LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

SHS Students Get Heads Up on Activities

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Sitka High School has more than 50 activities, classes, sports and clubs outside the regular academic schedule, and most are open to all students.
    But some students and parents are caught unaware, and don’t notice the options until it’s too late to join.
    To that end, Spanish teacher Ariel Coleman Starbuck and social studies teacher Ben Clark have compiled a comprehensive list of in-school and after-school activities, classes and clubs, with the hope that kids and parents will be able to plan ahead next school year and not miss out.
    “We wanted to highlight this for all the eighth graders and incoming students about what’s available,” Starbuck said. “The thing we’ve heard from parents during the school year is ‘we had no idea this was available.’ We don’t have a comprehensive list on the website.”
    The hope is to get the word out through multiple avenues so when new students sign up for classes, they can plan for the activities.
    “The more exposure they have to knowing what’s available, the more they will participate,” Starbuck said. “I feel we have good involvement, but there are some kids that aren’t involved in anything. I think they would be more involved in school if they were signed up for something.”

Sitka High students take a bow after presenting the play "Just Another High School Play" Saturday at the Performing Arts Center. Now is the time for students to plan for next year's school activities. (Sentinel Photo)
   

Some of the activities on the list are elective classes offered for credit during the school day, such as robotics and Tlingit language classes and advanced placement studies. Others are after-school activities, service projects and clubs. Some have prerequisites, some cost money and some have a GPA requirement.
     But the main goal of creating the list is giving students the chance to take advantage of the numerous opportunities – whether they’re social, physical, academic or athletic. And for their parents to know what’s available.
    “We’re really excited – we have a school of 347 kids and look how much you can be involved in,” Starbuck said. “It’s a big list.”
    Both teachers who worked on the project have their own offerings in addition to the regular classes they teach.
    Starbuck teaches Spanish and as an outside project leads kids on a trip to a Spanish-speaking country in the summer. Clark teaches outdoor recreation in addition to his social studies classes, and is the student government coordinator.
    Sitka High counselor Cori Schumejda said after-school activities and clubs can ease the transition from eighth to ninth grade, or the stress of entering a new school. Involvement in school and after-school activities and classes is generally a good thing, she said.
    “What we try to do is encourage kids to try to get involved in activities,” she said. “In my opinion it helps overall happiness of being in high school. As friendship groups shift when they come to the high school they start being created around the activities they choose, and it connects them with friends. We want the students to start to develop and grow in things that interest them. It starts to set the stage for what they want to do in their future: whether it’s college, career and technology (learning), or apprenticeships.”
    For a school of Sitka’s size, new students can be intimidated when they see all the classes and activities available.
    “Students transferring in, they’re fairly overwhelmed by the choices they have and I think we have a community that has put a priority to keep high-level classes in the schedule, as well as opportunities for career (education) and the arts,” Schumejda said.
    Whether students do well because they’re involved in activities, or are involved in activities because they are good students, is hard to say, Schumejda said. But being involved in activities does help students stay away from looking for “other, less healthy, self-destructive activities,” she said, as well as learn time management skills.
    “Coming in at 3 a.m. on the ferry, and going to school the next day – it’s very impressive,” Schumejda said. “We have valedictorian students who are involved in a lot of things. It’s not easy.”
    Offerings, both in-school and after school, by categories are:
    Classes: welding, engine overhaul, diesel mechanics, basic car care, construction, design and fabrication, Spanish, robotics, digital video, theater, forensic science, Tlingit language, music, Alaska naturalist, field science, outdoor recreation, AP calculus, AP statistics, AP human geography, AP language and composition, physics, chemistry, ceramics, glass art, print making, careers in health, foods I and II, dual enrollment for welding at UAS, jazz band.
    Sports: basketball, cross country, track and field, volleyball, swimming, soccer, cheerleading, wrestling, baseball, softball.
    Service opportunities: student council, prom committee, graduation committee, National Honor Society, music mentoring.
    Clubs: Robotics, Battle of the Books, Mock Trial, Future Problem Solvers, Drama, Debate and Forensics.
    Travel opportunities and events: Spanish travel to a foreign country, Alaska Association of Student Governments, Music Fest, Jazz Fest.
    Clark’s and Starbuck’s intent is to make the list of activities widely available, so kids can prepare over the summer, plan their schedules and hit the ground running.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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