NTN Projects Nearing Completion
Imagine you’re a high school student with a full class load. Your school gives you 70 minutes, every afternoon except Wednesday, to explore a topic you’re interested in. What would you choose?
That’s the opportunity provided by PAHS’s project-based learning plan — the core of the NTN model. All 124 PAHS students have chosen a project to work on. For the first time, students can say, “This is what I chose to learn!”
By December 20, at the end of the semester, the first phase of their projects will be complete. All students will have written a multi-page, project description, and all will have given a presentation about their projects to peers and teachers. Principal Marty Wilkes is reserving auditorium time now. Come watch!
“This is their first crack at it, a debut,” said Howard Cole, PAHS Computer Science teacher. “Students are learning a process. They’re learning how to get there.”
“They’re working out some of the kinks,” said PAHS Principal, Marty Wilkes. They’re wrapping up student reports and working on presentations due by December 22. Students don’t have to finish their project, as long as long as they complete the report.”
For PAHS seniors, this semester marks the first — and last time — they will be required to work on an NTN project, while freshmen through juniors will complete at least one NTN project every year until the second semester of their senior year. Here are highlights of a few exciting projects.
Senior, Dylan Freebairn-Smith
Project: Refinish a surfboard.
Dylan cut, shaped, painted and glassed his board, including glazing in three fins boxes. “He did al the work. I just showed him what to do,” said Mark Mason, Dylan’s NTN mentor and his triathlon coach.
Senior, Loden Haught
Project: Learn conversational French. Loden wanted to learn conversational French because, as a member of the PAHS Triathlon team, he will be heading to Paris in September 2020. In class, he’s learning on-line with Babbel.com and Duolingo.com. Twice a month he visits with his mentor, Jill Hunter, of Philo.
Senior Luis Davila
Project: Create & monitor a walking journal.
Luis developed a bar graph to monitor total and average miles walked per day and month. He averages almost five miles daily on his afterschool walks around Point Arena. Possible next step: Begin a photo album of the photographs he takes on walks
Junior, Briana Mondragon, and (freshman) Avery Spangler
Project: Make a plan to revamp the PAHS softball field . Both are on the PAHS softball team, which begins play early next year. They wanted to improve the gopher-infested softball field, so they researched the costs—approximately $15,000, but much less with grants and donated labor—and they developed plans to improve the field, including time estimates of two to four months, depending on whether part or all improvements are made. Possible next step: Propose the idea to the PAHS sports director.
Junior, Alexis Mata
Project: Build a tree house. Alexis is working with his neighbor, Jaime Gaona, every other day after school, to build a 5’x10’ tree house. “I’ve learned I’m better at carpentry than I thought.” Next step: I’d like to try something new.
Sophomores, Eric Estrada, Brandon Huse
Project: Make a line of bass fishing lures. Both are members of the Lake County Fishing Club, which holds team tournaments for bass fishermen. They wanted to learn how to make a line of 15 fully assembled lures. Brandon used one of his lures during his last tournament at Clear Lake. It worked, and he got the bite, “but the fish dropped before I could get it in.” Possible next step: Make a fishing pole.
Sophomores, Antonio Ramirez Archuleta, Francisco Cobrerra
Project: Create and produce a movie. They completed a script and storyboard for a 45-minute movie titled "Shall Not Be Televised". The script is based on a future, apocalyptical American revolution, where the survivors of the revolution hide in the thick woods of Germany. Next step: Filming.
Sophomore, Kato Doughty
Project: Restore a ’79 Camero to working condition. Kato has learned to install spark-plugs, a carburetor, and a new motor in his car. His mentor is his uncle, a former mechanic. Next step: Paint his ’79 Camero.
Freshmen Australia Okubo, Ava Sexton
Project: Learn to play the ukulele. Australia wanted to learn to play a simple, but potentially challenging instrument. Ava wanted to learn to play the songs she wanted to sing. So far, they’ve mastered "The Judge" and "Over the Rainbow". Their mentor, Adrian Martin-Anderson, helps them both in person and through Facetime. Possible next step: Learn to sing.
Freshman, Cristo Zamora
Project: Learn to build picture frames. Cristo began the semester planning to build a table, but downsized to learn a few more skills first. He has learned to make frames with router bits, creating a dedicated rabbet for 1/8” glass. Next step: Learn tongue and groove to make wood siding.
Freshman, Elijah Fisher
Project: Learn chess. Born in Chicago, Elijah spent the last ten years in Tennessee. He had never played chess before. His mentor, PAHS Integrated STEM teacher Thomas Cee, has taught him bold attacks, how to build fortresses, and how to lay traps. Elijah’s nickname is now Bobby Fisher! Possible next step: Teach other students to play.
