Senior Career Readiness Day
Seniors in the Class of 2017 spent the day at Kent State Geauga on Nov. 11 participating in the third installment of the Career Readiness program sponsored and organized by Geauga Growth Partnership. Students learned about soft skills, participated in team building exercises and had their choice of small group mini-workshops to attend to learn more about college, finances, the business world and internships. Students wrapped up the day by learning about networking with LinkedIn and set up their own accounts to use as they leave high school and take the next step into their future.
The Geauga Growth Partnership provides the career readiness programming for free to Geauga high schools for students in tenth through twelfth grade as well as a robust internship program.
AC4P Workshop & Potluck
By student journalist Abby Carlson
AC4P, or Actively Caring for People, is a quickly growing program at Berkshire High School instilling values of kindness and respect in its group members. On Nov. 16, Shawn and his gang from Virginia Tech visited Berkshire High School, hosting a work session where club members, new and old, put their minds together to discover ways to make our community more respectful and understanding. Numerous positive ideas were formed, and plans were put into action regarding a Twitter account meant to inspire kindness and assemblies/meetings regarding bullying.
After the school day, Chardon and Berkshire AC4P met at Orchard Hills Farm to share a potluck, where games were played, Mannequin challenges perfected and bruises gained from the popular Andy challenge. The schools belted out throwback Disney sing-alongs, laughed about senior pranks and made new friends, all while discussing how they plan to better our world. AC4P looks forward to meeting again, both with Virginia Tech representatives and neighboring schools.
The Great American Smoke Out
On Nov. 17, students in Berkshire Junior-Senior High School participated in the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out. Students signed a pledge during lunch to remain smoke free and to encourage the smokers they know to quit smoking in order to improve their health. Quitting smoking, even for one day, can improve a person’s health and add to the longevity.
The annual event celebrated on the third Thursday of every November was organized by Berkshire’s Relay for Life Team headed by the senior leadership of Brea Pennypacker, Katie Dingman, Lauren Parrish, Samantha Kaser and Lexi McDermott and advisor Aimee Green. Look for more Relay for Life events throughout the year as they prepare for their culminating event in May.
Operation Christmas Shoebox
By student journalist Julia Losasso
Recently, Berkshire’s Spanish Honor Society completed Operation Christmas Shoebox, a school-wide fundraiser and service project. With the help of the entire student body, the honor society was able to package and donate over 60 shoeboxes filled with small donations of gifts and supplies to send overseas to children in need.
In years past, Spanish Honor Society has taken part in this national fundraiser, but never to this extent. This service project is one of the largest they will complete as a society. Students were asked to bring in donations to each of their first period classes, the incentive being a donut party for the class who donated the most.
The overwhelming amount of support and donations contributed by the entirety of Berkshire made it possible for Spanish Honor Society to make such a substantial contribution to our global community, as well as a local donation to Geauga Job and Family Services.
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Junior Casey Sinkenbring signs the Great American Smoke Out pledge.
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Berkshire members of AC4P gather to team build, brainstorm and solidify goals.
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Berkshire seniors Jacob Turk, Gabe Orlowski, Audrey Walsh and Denise Peterson work together to build a paper tower in a team building exercise.