After School Jobs Are Sometimes More Than Just Work

By Lily Reynolds

While some need to work to help out their parents, others work for the extra cash or to get a feel of real life. Students can work casual, part time, or full time in high school. Most high schoolers work casual or part-time due to school and extracurricular activities.

Casual is only required to work every other weekend, working full eight-hour shifts, but can pick up more hours. Part-time works about thirty hours a week, including a couple of weekend shifts, and full time is working forty or more hours a week.

“I picked this job because I knew I wanted to go for nursing and that was the first step to getting into nursing school,” said Taylar Pleumer. Taylar is a senior at Potosi High School and works casual at Lancaster Care Center as a CNA. She is required to work every other weekend because she was hired as casual.

As a CNA you take care of elders or rehab patients’ needs by washing them, dressing them or doing anything extra they ask. Getting your CNA requires taking tests online, then completing a written and skills test and passing them both before getting your certification.

Taylar said, “ You are more likely to work harder if your parents don't spoil you.” Her parents encouraged her to get a job because they wouldn't buy her things if she didn't absolutely need them. After being certified as a CNA, she learned there is more value than just money. “I enjoy my job because I like knowing I’m making a difference in other people's lives. It's such a great feeling because most high schoolers don't get that good feeling like you are helping someone.”

Jaydon Carbone, a senior at Potosi High School, works part time. “ I don’t need to work because my parents pay for my stuff,” so he does not work often.  He works at Holiday Gardens Event Center, working about four days a month. At his job, he cleans up the event center, washes dishes and sets up for big events. “ I don’t have the experience of having to manage [between] work, school, or sports.”

In my experience, working and going to school is stressful, but also a way to build some good skills for life. It has helped me realize how to manage my time and how to communicate. I really enjoy working and being in high school because it makes me feel like I'm getting ready for the future. I took work experience my Junior year knowing that I could leave school early to go to work. I now leave school at 2:50 pm and work till 8:00 pm during the week, and on the weekends I work 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm; this is called casual employment.

“I feel the need that people should work in high school,” says Taylar.  “It is an opportunity to get ready for your adulthood and gain responsibility.” It is frustrating because a lot of high schoolers get everything handed to them, and others have to go to bed late due to working.

Mr. Bockenhauer: The Man With the Shop Plan

By Elliot Haverland

It was the end of the first semester, and Potosi High School was in dire need of a new shop teacher. Hope was all but lost. Then a man by the name of Mr. Bockenhauer sent in an application for the position. He came in brimming with new ideas and changes needed to make the shop a better place to learn and have fun. His jolly and witty attitude brought a new atmosphere for the shop and for all of the students that enter the shop. Was he in a little over his head at first? Of course he was. “I always had a plan, but, like most things, plans change. I was never quite prepared for everything,” Bockenhauer stated. Bockenhauer’s first semester as a teacher at Potosi came to a successful close, and his first full school year is off to a great start. His ideas from last semester are still going full steam ahead, and he has even more changes to execute over the course of the school year.

Before he became a shop teacher, Bockenhauer saw himself as an Agricultural Education teacher, even going as far as pursuing his Masters and Doctorate degrees. With this goal in mind, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, majoring in Agricultural Education. However, after seeing the rest of the students who also majored in Ag. Ed., he dropped out of the program and changed his major to Animal Science. Four years later, he graduated from River Falls with his degree in Animal Science and soon began his teaching career at Blackhawk High School as the Tech Ed. Teacher.

The commute between his home near Platteville and Blackhawk was beginning to wear on Bockenhauer. It was a long trip to take every day, driving from Platteville to South Wayne for work. He mentioned his concerns at a Youth Apprenticeship meeting he attended in Fennimore and was overheard by Potosi’s Ag. Ed. teacher, Mrs. Brunton. Mrs. Brunton told Bockenhauer about Potosi’s recently open Tech Ed. position, which would shorten the commute that Bockenhauer had to exhaust himself with on a daily basis. That was something that Bockenhauer just couldn’t pass up.

