New 3D modeling course offered; graduation requirement reviewed

From an old man with bushy eyebrows to flying cars to a futuristic cityscape, students are having fun — and learning a thing or two — in Holyoke JR/SR High School’s new 3D modeling and animation course.

Teacher Kody Timm and five students presented to the Holyoke School District Board of Education at its regular meeting Tuesday evening, March 1.

With little to no prior experience with 3D models, the class was challenged to create a futuristic utopia where the main character is stuck in the past.

Eva Kramer explained how she designed an old man, complete with emotions, and Grace Whisenhunt described how she made a shack for him. Gage Sprague showed board members how he brought to life an old car in the 3D world, and Ethan Johnson and Kailar Hayes were on hand to demonstrate their ultramodern cityscape.

It was evident that the students not only used graphic design and art skills but also tons of math and science while working on their project.

“It’s been an awesome class we can add to our offering,” said Angie Powell, JR/SR high principal.

The skills they’ve learned have already been used for an FBLA presentation by a couple of the students, and others are considering pursuing this field once they graduate, like Gage Sprague, who will be attending college to study computer animation with dreams of working at a company like Disney or Pixar.

This class is just one way that Holyoke School District is providing a well-rounded education for its students, and that led perfectly into the next agenda item: a review of capstone and graduation requirements.

Powell reminded the board that the capstone is a culmination of a project that students will have worked on from seventh grade through their senior year.

The JR/SR high currently has a draft of a rubric that will eventually be used to grade the capstones of the Class of 2025 (this year’s freshmen). Before graduating, students will have to present to administrators and board members and be able to show evidence of their professionalism, perseverance, effective communication skills, career connectedness, and social and emotional competence.

Powell said the school is easing into the capstone project. Although they won’t be as long as the Class of 2025’s, this year’s seniors will still be making presentations before they graduate.

You aren’t going to see all the bells and whistles this year because it’s in the infant stage, she added, noting that in the future students will be doing practice presentations periodically so that they can build on it each time and have a refined presentation their senior year.

Powell asked for board members to volunteer to listen to the presentations and for feedback on the draft rubric.

“These kids have amazing stories to tell. They don’t know how to tell them,” said board member Jessica Cumming. “This will teach these skills.”

Potential dean of students positions discussed

Holyoke School District is in the beginning stages of brainstorming how to add one or two new positions, potentially called dean of students, student affairs interventionist or something similar.

These new positions could help the principals be able to better focus on evaluations and coaching teachers while also taking some of the burden off of other staff members who have filled in some areas that aren’t really in their job descriptions.

The board agreed that Superintendent Kyle Stumpf could begin drafts of job descriptions for the potential new positions but noted that the way they roll this out and present it will be important.

“We’re functioning well right now, so this is looking for ways to get better,” said board president Dusty Sprague.

Other business

In other business at the March 1 meeting, the board:

— Heard highlights from the Colorado Association of School Executives conference, including sessions about anxiety and teacher recruitment.

— Heard a positive report about the JR/SR high school lunch program, new menu options and two new employees in the warming kitchen.

— Approved the resignation of fourth grade teacher Melanie Wheeler.

— Approved Greg Koellner as an assistant junior high track coach for this spring.

— Approved contracts for elementary Principal Andrea Kammer and JR/SR high Principal Angie Powell for the 2022-23 school year.