2news Yearbook staff wins award • The 2010 Westwind staff recently received a Pacemaker Award from the National Scholastic Press Association at the NSPA spring convention in Anaheim, Calif. Twenty two yearbooks from across the nation were chosen for the award. Last November the Wingspan staff won a Pacemaker as well, making West two for two this year. • At the state Hunter Safety Team Competition on April 30, junior Landon Ray placed second in archery with a perfect score. The West FFA team placed 15th overall out of 31 teams. • S.A.V.E. Club is currently collecting old batteries, light bulbs and cell phones for recycling. Items may be dropped off in room V-6. • The Arts for Individuals Talent Show raised $1,500 for the Monty Parker Scholarship, which will be awarded to a senior at the awards assembly scheduled for June 10. • Senior Katie O’Shea was voted the winner of this year’s Falcon Idol competition last Friday.
Computer class changes set for next year
will have activities that involve creating, analyzing and enhancing documents so the students can put to use the skills they were taught in the online portion, just like Lynn ov. Bev Perdue says she has a dream — a dream Price does for her IT Academy students at North. that all students from across North Carolina will “The actual online course is designed for business have the skills they will need to have successful people, and so for underclassmen in the high schools it careers and futures when they finish high school. may consume a little more than they are ready to give. One factor that will bring this dream one step closer Often times, underclassmen have not gotten to that point to reality is the recent grant of $400 million from the with their thinking and their motivation to complete the Race to the Top Foundation. The grant money will be course,” Price said. “As high school teachers we have to used to further Perdue’s “Career and College: Ready, Set, come up with simulations that would simulate being in Go!” program, which is focused on improving the public an office so that students can get practice and repetition education system and preparing students for the future. in using the software. By the time that they get to the “In recent days, North Carolina has benefited from certification exam, it will be very simple and easy to do.” significant federal investments in education,” Perdue IT Academy will provide students who are enrolled said in a press release last fall. “Now we must put those in either section a Microsoft Cloud account, which will new resources to good use — quickly with the utmost enable them to access all Microsoft programs from any efficiency and accountability, and with computer. The head of the Careeran eye toward our one common goal: Technical Education (CTE) department Technology keeps for Henderson County Public Schools, preparing every child for their 21st century futures.” Pam Johnson, said that the Cloud will be improving so An implementation of this plan a benefit for the future because it will let the more you is a three-year, $803,000 partnership students use their Microsoft skills even can know about between the N.C. Department of Public if their future work environment uses Instruction and Microsoft. The Microsoft different software than Microsoft. technology and Information Technology (IT) Academy Another addition to IT Academy will computers, the will go into effect in all high schools in be that all of the computers that will North Carolina in August 2011 and will be used to teach will be upgraded to better. replace Computer Applications I. There Microsoft Office 2010. Shannon Auten are two sections of IT Academy: one of “We’ve now jumped a great hurdle guidance counselor here where we’ve gone from some Word, PowerPoint and Publisher and the other of Excel and Access, all common schools teaching in (Microsoft) 2003 all computer programs that students will learn to use. the way up to 2007, and it’s the latest and greatest version “All of these programs, Word, PowerPoint and of Microsoft Office,” Price said. “It’s just wonderful; it’s Publisher, are going to help you with senior projects; much easier to navigate through.” they’re going to help with college projects, and they’re At the end of each semester, students will have going to help with work,” Shannon Auten, guidance the option to take a standard CTE EOC or one of the counselor, said. “It’s all stuff you’re going to need in your certification exams that will allow them earn either a future, so it’s where a lot of times we hear students say, Microsoft Office Specialist or a Microsoft Office Expert ‘Oh, I’ll never need this again.’ Well, this is something certification. Students can take the certification exams you will need again. Technology keeps improving so the until they pass free of charge. more you can know about technology and computers, “Anytime you could get a Microsoft Office the better off you will be.” certification, that’s something you put on your resumes The classes will have a curriculum similar to the and college applications. That makes you marketable original Computer Applications I course, but it will be in the business industry immediately,” Price said. “Any taught using online videos. The teachers, who will earn certification you get, particularly in computer software their certifications in IT Academy over the summer, nowadays, is a huge help for you because prospective
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Mariah Case Feature Editor
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• Key Club and Student Government Association members will be leading a campus clean up on May 28. All students are encouraged to help.