The first trick to starting the job at Potosi was jumping in at the start of the second semester, which meant little prep time to get plans going in the shop. One of the biggest challenges Bockenhauer faced was how his ideas would be perceived by the community and the school. Many of the changes were basic, such upgrading the tools and getting new ones. Adding new classes and changing other classes were among the bigger changes he had in mind, including adding the core course like Mechanics, Metals, Structures, and Woods. From there, the classes would branch into more advanced disciplines, such as Engineering Design and Workplace Management. With the help of Mrs. Brunton, he was able to add these classes to the curriculum for the 2018-19 school year. “My goal is to give the students experience and teach them what they need to know, as well as teach them how to apply what they know.”

Bockenhauer tackled his first semester as best as he could, and he’s now glad that students are having fun in his classes. Building relationships with the students was one of his greatest fears when switching districts. “I’ve always been lousy at building relationships; it took me a good chunk of time to get to know the kids at Blackhawk, and now I get to do it all over again,” Bockenhauer noted. Despite his worries, he never had any issues with getting to know the students. In fact, there are even more students in the shop classes than last year. “I’m glad that the students are out in the shop having fun and excited about projects, I really am. I’m glad that everybody is happy to go and work in the shop.”

Mrs. Brunton thinks he did a fantastic job during his first semester. “He took on a very dirty and unorganized shop and turned it into a very clean workspace for everyone to use.” Mrs. Brunton helped Bockenhauer throughout the first semester to get used to how things worked at Potosi, helping him with the Skyward and Educlimber programs.

With one semester at Potosi under his belt, he was able to better prepare for a full school year over the summer. He built up the new courses and planned out projects for the whole school year. As well as getting his classes organized, he also became an Assistant FFA Advisor to help Mrs. Brunton run the Potosi FFA. Besides just helping organize FFA activities, he also helps Mrs. Brunton avoid being away with the FFA teams so frequently for events, and allows her to stay in the classroom more often. Brunton notes Bockenhauer’s progress in the shop as well, “He has a very good plan on what he wants to teach. He knows what equipment he has and what he can offer. The administration is really beginning to notice the changes and is planning to provide lots more funding from a referendum coming up this April to update things and get new equipment.”

Over the time that Bockenhauer has been at Potosi, he has taken a liking to the culture and the community. He developed fantastic relationships with the students, “You guys as students, you’re all great.” The administration and his coworkers were good to him, and he also likes the facilities and the shop. He especially likes that his shop still needs work. “I liked the fact that the shop needed a good chunk of work. That way I could make it the way I want it and I can make it so it fits the needs of the students. I can create a great atmosphere for working and make a good workspace.”

The impact that Mr. Bockenhauer has made at Potosi is immense. He took an old run-down shop and is turning it into a fantastic area to work on projects and teach students skills to use later in life. He showed off his intelligence and ability when he started teaching in the middle of a school year, and continues to show everyone what makes him such a good teacher. He is very knowledgeable about what he teaches and keeps his classes fun and entertaining for every student who walks in the door. He knows each student as a friend and shows interest in their hobbies and interests. He likes to joke around and keep people on their toes, making things exciting at the same time. He treats every student with the utmost respect and makes sure everyone understands the game plan before moving on to the next topic in class, and he doesn’t tolerate excuses. His ideas and changes are what have turned the shop into the fun environment it is today.

Technology Enhances the School Experience

By Jaydon Pfab

Chromebooks. You love them, I love them, they are very helpful for everyday learning. How much do they really help us learn though? Kids using their Chromebooks for watching football highlights and shopping for clothes is becoming a normal sight.  Walking around, I saw teachers and students using technology and asked them what they thought of the possible distractions. Have Chromebooks helped increase productivity or have they distracted the kids of Potosi High School?

