District 196 /Apple Valley/ Area Learning Center THE ALC INSIDER Volume VI Issue 5 March 1, 2013 work on the landscape project by starting some of the plantings from seeds to later on transplant them with their indigenous inhabitants of the grounds. A Colorful Learning Ground By Eurya Webster When the weather heats up and spring finally arrives, anyone who drives by the Apple Valley Learning Center may notice a change in scenery. A piece of land adjacent to the front door has gotten the beginning of a makeover before the snow set in. Although subtle at first, it is one of the first steps towards brightening up our campus, and bringing the learning going on inside directly outside the front door. The landscape will also eventually cater to the wildlife that resides around the school grounds providing a place to observe nature at a close range. ALC students and staff helped propel the project forward from seed donations to manual labor involved in landscaping. After all the rocks were cleared and the ground was prepared, the seeds were dropped into place. This spring Matt's science block will continue to Continued → All the seeds in the flowerbed are native to Minnesota. Native plants are adapted to local climate condition; therefore, requiring less watering and fertilization. Another benefit of using native plants is they become a source of food and/or habitat for local wildlife. Some of the flora planted are Butterfly Weed (pictured above), Prairie Smoke, and Black-eyed Susans. This once drab looking rock bed will soon be a learning ground blooming with color. Volume VI Page 2 March 1, 2013 In the science block, taught by Matt students learned about energy efficiency. Learned some renewable energy sources and ways to conBy Eurya Webster serve energy, Students did a project where they People use a lot of en- built a model of a house competing for the ergy. Think about all the most energy efficient design. Students then things you use during a were able to take those skills and learning from day that runs on electric- school and utilize them in their home, making the world a greener place, one person at a time ity alone; your cell phone charger, room space heater, your televiBy Christine Kunser sion, and much more. In addition to the electricity you use at home, Minnesota Boxer Rescue many of the products the average person con(MNBR) is a widely known sumes requires energy to produce. Most of our volunteer organization that energy comes from fossil fuels such as oil, has saved hundreds of miss treated boxers in coal, and natural gas. When these things are burned to produce electricity, they release car- the U.S. This rescue was started by May Beckman, in 2007. bon in the form of carbon dioxide. Some people on Earth believe in global warm- MNBR has been known to save dogs from all ing: an increase in earth’s average temperature sorts of situations, though most are rather tragic from being abandoned, abused, and neglectthat causes climate change allegedly from ed. greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Carbon Big- Foot Print Whether you believe it in global warming or not, it is really important to take care of the planet we live on. Although MNBR mostly rescues the boxer breed, during transports to a foster family you will find many other breeds (even mixed) along the way. They will also take in mixed Some ways to reduce your carbon footprint is boxer breeds if need be. A few examples to manage your electricity use. Things that prowould be English bulldog/boxers, great-Dane/ duce heat such as space heaters require the boxers, and many more. most energy. Some other ways would be to Becoming a member of MNBR is very simple purchase fluorescent light bulbs, buy organic too! All you need to do is apply, then allow a and local, use public transportation, walk, or bike, and simply turn off lights and electronics volunteer to come and check to see if your house would be right to foster and or adopt if when you leave a room. need be. But, that’s for fostering you can also The youth of today are going are going to in- make contributions to this organization. habit the earth tomorrow. Therefore, youth I can tell you from my experience with this should practice ways to preserve the planet. organization that you will not regret joining Learn and reflect about your carbon footprint MNBR. It’s a fun and rewarding journey, and (the amount of carbon dioxide you emit which it is something I can promise you that you will is inevitable, but it is important to help the never forget. earth stay healthy longer. Volume VI Page 3 March 1, 2013 True Life: I’m an ALC Teacher By Brittini Filipek Ben’s Story: Ben started working at the Apple Valley ALC fifteen years ago. He planned on staying for five years. If he didn’t like teaching at ALC, he said he would change jobs. Obviously, Ben had come to love this school, but why? With all of the chaos, what keeps you here? The students he said. Ben also went on to explain how he enjoys the alternative setting of our school; he doesn’t feel he time, he has learned patience and understandcan relate to the mainstream style. ing is what’s needed for the students, so it’s not often he gets fed up with the students here. Ben’s average day starts with a long relatively quiet drive to work. Often when he’s driving to work he listens to the news. He teaches first hour orientation, which he likes because they’re quiet. Throughout the day Ben teaches different social studies classes. Then he goes home, talks to his wife, lets his dog out, eats dinner, and watches television until he falls asleep. On the weekends his favorite activities are going hiking with his wife, and relaxing with her as well. Besides beer crafting and blacksmithing at Fort Snelling, another hobby Ben enjoys is reading. Currently, Ben is reading the “Biography of Harry Truman.” When he was a bit younger he loved to sit in the back yard on a warm sunny day and read in his Speedo. After a nice relaxed weekend, Ben prepares for the daily journey back to the ALC. Does he ever get overwhelmed by the students here? At times, Ben explained. Since he has been at this school for such a long Everyone has their own life struggles. As a student Ben had a very hard time with high school. Being a kid, he didn’t like being told what to do and what was important. As an adult, watching his dad die from cancer was a really big struggle for him. His life quote is “What comes around, Goes around.” Ben’s words of wisdom to the students attending ALC, “Get this shiznit done because once you graduate, there are so many more opportunities.” RETESTING Wednesday, March 13 GRAD Math Retesting GRAD Reading Retesting • • • Get a good night’s sleep Get