also making them this necklace and buying them some crystals to put all in a box.Webothlovetomakeeachotherfood,soI’m makingthemsomebananapudding.” to an end, Digest teachers’ opinions on it were, especially compared to their experience the previous year. Although there was a lot to refine, this year’s Intersession wentexceptionallybetterthanthelastone.

We hope Riley enjoys their gifts! Have fun on your datewhereveryoumayendup,milkshakesornot! AnothercouplecelebratingthisValentine’sDayisDHS junior Haylee Kohler and Camas High School student Ben Hromadka. Haylee is an artist and enjoys making crafty things as gifts. Previously, Haylee created a painting as a gift to Ben. This Valentine's Day, Haylee has created a digital painting capturing the couple's personal jokes and memories. The couple plans to go downtownforadinnerdateandbackhomeafterwards foramovie. ImogenJonesandAlexAbe,bothseniors at DHS, plan to get reservations at Acorn and The Oak an upscale midwestern restaurant near Lacamas Lake this Valentine’s Day. Imogen plans to surprise her boyfriend with breakfast the morning of the holiday. Alex, being an avid musical artist, will be receivingacustomguitarpickpaintedbyImogen.Alex willalsolikelyreceiveahandcraftedcard.

Editor’s Note: Haylee Kohler and Ivan Frazee both authoredthisarticleandwereprominentinterviewees.

This year’s JanTerm went through multiple adjustments based on the previous year’s student feedback.Thesechangesseemedtohaveworked,as all teachers interviewed by Discovery Digest agreed that scheduling was much better compared to last year.

“Ilikedtheschedulingalotmorethisyearthanlast year. I think it gives a lot of flexibility to students andteachers,”saidKelsyBenton,oneofDiscovery’s Spanish teachers. “Last year it was just a big block of time for project time, it was nice that this year people who wanted those three hours of project timegotitandpeoplewhodidn’tneeditdidnot.”