The view of Mrs. Brunton is an interesting one. She believes that Chromebooks are the next wave of learning. Kids often have trouble paying attention, and the use of old technology doesn't help. Writing things down doesn’t keep most kids’ attention, and schools needed a way to integrate technology that kids are familiar with, while still keeping the theme of learning. Brunton feels that Chromebooks are a good mediator between the two. There are a large number of restrictions that can be placed on the Chromebooks, along with the ability to monitor actions that students make on them. With the combination of the ability to block certain dangerous websites and make available only educational ones, Chromebooks are the school’s best tools for learning. For Mrs. Brunton, this means a perfect tool for researching wildlife, and an online notebook for her students to take notes on. She has her students use Chromebooks to take notes because some kids have a hard time keeping up with writing the notes, but with kids’ involvement in technology these days, a keyboard is much more familiar for them. With the introduction of personal Chromebooks, classes have been able to take notes without having to ask the teacher to go back ten slides. Another thing Mrs. Brunton likes is the addition of Schoology for her online classes. The ability to put all of her assignments online for her distance learning students who don't go to Potosi is very handy. She can assign tests and quizzes online without having to go through another teacher at another school. Mrs. Brunton approves of the use of technology in the school and is excited to see the next step of technology in the learning environment.

Mr. Lynn sees technology similarly. He thinks that Chromebooks increase the quality of work and allow students to work faster. Mr. Lynn has noticed an increase of kids turning assignments in on time with the transition to Schoology. He says that teaching is easier not having to spend every second of his day chasing students and trying to get their late homework. “Kids always want an easy way,” Lynn said when asked why he thinks kids turn in homework more online. It is much easier to turn in a paper by clicking a button instead of walking 50 feet to turn the paper into a basket. He uses Chromebooks to teach as well. Kids use Chromebooks to take tests but can ask for a paper test if they prefer it. He makes his lesson plans online and has never done them on paper. It is much easier to access lesson plans that are online instead of taking a lesson plan book around with you that you can lose. Mr. Lynn also thinks that kids are lucky with the technology they have today and that they take it for granted. Kids have always had technology and think that they deserve it, when in reality, it is a privilege that can be taken away.

How do students feel about the use of technology in school? Jason Oyen says that Chromebooks, although useful, are also annoying. He says it is very handy not having to lug large textbooks around, and turning in homework is much easier knowing that he won't lose it. He said that he dislikes the fact that since he isn’t writing things down, it is harder for him to remember some topics. With access to most of the internet, it is hard to stay focused at all times, but Jason says that he doesn’t have much trouble with getting distracted. He likes the addition of Schoology and says it is a good way to sort all of his upcoming tests and assignments. The one major drawback, he says, is the fact of always having to have it charged and ready to go. “Teachers expect you to always have it ready to use but it is hard to remember to charge them at your house. Plus some teachers won’t let you charge them during class,” he said.

Elliot Haverland likes the personal Chromebooks as well, but brings his own laptop to have more personalization. He says that it is nice to just know that his Chromebook will be there if he ever needs it. Having internet in school doesn't distract him often he says, but gets really distracting when he tries to do homework other places, such as his house. Elliot says that Schoology, while handy, can be very confusing based on the teacher using it. He never had to worry about caring for the Chromebook because he would charge it once a week and it would last for that week. All around, Elliot thought that Chromebooks have only really helped with the learning around Potosi High.

As a general consensus, teachers and students alike seem to like the addition of Chromebooks in the school setting, as well as the addition of technology in general. They say it helps with productivity and, even though it can be distracting at times, it increases workflow in the long run. Most teachers said that they would rather the kids keep the Chromebooks and continue the work online.

Potosi Spanish Students Heading to Costa Rica

By Maggie Schmitz

Do you like traveling to exotic places? Do you like doing adventurous activities such as hiking up volcanoes, exploring rainforests, and scuba diving in the beautiful ocean? If the answer is yes, then you’re in luck! For the first time in Potosi High School history, students will have the opportunity to travel internationally and enjoy 10 days of paradise in Costa Rica.

Potosi High School has wanted to have an international travel opportunity available for students for a long time and the opportunity is finally here. It is difficult for a small school to travel internationally because of the small number of people combined with the high cost of international travel. This is why Lancaster had the idea to include Potosi on this summer’s trip to Costa Rica. To get the trip approved, the Potosi Spanish teacher, Laura Hartline, had to write a proposal and present it to the school board. Then she had to answer a long list of questions. The school board approved the trip without any arguments or trouble. Getting this trip approved and actually starting to make it a reality has been a big deal for Mrs. Hartline, as she has wanted to provide a Spanish trip to her students since she started teaching. She says, “I feel like to teach kids Spanish, but not give them an opportunity to use it in the real world, is not good enough.” Now that the trip is approved and underway Mrs.Hartline is more ecstatic than ever and can’t wait for the trip to be here. She says, “Personally I’d like to go to Costa Rica because I’ve never been there and I want to experience it with my students. I am also super excited to see sloths.”

