Potters Fire up!
Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in Academics
John F. Kennedy is one of the only schools in Montgomery County that is fortunate enough to have an open air raku kiln. Blair High School students recently joined Art Resource teacher Andrea Carroll and Kennedy student potters to work on this specialized glazing technique.
Junior Thea LaFond said, “It was very interesting to see their ideas when it came to art work and it was a new learning experience working with artists at or above my level.”
This type of firing is better than using the regular kiln because it starves the ceramics of oxygen and this anchors the texture and color of the art pieces. When removed from the kiln as seen in the attached video, it is important to put out the fire quickly and this is done with the can lids. The ceramics pieces have a sheen to them that regular burn kiln pieces do not. Although it looks dangerous, it was well-controlled and orchestrated by the teachers and students.
While firing the kiln, the student artists had fun roasting marshmallows.
“Ubuntu” focus of Medical Careers
Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in Academics
by Saul Rubin
In the Medical Careers Room (Room 113) at Kennedy High School, you will find students that belong to a special program called Medical Careers where students train under Ms. Barbara Marchwicki for their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Licenses. From day one they have learned many different aspects of patient care including how to take vital signs, changing patients’ briefs, and oral care. But a major part of the program is bedside manner and empathy for the patient. Ms. Marchwicki has instituted a new focus, or theme, of the course called Ubuntu which teaches respect, helpfulness, sharing, community, and trust.
The Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela explained Ubuntu in the following video.
So what does Ubuntu have to do with getting a CNA license? Marchwicki stresses that good patient care is very similar to the concepts of Ubuntu and they will be assessing how it improves the program.
Ninety-six sink below standard
Posted on 04. Dec, 2009 by joannagreer in Academics
By Alicia Hall, Senior
When the first quarter grades were distributed on November 11, 96 freshmen were disappointed by barely missing eligibility status which requires a 2.0 grade point average.
Lack of focus, courses that are too demanding, time management problems, and trouble transitioning from middle school to high school are some of the reasons cited by Assistant Principal Dirk Cauley for the failures.
The administration’s first step in addressing the situation was sending letters home to each of the identified students’ parents. With parental knowledge and consent further actions were put in place that includes mandatory Lunch & Learn sessions on Monday and Wednesdays, and mandatory study halls on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 2:20 – 3:20 p.m. Advanced placement and honors students were recruited to tutor the freshmen in the study halls.
Class change in the halls
If a student misses any of the mandatory Lunch & Learn sessions or study halls, they will be taken out of their class in the period before lunch, get an early lunch and be escorted to study hall. When this happens their parents will be notified.
About 70 students showed up for the first study hall on November 19th. “They seemed excited to be doing their work,” said Mr. Cauley. He added that these actions will be effective if the students participate.
Although some of these students have important after-school obligations, the hope is that the actions taken by the administration and supportive parents will be successful. The end goal is total eligibility for the whole student body.
