Holland Public Schools Close To Exceeding Snow Days

Snowy Holland New Tech 

by Alexa Harrington
Holland, Mich.--Due to the accumulation of snow and school cancellations, it is likely that the Holland Public Schools will have to make up for lost days. Holland has experienced severe weather that has caused the district to exceed the amount of snow days allowed.

During December, January, and February, Holland dealt with inches on top of inches of snow that still continues to fall. As a result, seven days of school have been cancelled because of weather. According to Paula DeRoos, assistant principal at VR Tech and New Tech, Holland Public Schools will have to extend the school year. Ms. DeRoos also explained why districts are required to extend school days. “According the the Michigan State Department of Education, to not receive financial sanctions, schools are directed to replace a half day with a full day. Schools are not to just spread the day out into minutes at the end of the day to replace the lost instructional time.”

West Ottawa is one school district in Holland that has already decided to extend the school calendar. According to the West Ottawa administration, June 6 and June 9 will become full days, while June 10 will become a half day. Considering the fact that West Ottawa has used eight snow days so far this year, changes had to be made to the school year.

In the meantime, the weather may create more school cancellations. More extensions to the school year may be necessary if the Holland Public Schools continue to cancel school days.

Holland New Tech: Full Of Love And Appreciation on Valentine's Day

by Jessika Perez and the HNT Daily Staff

Holland, Mich.--There was a lot going on at Holland New Tech Friday as Valentine’s Day brought gifts, balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, cards, and of course, candy.

Students shared what Valentine’s Day meant to them. “It means the day of love. I mean, it’s something where you just want to do something nice for somebody. I know everyone doesn’t see it like that, but it’s true,” said Emily Wernicke. 

Diego Macario, With Gifts

“(It's) a day where you can spend time with your loved ones,” Diego Macario shared.

On a different note, Johnessa Wise said, “It doesn't mean anything - just couples being together.” 

Abby Naylor-Tatterson suggested, “It means that you get to be nice to people and eat food.”

Some students shared their disappointments, such as not receiving any carnations or Valentine cards.

A number of students demonstrated appreciation for their loved ones, including teachers. Ms. Kasa, the GRCC professor who teaches English 102 to juniors and seniors, received a gift from Nicole DeMol. Sweets such as cupcakes and candy were given to other New Tech facilitators as well.

A Happy Emily Wernicke

A number of students shared their special plans. Emily Wernicke said, “My boyfriend has a plan, but he won’t tell me what it is yet.”

Emily is pictured here with gifts from her special someone.

Similar to Emily, Ms. Visser is going on a “surprise date” this evening. Diego Macario will be: “Going over to my girlfriend’s house.”  Izzy Garber said she intended to hang out with her friends and her boyfriend. 

Abby Naylor-Tatterson said she is going to the basketball game tonight. The game has a charitable focus, called "Keeping the Love Local." T-shirts that promote the much-anticipated rivalry game between Holland Christian and Holland High School have been on sale for over a week. Proceeds from the T-shirt sale benefit local charities Escape Ministries, hand2hand, Community Action House, and Heights of Hope. The game takes place at the Holland High School Dome at 7:00 PM tonight.

Senior Statistics Class Creates And Tests Out Dartboards for Probability Unit

By Jessika Perez
Holland, Mich.--Students in New Tech’s Statistics and Data Analysis class led by Ms. Sara DiMaria created dartboards for their probability unit. Students were given a cardboard box and instructed to create a dartboard. They were to design their own and calculate the probability of hitting each of the targets or sectors. “I chose dartboards because they bring the area of probability to life. They also allowed us to calculate theoretical and experimental probability in a fun way during class,” Ms. DiMaria said. 

Student Alexa Harrington shared what her group did to complete the project. “We used a cardboard box, and what you did was you took paper and we put it on top of the box. Then we drew a grid out on it. Then, after we got our dartboard planned out, we cut it out with a boxcutter and then added the rest of the internal design and then bam. Hoopla! It’s done.” 

When asked whether the project was successful, and if she understood the material (solving probability), Alexa said, “Yeah, definitely.”