Mrs. Hartline will be attending the trip as a chaperone along with the Lancaster Spanish teacher, Mr. Howard, the Lancaster biology teacher, and the Lancaster school nurse. Since Potosi will be going with Lancaster on the trip, Mrs. Hartline hopes to set up a day where Potosi students and Lancaster students can meet each other prior to the trip. “Going on a trip with random strangers is a little anxiety producing, but I am going to branch out of my comfort zone and work on meeting new people,” says one Potosi student planning to attend the trip. Many students probably feel this way, which is why Mrs. Hartline hopes to set up a day where students can meet each other so they are more comfortable when it comes time for the trip.

The trip participants will be flying out of the Chicago O’Hare airport on July 17th, and landing in San Jose, Costa Rica. They will return home on July 27th. While in Costa Rica, students will get to experience many adventurous activities like scuba diving in the ocean, hiking up volcanoes, ziplining through the rainforest, relaxing on the sandy beaches, and enjoying some city time where they can explore the different culture by shopping, trying new foods, and experiencing the different amenities offered in the city.

The trip will also consist of a service project of planting trees in the rainforest to help with the deforestation issue in Costa Rica. While on the trip, they will be moving around to explore the different cities in Costa Rica while staying in three- or four-star hotels for two nights in each different city.

When students hear about all of the exciting opportunities offered on this trip they often wonder if they can go too. Any student of Potosi high school in grades 10 through 12 is eligible to attend. Mrs.Hartline wants the students attending the trip to have had at least two years of Spanish. Although anyone is welcome, there is only room for 28 students to attend. If the number of students interested in coming surpasses 28, then the number of years of Spanish each student has had, and if they will have the opportunity to go another year, would be factored into deciding who to bring. Students will also have to pay the $3,000 fee for the trip. Though this seems like a lot, this will cover the cost of a 24/7 tour guide, hotels, plane tickets, activities, and two meals a day. If the students would like to purchase any additional food or souvenirs, they should bring extra spending money. To help students afford the trip, fundraising options will be available. Students have the option to sell salsa and Pampered Chef products, and other fundraising options are being set up too. Bake sales and other events will also be set up to help raise money to tip the tour guides while in Costa Rica. Since the trip was planned later than desired, some students are scared of the high cost and lack of time to fundraise and save. A student attending the trip says, “I plan to afford the trip by working my butt off. I am going to work a lot and put a reasonable amount of my paychecks toward this trip. I also plan to take every fundraising opportunity I can get.” All students will also need their own passport. A passport costs about $150 and can be set up by going to the courthouse in Lancaster and filling out a passport application form.

To prepare for the trip, Mrs.Hartline recommends that students who haven’t recently taken a Spanish class should brush up on some common words and phrases. She also suggests that the students learn about Costa Rica, and she says she will be having some meetings in the future to go over some information about the country.  When packing for the trip, be conscious that the weather in Costa Rica is very hot and humid. Since there will be no fancy outings, students should just pack comfortable everyday clothing that is appropriate for the weather and activities that they will be doing. A quality and comfortable pair of shoes is recommended, since a lot of walking and hiking will occur. The students should also check with their cell phone provider for an international cell phone plan if they would like to be able to use their device in Costa Rica. Otherwise, the hotels will have wifi, along with places in the city if students would like to contact your family and friends or if they would like to check up on social media accounts. Students should also do anything that they feel is necessary to prepare for this trip. One student says, “I will be going on lots of walks to get in shape and prepare for the long hikes.”

This trip will be a great opportunity to make memories, meet new people, and experience many fun adventures while in a different country. When returning home from Costa Rica, the students will get to talk about hiking up volcanoes, seeing cool animals, visiting the rainforest, swimming in the ocean, and how they experienced a new culture. So, instead of having to be jealous of what they got to do while you sat at home bored, come along and have some fun!