Wake Up Call
• New inductees to the 2011 Quill and Scroll Honor Roll include juniors Alisha Carland, Amy Bennett, Ashley Heywood, Bethany Grayson, Brad Baker, Catherine Swift, Emily Albea, Jenna Duckett, Jenny Archis, Kara Miller, Kennedy Galloway, Kristina Anderson, Michael Turlington, Natalie Rice, Rachel Farmer, Samantha Sherlin, Savannah Ray, and Taylor Young.
Photo by Heidi Brickhouse
• The freshman class SGA officers will be host the Hayley Hustle 5K fundraiser on May 21 at 9 a.m. on the West and Rugby campuses. Students are encouraged to pick up a registration form in the office or register at the race to participate.
In an mock car wreck assembly last week, junior Anna Decker stumbles out of the car with the help of firefighters. The mock crash was held for the student body during prom week to warn them about the dangers of driving while impaired.
Ortiz (cont. from
Photo by Chelsea Blanton
In Flight
wingspan • may 20, 2011
Computer Savvy Practicing her computer skills, sophomore Erin McGraw works in Jean Carr’s Computer Applications I class. The class will be replaced next year with the new Microsoft Information Technology Academy program. employers know that you already know something that they’re not going to have to spend extra money to train you when they hire you — that you come to them with a specialized knowledge that they need in their office.” Price said she foresees the state converting more programs to courses like IT Academy. “North Carolina’s children are one step closer to being guaranteed the best public education possible — something every child deserves. This grant will give us the resources to more aggressively implement our plan to ensure that all of our children graduate ready for a career, college or technical training,” Perdue said.
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argument to someone who was 3 years old,” Colgan said. “He’s a good citizen; he has great potential and super grades, and he’s a nice, respectful young man. I don’t see why we would not want Santiago to be one of our American citizens.” Spanish teacher Suzanne Perron assisted Ortiz with his fight to stay in America by circulating a petition to support his efforts to complete high school. For Perron, helping Ortiz was part of her idea of what makes a good teacher. Ortiz is an honor student and a captain on the wrestling team. “It wasn’t his choice to come here illegally. He left Mexico before he was even in kindergarten, and he just came because his family came,” Perron said. “I don’t really think it’s fair to have one black mark ruin the rest of his future, especially because from what I know, (his fight) wasn’t completely unprovoked. Santiago has the ability to get a four-year degree, if not more.” Misconceptions about illegal immigrants are common, Ortiz said. “There are people (immigrants) here that are working hard,” he said. “They are not here to take resources or to do what they want; they’re here to build a better future because this is a country that provides opportunity. They’re doing it for their families.” Ortiz said he feels like a citizen because he has spent the majority of his life in the United States. He did not realize he was an illegal immigrant until he was 11 years old. His first language was Spanish, and it wasn’t until he was 7 that he became fluent in English. “I remember having a really hard time communicating with other students because I didn’t know
English, but it was fun,” he said. “We were all just kids.” When Ortiz first realized he was in the country illegally, he realized keeping his secret would help prevent harassment and discrimination. Growing up in the United States, he has faced discrimination, including ethnic slurs and racist comments. “I knew English, so I knew what they said. What hurt me the most was anytime my dad needed help translating, and I’d be there,” Ortiz said. “It would bother me because I’d be the only one that knew English, and you could sense when someone was mocking him and they would try speaking slower. My parents didn’t know English, and they tried learning it, and when they’re getting poked at and made fun of, I knew that.” After he graduates and applies for a visa, Ortiz would like to return to attend Brevard College. Although the judge will only allow him one more semester to complete courses for his high school diploma, Ortiz said the support from his peers and teachers is what he will remember most about his struggle to stay in the United States. “I got a great deal of support; a lot of the teachers and students went out of their way, and I’m grateful for that. My parents have told me until the end, ‘Just keep going, keep going. Don’t give up.’” Ortiz said. “They (students and teachers) really got involved. They got the petition started and all of it helped. I received a lot of help and recognition, and people have gotten to know me through this. I guess they can reflect on how things are for different people because I’m sure Coach Colgan never thought he’d find himself helping out someone in my situation.”