Pictured at right is Vanessa Reyes and Shaniya Stevenson’s dartboard. 

“Each design was unique,” Laura Doumerc shared.

“We worked incredibly hard on the dartboard. It took us a very long time to do the math probabilities,” Vanessa Reyes said. After the dartboards were completed, the students played with the dartboards and kept track of where their darts hit. They used the collected data to calculate the probability of hitting each of their dartboard’s sectors.

Actual darts were used. When questioned about the safety of the project, Ms. DiMaria said, “We were all safe and responsible. I knew the group of students and they were mature enough to properly use the materials.” Ms. DiMaria plans on repeating this project with future classes. As to what she would change in the future, she said, “Students seemed to like creating the dartboards so I would like them to have better materials in the future. I would also like to add a few more twists to the project and hopefully hit more standards with it.”

Below are more dartboard projects created by other students.

The Martin Luther King Day Essay Contest

by Laura Doumerc

Holland, Mich.-- Recently the seniors and juniors of Holland New Tech wrote essay entries for a Martin Luther King Jr. essay writing contest. The essays were submitted on Monday, February 10, 2014 by Ms. DeYoung, the New Tech Capstone teacher. This small assignment was meant to improve the New Tech students’ writing, and to recognize Black History Month.

“Most [students] were not pleased to be taken away from their normal project work, but were excited to have the opportunity to win prizes,” Ms. DeYoung said. Her students were asked to write an essay based on this Martin Luther King Jr. quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

The essay had a limit of five hundred words. Students were also given a set of questions to answer. These questions asked them to explain what the quote meant to them, how they have given back to others, and why it is important to give back to others.

This contest was open for students in eighth through twelfth grade, but only the upperclassmen were required to submit an essay. The essay is going to be scored by assessing how well students addressed the quote and answer the questions. Of course, being that this is an essay contest, grammar and punctuation will be scored as well.

The essay winners will be recognized on February 17 at a Holland Public Schools Board meeting. The first place winner will be awarded a $100 Best Buy gift card, the two second place winners will each receive a $75 gift card, and the three third place winners will each get a $50 gift card.

New Tech students should expect more of these kinds of assignments in the future as more opportunities like this one become available.

Capstone At Holland New Tech

by Vanessa Reyes
Holland, Mich.-- The 2013-2014 seniors of Holland New Tech have been diligently working on their Capstone class this school year. It is Holland New Tech’s first year offering this class for seniors, as they are the first ever senior class to graduate from the school.

Capstone is a required class for students who attend New Tech. Students choose a project that is unique, and related to their career choice or career goals. The class is to be taken during students’ senior year of high school. Most of the time spent working on the project will be out of class. The project must answer a question, focus on an emerging trend, or solve an industry-based problem. Also, students must work with a community partner, so that they may guide them.Ms. DeYoung, a teacher at Holland New Tech who teaches the Capstone class, says, “Capstone is required because it represents a culminating experience and allows you to aggregate skills and knowledge, and do something more personal with it.”

She suggested that Capstone is an opportunity for the seniors to reflect on the skills that they have gained throughout their high school years. Furthermore, she says it gives the seniors, “an opportunity to design and execute specific projects related to their own passion.” Capstone is also a chance for them to show off their skills to community members. 

Capstone also focuses heavily on the college admissions process and financial aid process. The seniors work on college reading, writing, and presentation skills.

“The Capstone class has been a challenge for the seniors this year,” stated Ms. DeYoung. Laura Doumerc admitted she felt, “Nervous. Really nervous,”when she was asked about being one of the first students to take the class. Capstone is just a few months away from ending. Students are continually working on their projects and will showcase them in May. Projects will be shared with their community partners, as well as students and teachers at the school.

Forecast for 5/31/13

Friday: Mostly Cloudy, with a chance of showers and storms. Some storms may be severe, with damaging winds and large hail the primary threats. Heavy rain is also possible. High around 80.

Saturday: Showers and storms likely. Some storms may be severe, with damaging winds and large hail the primary threats. Heavy rain is also possible. Highs in the mid to upper-70s.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, with a slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the lower-60s.

Video Forecast for 5/30/13