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!

When school started last August, few students had a clear idea of what they wanted to explore. Many students couldn’t narrow down their dreams into manageable steps. Many, still, struggle with the process of how to create something from scratch.

In fact, we’re still hearing a lot of whining. Choosing what you want to learn, and then figuring out how to go about it, isn’t easy!

Some students have hit roadblocks. They’ve dreamed too big. Their ideas are so big they have to pare them down. It’s trial and error, learning from mistakes and then continuing.

A few freshmen, for example, joined together with the idea of turning the PAHS football field into a combined gopher-free, soccer/football field. They couldn’t find a mentor; so, instead, they decided to learn to write grants to pay for soccer equipment!

This column focuses a few of the 20-plus community mentors and 14 PAHS teachers who are working with students, some one-on-one and some with groups, each sharing expertise and helping to answer many of the questions our students ask.

Senior, Ashlynn Okubu,

Community mentor, Jacqueline Strock

Project: Research herbal preparations

Mentor: Jacqueline Strock is co-owner of Roots Herbal Apothecary in Point Arena. With 25-years of experience working with people and plants, she is teaching Ashlynn how to make her own herbal teas, tinctures, extracts, and salves, along with helping her research pathways to become an Ayurvedic doctor.

Next step: Make Fire Cider and herbal honey.

PAHS Senior Leif Rasmusen

Student: Senior, Leif Rasmusen

Project: Record a complete music album with limited resources

Mentor: Jake Stillman is the owner operator of Stillman Sound and Wilson Street Records in Petaluma. He is an audio engineer specializing in music production, recording and mastering.

Next step: Find second-hand microphones.

Freshmen, Erick Torres, Cesar Coria

Students: Erick Torres, Cesar Coria

Project: Develop a map of Point Arena using the Minecraft.edu computer program

Mentor: John Miller, creator of the educational version of Mindcraft, is a middle school teacher in King City, California. He’s also the co-author of the Unofficial Minecraft Lab for Kids and contributing author of Minecraft in the Classroom by Peachpit Press. He works with Erick and Cesar through email, answering their questions.

Next Step: Build more streets.

PAHS — Freshmen Addy Sanders, Jaimie Santilla, Community mentor, Mark Stillman, Freshmen, Natalie Bolanos, Gabby Zamorra - 1.jpg

Photo: Freshmen Addy Sanders, Jaimie Santilla, Community mentor, Mark Stillman, Freshmen, Natalie Bolanos, Gabby Zamorra.

Project: Rebuild a garden table and research annual flowers

Mentor: Mark Stillman, a land developer who has been part of the community for almost 40 years, is teaching these students the use of electric power tools and how to finish and preserve wood.

Next step: Build a planter box to stand outside PAHS’s Room 8, the agriculture classroom.

Freshmen, Erick Torres, Cesar Coria

Project: Develop a map of Point Arena using the Minecraft.edu computer program

Cesar has built small towns with Minecraft, and Erik has built structures with Lego’s. This larger project, when finished, may be uploaded to a public site. “Not the regular way to get a grade,” said Cesar.

Mentor: John Miller, creator of the educational version of Mindcraft; referred by PAHS teacher Thomas Cee (their NTN advisor)

Next step: Find a second computer

Senior, Frank Terlouw, Community mentor, Bill Stokem, Senior, James Ritchie

(not shown: Senior Shawn VanCleave)

Project: Design and build a go-cart from salvaged parts

Mentor: Bill Stokem, retired metalworker, PAHS Maintenance Manager, and current Bass player for AMPAGE, is teaching his student group how to draw to scale, fabricate metal parts, and weld.

Next Step: Fabrication of a new motor mount, based on James’ design. The team will use machine tools, including a drill press, to make the motor mount flexible enough to adjust for motor tension. Also, they need a donated seat because, without the seat, they can’t determine which frame members are needed.

PAHS — Freshmen Jesus Lara, Alex Ramirez, PAHS teacher, Thomas Cee - 1.jpg

Photo: Freshmen Jesus Lara, Alex Ramirez, PAHS teacher, Thomas Cee

Project: Learn to play the guitar

Mentor: Thomas Cee is PAHS’ Integrated Stem teacher. He has taught guitar for 20 years, including two years at Arroya Grande High School in Arroya, California and two years at Gonzales High School in Gonzalez, California. He’s teaching the basics to Jesus and Alex, including the G, C and D chords so they can play La Bamba, a Mexican folk song from Veracruz and one of rock and roll’s best-known songs.

Next Steps: Both students need to find picks. If you have an extra pick, please email Thomas at tcee@pauhs.org. For another project, Thomas could use a chessboard and pieces.

PAHS — Senior, Taylor Wood, Community mentor, Warren Galletti - 1.jpg

Photo: Senior, Taylor Wood, Community mentor, Warren Galletti

Project: Strength and conditioning

Mentor: Warren Galletti’s BA degree is in physical education. He has coached basketball and taught strength and conditioning for 22 years. He works weekly with Taylor to increase muscle mass and improve cardiovascular functions, along with heart and pulse rates.

Next Step: Help Taylor improve her volleyball spiking skills!