A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924
in This
Red ‘n’ Green
The
Issue
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 6
- Rookie Writer -1,000 points pg. 8 -‘Weird’ Series
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
Hess finds reward in giving back by
Becca Wenig
After experiencing an incredible month-long journey in Kenya, Berlin alumna Megan Hess has returned home. Hess, along with 10 other students from LaCrosse participated in the program, “Kenya Make a Difference.” They collected many donations and helped build a kitchen onto an elementary school in Nakuru, Kenya. When Hess first arrived in Kenya at around 3 a.m. she was immediately aware of how fascinating nature was there. “I remember opening the door of the matatu and instantly noticing the fresh air,” Hess said. “The next morning, I walked onto the porch and saw the beautiful view of Lake Nakuru.” During the trip, it did not take long for the students to develop a strong relationship with the local children. “The children followed us around every day, and we became very attached to them as they did to us,” Hess said. Hess enjoyed spending time with the families in Nakuru, but she became especially attached to the children without families. “My favorite part of the trip was going to the orphanage and playing with the children,” Hess said. “They just wanted to be loved and
Photo Submitted Berlin alumna Megan Hess spent a month in the community of Nakuru, Kenya. During this time she built a kitchen onto an elementary school and built strong relationships with the children. “Life is about giving, giving your time, full attention, love and respect,” Hess said. I could have held them all day.” As the trip went on, Hess realized one of the big differences between Kenyans and Americans is their attitudes. “Kenyans are completely genuine people,” Hess said. “They are honest, caring and mostly loving. They are always thinking about other people besides themselves and looking at the brighter side of things.” When it finally came time to go, Hess had a hard time leaving everything and everyone behind.
“There were a lot of tears shed from leaving that still happen today,” Hess said. “The most special moment for me was receiving a necklace from the kids. Those kids do not have the money to buy something like that every day, but they wanted us to always remember them.” When Hess arrived home, her mother Chris Hess noticed a change in her behavior. “She was so relaxed and laid back,” Hess said. “Then, I started to notice how physically and men-
District receives grant by
Hailey Prachel
It is hard to keep up with technology as it advances, but it is even harder to afford. Now that the district received a grant, improving and adding new equipment is not only affordable, it is possible. “We received a $60,000 grant through the Wisconsin Technology Initiative,” Director of Instruction Jodi Becker said. “The WTI provides funding to K-12 schools to advance the use of technology in learning environments throughout the state.” The grant money will fund many things including a Professional Development Center. The center will be located in the distance learning room at the high school, but all of schools will have access to it. The Professional Development Center will include a tele-presense system that can be used to bring in
speakers, to collaborate with teachers from other school districts and to bring in programming that is not available in the district right now. The school is also getting two SMART-Boards, cameras, student response systems and a sound system. “This will allow us to better train our staff on the use of technology in order to enhance student learning,” Superintendant Bob Eidahl said. The center will also be used for things like recording classes and later critiquing them and holding virtual field trips. “If a class is learning about the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” we may be able to connect with a classroom in Alabama who is also discussing the novel,” Becker said. AV Coordinator Adam Umbreit believes that renewing the distance learning room is necessary. “Everything in the room is getting old and is not in the best shape,” Umbreit said. “It is time to
utilize new technology by teaching our staff, students and community how to use it.” Both Becker and Eidahl hope the Professional Development Center will be finished by early March.
Technology Now High School
SMART-Boards- 15 Document Cameras- 2 Jeopardy System- 1 Student Response System- 1
Middle School
SMART-Boards- 11 Document Cameras- 1 Jeopardy System- 1 Student Response System- 0
Elementary School SMART-Boards- 27 Document Cameras- 13 Jeopardy System- 1 Student Response System- 0
tally exhausted she was. I felt she was almost in a little bit of a depression because she missed all of the people in Kenya.” Overall, Hess says that she has become a more an understanding and loving person from this experience. “One thing is for certain, whether it is giving up a pair of shoes, doing manual labor or spending time with others, it’s amazing how your life can change if you put others before yourself,” Hess said.
Photos Submitted
Newsbriefs Teachers take Polar Plunge into frozen Winnebago
Twelve Berlin teachers took the Polar Plunge on Feb. 16. They jumped into freezing Lake Winnebago at Menominee Park in Oshkosh. The teachers were “Freezin’ For A Reason,” and the reason was the Special Olympics. The teachers raised a total of $2,700. “I will definitely do it again,” science teacher Paul Bell said. “It was extremely refreshing and rewarding.”
Sadie Hawkins style Winterfest well attended
Winterfest was a rare Sadie Hawkins type dance, where the girls were required to ask the guys to the dance. The dance was themed “Under the Sea,” and was held on Feb. 16. Approximately 300 students attended. “I think the dance was very successful,” Student Council Advisor Ann Ragus said. “The DJ was good and the kids had a good time.”
Scholars hope to take home trophy at Academic Bowl Academic Bowl will take place at Berlin High School on Monday, Mar. 18. Berlin students look forward to hopefully getting a trophy at this year’s bowl. “I think we have an awesome team this year,” Advisor Tim Cox said. “We have some experienced participants from past years and I believe we will fare quite well if the team members put some effort in preparing for the competition.”