What’s recently happened?
On March 4, selected La Porte High School (LPHS) students traveled over to the middle school to give presentations on their specific Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.
CTE refers to educational programs that are designed to prepare students for specific career paths or occupations. It is a hands-on academic education that prepares students for new opportunities, career exploration, and workforce readiness.
“These programs emphasize the practical application of academic skills and provide hands-on training in various trades, industries, and professions,” Program Director Jennifer Goss said.
High school students were hand picked by teachers to be CTE ambassadors. These students had to make a poster for their designated pathway. On top of that, students were allowed to bring models, props, or anything that would influence eighth graders towards their program. For example, the Biomedical Science pathway brought sheep brains and cow eyeballs that students could interact with.
“Being a CTE ambassador was a great way for me to practice public speaking, and I had an amazing time doing it. It felt really good to know that my teachers recognized my efforts during class and chose me to represent the program,” Biomedical Science Ambassador Logan Higley said.
The eighth grade students were brought down in sections and were required to visit a minimum of 10 stations with a signature from each.
The CTE ambassador programs represented were as follows: Agriculture Mechanical and Engineering, Agriscience - Animal Science, Agriculture Natural Resources, Business Administration, Marketing and Sales, Entrepreneurship, IT & Cybersecurity, Digital Design, Engineering, Construction, Welding, Education Careers, Culinary Arts, Human Services, Biomedical Sciences, Pre-Nursing, and Radio/Television.
What’s coming up?
The La Porte Community School Corporation has decided to do virtual learning on April 8. April 8 is a special day for all because a rare solar eclipse is happening. Depending on where someone is, the hours of the eclipse will be between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., which happens to be around the time when school gets out. Looking up into the sky during a solar eclipse can permanently damage the retina of the eye, so to ensure safety of all personnel, LPCSC has switched to virtual learning.
Virtual learning takes place on Zoom from the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Students will have 20 minute classes with a five minute break in between each class. Students will be expected to attend their online classes and submit any corresponding work.
Staff spotlight:
Health Science Program Teacher Tabitha Hughes is a special person to all of LPHS. The programs she teaches consist of Principles of Healthcare, Medical Terminology, and Certified Nursing Assistant. Next year, she will take on another class in the program that furthers certifications through work-based learning.
“The goal of my program is to give students insight into future health professions, so they can make an informed decision about their futures,” Hughes said.
Hughes attended college at Indiana University South Bend, where she majored in nursing and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in the field in 2008. She then received her workplace specialist license from Ball State University in 2014, which granted her the opportunity to teach the Health Science courses.
Although Hughes attended college for nursing, she was always torn between becoming a nurse or a teacher. She was the school nurse at Pine Elementary School in the Michigan City Area Schools in 2012. The next year she was approached by Audra Peterson, then the director of Career and Technical Education at A.K. Smith Career and Technical Education Center, with the opportunity to become a teacher for their health sciences program.
“After accepting this position, I found my love and passion for teaching students about future health professionals. My students have changed my outlook on life by keeping me young and up with the trends. Although I am the teacher, I learn as much from my students everyday as they learn from me,” Hughes said.
On top of teaching, Hughes is the leader of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). HOSA is a healthcare program that connects students wanting to pursue careers in healthcare through leadership, communication, and collaboration.
Through HOSA and the health science program, Hughes is able to help host four blood drives at LPHS.
“The purpose of these blood drives is for my students to see how this blood collection is done, while also giving other students at LPHS the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by donating blood,” Hughes said.
In her freetime, she likes to spend time with her family, read, and watch TV. Some of her favorite shows are “Bridgerton,” “Supernatural,” “The 100,” and “Gilmore Girls.” Additionally, some of her favorite authors are Allen Eskins, Julia Quinn, and Riley Sager.
Hughes also loves to attend her son’s bowling league every Saturday morning and is always looking forward to her daily phone calls from her daughter who is attending Ball State University.
Student spotlight:
LPHS Senior Jenna Vines is on to incredible things after high school. Vines has recently been accepted into the Division 1 Dance Team at Ball State University where she will be majoring in and obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance. After college, she plans on dancing professionally as a commercial dancer or for a company.
Dance is a prevalent part of Vines’ life. She has learned more about herself, life lessons, and how to push through hard times.
“Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of dancing with the music a little too loud in a completely dark studio just to let your feelings out, feeling the music through your body rather than just listening to it. It is a chance to let go but also to discipline yourself when needed. It is hours and hours of hard work inside and outside of the studio every week, but it is all up to you to put in that work. To me, the outcome is beyond worth it,” Vines said.
By taking this big leap into the unknown, Vines is able to follow her dreams. She is excited to be surrounded by people who have the same passion and goals as her. Vines is slightly nervous about the distance but knows her family is always a call away.
Vines has had a very supportive family. Everyone always cheers her on and tells her to do what she loves because they see the passion and potential in her.
“I honestly wouldn’t be dancing if it weren’t for them. To this day, a car ride with my brother will never be absent of a motivational speech of him telling me to do what I love and not let anybody tell me otherwise,” Vines said.
A perfect day to Vines includes sleeping in a little bit and then having a family day with her girlfriend tagging along. She would hope to have a few hours at the studio and come home to watch a movie with her mom and grandma. Though, as long as she is with them, it doesn’t matter what they do.
Dancing takes up a majority of Vines’ time but when she does have free time she loves doing sudoku puzzles, solving rubik's cubes, word searches, legos, and overall just relaxing.