With
the opening of Eagle Valley Junior High School in 1982, a number of us who taught freshmen
joined Mrs. Barbara L. Little in her new school. Most
of us continued to teach mostly freshmen, but Merry had a special talent for those seventh
graders. She continued with the freshmen
honors classes, but those seventh graders gained so much from Merry. At EVJH Merry began accumulating her collection of
paperback books that the students could personally check out from her. Some came from book clubs and some came from
garage sales, but it was the largest collection of any teacher for her students to read. Some books were never returned by the end of each
year, but Merry figured the students must have liked the books. (Note: What
remains of this collection along with some donated books are being sold for fifty cents
each by the National Honor Society at CHS once a month to make money for the scholarship
fund in Merry's name.)
Those of us who were at EVJH may remember the California
Raisins, and whose class was usually one of the leaders of those contests Suzy Sepahpour
had in the library to generate interest. Merry
was a team player and each of her classes became a team.
We returned to Carson High School in 1993, and Merry
continued to teach the freshmen honors classes. She
also had her regulars, too. Merry kept the
team spirit alive during any competitions among the classes. Her classes were always active during the penny
wars.
I really appreciated Merry because she was always so much
more organized than I was. If I couldn't find
a particular chart or worksheet that I knew both of us used, I could always go to Merry,
who would go right to her file and pull it.
Merry's first bout with cancer came in the spring of 1989,
but it didn't keep her from spearheading a trip to Ashland, Oregon. We (Merry, Marie Bellard, and I) took a group of
students to see Shakespeare. I don't remember
the play we saw, but I do remember the river rafting that we did enjoy with the students. We were all wet on the outside, and laughed so
hard the tears flowed.
One summer, Merry toured Europe with a group of students. During this trip she picked out a young lady that
would later become the wife of her son Jason, who was also on the trip. (Strange how things can work out the way we want
them to.) Jason and his wife Anne are living
in Maryland while he is attending test pilot school for the US Navy. During a trip to visit Jason and Anne in Japan,
Merry was able to revisit some of the places she saw as a small child because she had
lived there when her father had also been stationed in Japan. (Anne's mother is now going through treatments for
bone cancer.)
Merry's daughter, Jessica, received her degree in marine
biology about the same time Merry's cancer returned for the third time. Jessica took a hiatus from her own plans and
remained with Merry. Jessica has recently
moved to Florida where she will continue her education and work on her master's degree
beginning in January. Jessica has taken
Merry's friend Toby, a cocker spaniel, and a hedgehog (a live one) that was given to her
by one of the hospice ladies who cared for Merry. Jessica
is also keeping Merry's collection of hedgehogs together.
Merry had a strong faith in God. She had been active in her church until she was
too weak to participate. Marie and I had the
honor of being her friends who took turns and daily took her the news of what was
happening once she was too weak to get to school and too weak to get out. She always asked about Wally Keller and how Susan
Strolin was getting along with her treatments. We
tried to find out any and all news to take her to keep her up to date and to remind her
she was still a part of our school. She truly
believed there would be some kind of cure to come along that would help her. She appreciated all the cards and gifts her many
friends sent to her and her faithful friend Toby.
In October many of us walked in memory of
Merry for the Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer in Reno.
Two years ago we had walked with Merry in San Francisco. It was an uplifting experience for Merry to see so
many survivors involved. One day later we got
the official report that Merry was cancer free. We
just never know what is going to happen.
I remember Merry every time I see a picture of a hot air
balloon, an iris, a Crocker spaniel, a hedgehog, the symbol for breast cancer awareness, a
folded crane, a good bottle of wine, or a good pasta dinner.
Jason and Jessica have planned to keep their mother's memory
alive through a scholarship, which will be given each year to a graduating senior from
Carson High School. I know her memory will
live on through her scholarship, but most significantly through the many lives she
touched.
Carson
High School Disability Awareness Workshop
by
Linda Flaherty
On October 6, 1999, the CHS Special Education Department and
members from the District Special Education Department conducted a workshop for
approximately 65 regular education teachers at Carson High School.
A video was shown
discussing what a learning disability entails, and the teachers were given an opportunity
to experience the different elements of a learning disability—visual processing
problems, reading problems, auditory processing problems, etc.
After the video, teachers rotated through several stations:
vision impaired, hearing impaired, ESL, assistive technology, adaptations and
modifications that can be used with a special education/ESL student in the regular
classroom, and learning disability scenarios. The
workshop ended with the regular education teachers completing a feedback form, and the
teachers given packets which included information from all the stations. The response from
the regular education teachers was overwhelmingly positive. It was very exciting to read the teachers'
responses and hear that most of the teachers were interested in obtaining more information
on how they could help the special education students in their classrooms. Teachers reported that they appreciated the
information and ideas given them, especially the adaptations/modifications packet, and
many of them even reported they wish there had been more time to elaborate on many of the
topics presented. Some of the responses
included: "Excellent workshop! Thanks for the ideas. More time would be helpful
for discussion/questions/application. Thank
you! Wonderful, useful information! I feel overwhelmed with all the information we
received today! I think it was information we
need to utilize!"
Mr. Glen Adair, who also attended the workshop, felt the
workshop was very successful and suggested that additional segments of information might
be presented at future morning faculty
meetings.
Finally, thanks to all the
presenters and all the regular education teachers who attended the workshop and made it a
success!