a good breakfast Get the job done! Volume VI Page 4 Chaos Walking Series Author: Patrick Ness By Danielle Voss Imagine a world where you can hear the thoughts of every man and animal, whether they want you to or not. Now, imagine if this was for every man and animal on the planet. Everywhere you go, you’re bombarded by a man’s thoughts, and the pictures he has in his thoughts. That’s what it’s like in Chaos Walking. Everyone can hear everyone’s thoughts. Well, except for women. But the last woman died years ago. separated, and both are put to work, Todd as a soldier and Viola as a healer. A terrorist group called The Answer is formed and attacks the main town with bombs, and in retaliation, the soldiers and president form a group called The Ask. From there, Todd and Viola fight to return to each other and take down both organizations. Monsters of Men is the final book and a huge war breaks out between the remaining humans verses the Spackle. The series is a great coming-of-age tale that many teenage boys in high school would enjoy, as would girls because it is high on female empowerment. If you enjoy science fiction stories, this is a book for you. Todd Hewitt is the last one in Prentisstown to become a man. Men are not allowed to talk with boys, and so Todd Hewitt is alone with the only company as his dog. The days are spent doing chores and ticking down the days until he is officially a man. But one day, he comes across something in the swamp. Something that is most definitely not a man or animal, or even a Spackle, the native creatures of the world. It is a girl. A girl Todd’s age. Thus starts the adventure of Todd, and a war in which he will play a big part. The first book is called The Knife of Never Letting Go, and it starts off the whole series. It follows Todd, the girl named Viola, and his dog, and their fight to get to a town to contact Viola’s ship, which is bringing around 6,000 settlers to the world. From there, everything goes downhill, even though things are already terrible in the first book. The Ask and the Answer is the second book in the trilogy, and is about what happens after the first bout of war. Todd and Viola are March 1, 2013 March Enrichment Week Monday-Friday March 18-22 • • • • • Lisa Mc—Technology Fun Tyler—Computer Coding Mark—Social Studies Adventures Val—Recreation & Leisure Skills Cheryl—ALC Academy: Your Choice Adventures Volume VI Page 5 TYLER ZIMMERMAN By Danielle Voss During January, I had the privilege to sit down with Tyler Zimmerman, our science teacher. Here’s a chance for you to get to know Tyler a little better: Tyler has taught at the ALC for five years this year. Before he taught at the ALC, Tyler taught English in Japan, and taught seventh and eighth graders at Black Hawk Middle School for eight years. During his first two years at the ALC, Tyler also taught at the Apple Valley High School. Tyler first decided to teach because he wanted to help people, but didn’t feel like he could handle the emotional stress of being a doctor. “Oh ,if I’d have known the stresses of being a teacher,” Tyler remarked. He decided to teach at the ALC because the students here are more interesting than the students at mainstream high schools. Outside of school, Tyler likes to spend time with his family. His favorite activity to do with his family is go for walks in forests and on trails. He likes to cook, work out, play sports, and dance. His favorite types of books is non-fiction as well as picture books. The top five T.V. shows that Tyler recommends are, Elementary, House, White Collar, Burn Notice, and Cougar Town. March 1, 2013 he was not at all popular and was bullied quite a bit. Tyler dealt with the bullies by having a small group of friends, and he didn’t pay the bullies any mind. When he graduated, he cut off al contact with them. For the graduates of this term, Tyler’s advice is, “Don’t be afraid to fail at your dreams. Be afraid of not trying to attempt them. Never let an opportunity pass you by because you never know where that will lead.” When I asked for any words of wisdom, Tyler responded, “Oh, I don’t think I can help you there.” Spring tory S t r o Sh ntest o C g Writin $25.00 : e z i r P sion ubmis ng s in Winni lished b u p e will b of the e u s s I ril the Ap sider ALC In arch 15 M , y a d ne: Fri tails. Deadli for de th See Be Volume VI Page 6 March 1, 2013 Editorial E-CIGARETTES: AN ALC ALTERNATIVE? By D.B. Blake Anderson: Semifinalist in Dream Speech Art How many people smoke at the ALC, 70-80 percent? How many students have gotten a loitering because they needed a smoke, or just left all together to have a cigarette? A few even have been suspended for smoking in the bathrooms? The ALC’s motto is helping students get to success. How are we ever going to succeed when students leave or get a loitering and lose our whole day, maybe even two, or even get suspended for smoking? Blake Anderson, a senior at the Area Learning The ALC has students from ages 14-21. Half Center, was one of only nine high school stu- the kids allowed to go here are of legal age to dents in the Twin Cities to be named a semifi- smoke. Okay, school districts prohibit smoking on the property, and the nalist in the Dream@ 50 Art Contest that was surrounding businesses held in 10 U.S. cities late last year and earlier don’t want the smoking this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary on theirs, but there is of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” something that the disspeech. trict isn’t paying attention His 18 x 24 acrylic painting titled "Faceless to. Dreamer" was part of a class project organized The E-Cigarette doesn’t harm the environment by ALC Art Teacher Bette Poukey. Students around it, no bad cigarette smell, only water read King's speech to- vapor, nicotine, and a choice of flavoring. How could that be so harmful? If the E-cigarette was gether; identified key words, phrases and ide- allowed in school: how many more students would pass? Stop dreading coming to school as, then were asked to visually represent those and the five hours and 15 minutes they’re here? Stop leaving half way through because concepts in a piece of they want a smoke? artwork. The E-cigarette is allowed on planes, in restauAfter graduation this spring, Blake will be atrants, in hospitals, in malls, why not in our tending Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He was awarded one of the college’s top school? The difference in passing rates and scholarship for his artistic ability and applica- attendance would surprise you. Hopefully tion . sometime in the future, if we’re allowed to smoke e-cigarettes, you can an improvement in Congratulations Blake! others or in yourself.