Volume 47 Issue 4
December 2013
Freedom High School - 3149 Chester Avenue - Bethlehem, PA 18020 - www.fhsforum.com - @fhsforum
Taking a different spin on fundraising Teachers and students raise money for BASD MiniTHON through “No Shave November” By Logan Handwerk Pates’ Post Editor
Male teachers were asked during the last week of October by the BASD miniTHON fundraising captains asked to participate in the notorious fundraising event “No Shave November.” This phenomena, also called “Movember,” occurs
with males all around the country to raise money for male health problems. A handful of teachers at Freedom High School participated in this fundraiser for BASD Mini-THON. During the month of November, students may have seen growing facial hair on some of their favorite teachers. After teachers agreed to
donate their faces for the cause, the students donated money towards whom they wanted to see be rewarded with a pink beard at the conclusion of the month. Mr. Bill Safranek, astronomy teacher at Freedom, won the event with flying colors after raising $10,000. He went above and beyond the expectations of participants by reaching out to companies for sponsorships and executing a public planetarium
show for families. Mr. Safranek was joined by BASD Mini-THON captains, his second block astronomy class, and news reporters on Dec. 3, 2013 for his bearddying. It was a great fundraiser which greatly helped BASD MiniTHON in reaching this year’s goal of $30,000. Teachers, including Mr. Safranek and all others involved, are paragons of what faculty should thrive to be.
Mr. Bill Safranek after having his beard dyed pink. Photo: Nick Youwakim
Blending school and the “real world” By Contributing Authors Off Center Ceramics
Often times high school students have the understanding that there is a difference between the “real world” and the world inside Freedom. They do not always understand the connection between what they are doing in their classes and how it will benefit them after high school. As members of Off Center Ceramics, a group of students passionate about making art out of clay, students are
learning that what they do in ceramics class has value in the real world. Since the start of this school year, students have been creating clay bowls, earrings, pendants, rings, magnets, and gift tags to sell to raise money for the ceramics studio. All students in ceramics had a hand in creating these items. Corrine Marchese, senior, was in charge of advertising; other students worked on display, pricing and figuring out the target market--all
things a craftsperson needs to know how to do to make a living off of his or her art. All of students’ hard work paid off with 2 sales on Dec. 6. A pre-sale was held for FHS faculty and staff. There was also a table at the Banana Factory’s First Friday event that same night. When students make projects in ceramics class, often times they do not get to hear what people outside their class, or their families, think of them. Students were excited to hear that people at
Freedom, as well as in the community, were impressed by the work and thought it was beautiful. “I think selling these pieces in school was a great way of showing what ceramics is really like,” said Jaiden Coyne, freshman. “To be able to sell art that I contributed my time into making, next to other artists, was truly inspiring. It has encouraged me to want to grow as an artist and improve on my skills,” said Carly Deichman, senior.
Participating in the sales also opened students’ eyes to the fact that there are many career opportunities in the arts after high school. It also introduced students to artists and art forms that they did not know existed. Ceramics’ students are excited to keep creating and hope to do another sale in the spring. Look for photos of Off Center Ceramics students and their sales and artwork. Photos on page 8 of this issue.
BASD maps future career success The new career pathways implement in the Roadmap to Excellence By Noah Gonzalez News Editor
The Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) has initiated a new academic program that allows students to specialize in their personal career interest. The program is a component of the district’s “Roadmap to Education Excellence 2.0,” which consist of a series of curriculum implementations that are expected to improve a students’ holistic learning, rather than just their test scores.
The new program includes four career pathways that students can use as a guide to choose classes, community service projects, and extracurricular activities that match with each student’s strength and interest. The 4 career pathways are as listed and include core fields: health and social services, STEM (science technology engineering and math), arts humanities and communications, and business finance and law. Each pathway suggest spe-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE ObamaCare (p.2) Marriage Equality (p.4) Giving Back (p.6-7) Nostalgic Toys (p.10) Photography Classes (p.12)
solely undergrad, community college, or only high school. Although students are not held to the pathway they chose to follow, counselors will promote following a pathway to better prepare students for their career beyond high school. “More purposeful students are more successful students,” said Dr. The layout of the plan can be Jack Silva, BASD’s asfound on BASD’s website. sistant superintendent, Photo: BASD Website to The Morning Call. cific plans for students inter“Each of our four pathways ested in advancing their edu- will be as good or better as cation into graduate school, what [students] can get any-
where else,” said Dr. Silva. Exclusively, the STEM career pathway will follow a renowned national program “Project Lead the Way,” that is comprised of a set of electives over 4 years that will ready students in these fields and give them a chance to earn college credits. The “Project Lead The Way” courses will cost over $500,000 for its advanced equipment and materials. The district hopes to receive community assistance through local sponsors.