How
To’s of Rigor and Relevance
Twenty two teachers from the Carson School District attended
the Fall Educators Conference on "The How To's of Rigor and Relevance" in Reno
on November 5th and 6th.
The Conference was funded by the Federal School-to-Career grants and presented by
the School-to-Careers and the International Center for Leadership in Education. The purpose of the conference was to give
teachers some of the tools to teach more, better, and differently.
Concurrent workshops were held on "Language Arts
Curriculum Model for Rigor and Relevance," "Steps
to Relevance in Science," "Relevant and Rigorous Mathematics," "Tools
for Teaching Humanities in a Block Schedule," "Integrating Academics into
Occupational Education," and Elementary Education - An Integrated Approach."
Dr. Richard Jones, the presenter at the general sessions,
explained Rigor and Relevance in learning answers the following questions:
1. How do we meaningfully prepare students
for state standards?
2.
How do we ensure our students have the best education to prepare them for the
future?
3.
What is the best way to improve instruction and assessment?
Dr. Jones stated that from educational research we have
learned that application results in better learning. Schools
have limited application. Students engaged in
application, learn better and stay in school. Contextual
learning is more lasting. Students learn at
different speeds and in different ways.
He further explained that the continuum of application runs
from knowledge for its own sake to use of that knowledge.
4. Application to real world predictable
situations
5. Application to real world
unpredictable situations.
The conference was sponsored by Washoe
K-16 Council A School-to-Careers Partnership, Western
School-to-Careers Partnership, and UNR College of Education.
Project LEAD
(Taken
from a memo written to his colleagues by Steve J. Pradere after attending Project LEAD in
October, 1999)
Dr. Robert Marzano was the presenter of Project LEAD. Dr. Marzano is an expert in standards based
education practice. He is director for
training, research, and development at the Midcontinent Regional Educational Laboratory,
and is a leading researcher and national consultant in the area of translating current
research and theory in cognition into instructional methods.
The major points of his presentation include:
1. Students
make the most progress in school systems where the curriculum is well defined and
articulated between grade levels throughout the system.
2. Post
evaluation feedback is one of the most important components to student's long-term
learning. This feedback is most effective one
or two days after the evaluation takes place. (Not immediately after which one would
intuitively assume.) This feedback should be
accurate, timely, and effective.
3. Developed
a standards based system of record keeping, which provides information to both the
teacher, and the learner as to which statements are mastered. To accomplish this the following steps should be
taken:
1. Reduce the standards to be focused on in each
course to a manageable number.
2. Establish a record keeping system which
supports the standards.
3. Provide students an opportunity for student
self assessment
4. Develop a rubric based system to support units
or activities.
Tips for
Surviving the Holiday Bulge
By
Culinary Arts II
'Tis the season for eating!
Christmas isn't only about children and presents.
It's also that time of the year for getting together with family and friends,
nibbling your way through tasty treats and mounds of magnificent morsels from one party to
the next. It's a time to try new foods and
dig out time-tested family recipes. It's that
time of the year for resolving to make a change, a thought that usually occurs upon
realizing the belt just isn’t buckling the way it did last summer.
Before refusing to enjoy the savory
flavors that only holiday meals and treats provide, hiring a personal trainer to work you
into shape, and tossing out great-grandma's recipes for the perfect turkey and
stuffing...stop! You can prepare yourself
for the holiday hoopla with a few strategies your waistline will thank you for!
Party Tips
*
Focus on enjoying family and friends. Remember
that your primary goal is to socialize, not eat.
*
Wait 10-15 minutes before you head for seconds. That's
about how long it takes for your stomach to tell your brain that you aren't hungry
anymore.
*
Think first, taste next. Ask yourself, "Do I really like this?" "Is this on my list of favorites or is this
something I won't mind leaving behind?" If
you decide to try something, ask yourself, "Is this as good as I thought it would
be?" If not, don't eat it!
*
Remember that alcohol increases appetite and contributes calories. Drink in moderation
(One drink for women and 2 drinks
for men. One drink equals 5 oz. of wine, 12
oz. of beer, or 1-1/2 oz. of liquor).
*
Don't abandon your exercise routine! Special
events can disrupt your routine, so remember to allow yourself time to continue your
exercise program.
*
Set realistic goals. Deciding to lose weight
over the holidays may be a losing game. Instead,
strive to maintain your current weight.
*
Avoid skipping meals. You may think this is a
good way to save calories, but instead you tend to be so hungry you devour everything in
sight. A hungry stomach can sabotage even
the strongest willpower.
* Fill your plate with low fat and low
calorie foods, then add small portions of higher calories favorites.
*
When you have finished eating, get up from the table and socialize in another room. Taking a stroll with family and friends is a great
way to wrap up a meal.
*
Remember to visualize yourself succeeding and try not to get frustrated. Take one day at a time.
* Be
realistic - Don't let crowded parking lots turn you into a grinch. Park your car far away from the store. You’ll be calm and will burn extra calories.
* Be
adventurous - Try a fruit, vegetable, or yogurt you haven't had before. Pick up a food you don’t normally buy the
next time you grocery shop.
* Be
flexible - On the days following a "holiday splurge," eat lighter and move
more.
* Be
sensible - Going to a party that's offering a buffet?
Use a small plate for your selections.
* Be
active - For holiday gifts for family and friends, consider giving a jump rope, hand
weights or an exercise video. Other gift
ideas include promissory notes for a day of biking, hiking, ice skating or inline skating.
