February 12, 2009
See “Memoirs of a
www.roguenews.net
Ashland, Oregon
Vol. III Issue V
Gymnasium” p. 6
Teaching business skills to students The Transition Center’s Spice of Life program sells spice packets to business around town and teaches job skills. by Michael Deckleman
Photo by Phoebe Parker-Shames
Siobhan Carolan and Magdala Grahm help create spice packets.
Have you been looking for just the right flavor for your special upcoming dinner occasion? If so, look for Spice of Life packets made in our very own Ashland High School Transition Center. PRISM (Products by Responsible Independent Student Managers) Enterprises is sponsoring this program, which is the first student run business to come out of the Transition Center. Students are working hard mixing, packaging and selling a variety of spice packets to practice banking and other financial skills, as well as earning community service hours. The packets are being sold in local food stores around Ashland as well as at school. “We just got up and running the week before Christmas, so we’ve mostly just been selling to friends,” Kate Sullivan, the Transition Center teacher said. The packets can be purchased at Safeway, Shop N’ Kart and the Transition Center in TH-15. Over 50 packets have been sold so far. The students themselves are completely immersed in the business. They selected the
name, filled out a resume, conducted a job interview and trained for whatever task they were to perform. Some of these jobs are folding and applying labels, mixing the ingredients and filling the packets. “They really like the whole assembly line of putting the product together,” Sullivan commented. Although the students won’t be receiving their first paycheck until March 3, they are to be using a “SOS” budgeting system, adapted from a similar business run in Pheonix High School. The students will be putting 40 percent of the profits into a savings account, which is the first “S”, 10 percent into gifts for other classmates, so the “O” is for other, and 50 percent directly to the student, the second “S”, “This is a good way for the kids to learn about life outside the classroom,” Luna Bitzer, another Transition Center teacher said. Mexican and curry seasonings have been the most popular so far and the spices have complimented meals as far away as Boston. The students in the Transition Center soon hope to be supplying local restaurants and SOU. They plan to continue this project See Spice on page 3
AHS musicians honored at State Nine dedicated artists accepted to competitive OMEA All-State Conference by Phoebe Parker-Shames On January 16 through 18, nine Ashland High School music students were rewarded for their exceptional talent when they attended Oregon Music Educators Association All-State Conference. The students, who were selected on the basis of recorded auditions, spent three days in Eugene learning new musical pieces alongside peers from across the state in their various musical areas. “They’re in rehearsal the whole time,” Band Director Jon Soderburg-Chase said. “And they put together some really complicated songs with world-renowned instructors.” To finish off the weekend, the different bands, orchestras and choirs showcased their songs in a performance that stretched into the night. “It was awesome. It was really intense but fun and you meet people in a different way. You meet people through music,” Ashley Hoe, the only AHS sophmore to attend this year, said. The students have worked long and hard to receive this reward. “In this case it comes down to the dedication of those individuals. Hundreds and hundreds of hours that students have put into it,” Chase said.
Photo by Grace Riley-Adams
Four of the All-state musicians. From left to right: Deborah Silbowitz, Jake Gavin, Shea Pasche and Jane Excell.
“It was a joy to share our musical talents” -Shea Pasche Logan Shrewsbury was honored as the only drummer selected in the entire state. Jake Gavin and Shea Pasche both played horn for the full All-State band. Deborah Silbowitz participated in the wind ensemble, playing flute. Two AHS violinists, Ashley Hoe and Kaleen Jenkins, joined the All-State orchestra. In choir,
Maggie Witt and Helen Marcus sung soprano, and Jane Excell performed as alto. Each student took away something different from the experience. “This was a smaller group, so you got to know your band better. It felt more personal,” Gavin said. He explained that one of his favorite aspects of the conference was the conductor. “He was amazing. One of the most enthusiastic guys I’ve ever met. After fourteen hours straight, even at nine thirty at night, he was still jumping up and down. …It’s definitely something I’ll remember for a long time.”