The Life of a Student CNA

By Taylar Pleumer

A frail, confused resident is lying peacefully in her bed as you enter her room. Your first task for the day, at six in the morning, is to give the resident a bath. She can't dress herself, she doesn´t understand what you’re saying, and she can't stand on her own. You’re tired; you had to wake up at five. You're hungry; you didn't have time for breakfast. And you're scared because you never know if your care will be the last one that she ever experiences.  

It is not uncommon for students to have a job during high school. Many of these jobs are working in food service or retail, which require little skill. However, imagine that you are at work and you aren't serving someone a plate or ringing up their purchase; there are no shortcuts or excuses. You are attending to residents’ every need up until their very last.  At Potosi High School, there are a handful of students that have reached out to make a difference in someone's life doing these duties as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Certainly, no job is easy; there are challenges that come in every work environment. As a CNA, the challenges that you come across can be life-threatening to the residents, and you are expected to know how to deal with every possible situation correctly.  CNAs are responsible for all needs: showering, feeding, dressing, positioning, and toileting the residents, especially those who cannot do so themselves. Many cannot, so they rely on you to take care of them. You hear many people say that they would never want to become a CNA because of the labor and duties they are responsible for.

There are many reasons someone would want to pursue this pathway. Potosi senior Evan Bloyer became a CNA because he wanted to make a difference in the world. He stated, “I knew that taking care of the elderly was a difficult job to do, but I was ready for the challenge. I felt that I needed to make a difference in the world.” There is a lot of hardship in this job but it is also very rewarding. Many high schoolers can't say that they make $13.00 per hour, which in fact is a reason why some students considered getting their certification. But the pay is not what keeps a CNA in the workplace. The emotions that the residents make you feel can be the most rewarding feeling you will ever experience. Lily Reynolds, another senior at Potosi, said, “The residents are the reason that I am here. The appreciation that they show to me while I’m caring for them is an unbelievable feeling. The residents become your family; you are taking care of a person when they are at their weakest. You become the reason that they live, and they become the reason why you want to continue to help everyone.” It makes your days better when you feel grateful that you have the opportunity to change a life.

The skills that a CNA has are acquired through intense coursework that is offered by many technical colleges. It is a college certification that you need to pass tests on. Senior Evan Bloyer said, “I found my coursework easier than a normal class. The part that was challenging for me was that I would have to read an enormous amount of chapters in a short period of time while being in school.” However, this is not the case for everyone. Senior Lily Reynolds stated, “The course was challenging. You are expected to have an assignment, take a quiz, read eight or more chapters, and take a test in less than a week. This is all while you have everything else in your life happening as well.”

The coursework teaches you how to execute all of your duties to the best of your ability. However, nothing will ever prepare you for the things you will experience on the job. The emotions can be very difficult to deal with, ranging from bad teamwork between co-workers to the death of a resident. Evan shared that the most challenging thing about his job was working with the coworkers that don't care about being there. “Honestly, if you are a CNA and you go to work not caring about the residents and feeling like it’s wasting your time, then you should not be a CNA,” he said.

It's approaching the end of your shift; you have taken care of all of your responsibilities. There is a resident that you have cared for since the day you got hired, and she´s declining more and more with every passing hour. She is scared, hurting, upset, and there is no family there for her. You crouch down by her bedside and grab her hand. You know that she is scared, so are you, but you can´t let your emotions show, you have to stay strong. You let her know that she has changed your life by making you a better person. She has taught you life lessons without her even realizing. She has taught you patience, responsibility, and has shown you that you have the power to make a difference. You say that everything will be okay, even though you know that it won’t. Her breathing gets heavy; you know that her last breath is approaching, and you squeeze her hand tighter. Her movements become calm. A tear rolls down your cheek; you just lost a part of your family. Nothing can compare to the emotions when a resident is on the last stretch of their journey.
A frail, confused resident is lying peacefully in their bed as you leave their room. You look down the hall and see all the residents' room lights off. You feel like you can take your first breath of the day. All of your responsibilities that you worked so hard to help are lying clean, safe, and peaceful in bed. You know that when you come back in the morning if one of them were to be gone, you could ease the pain by knowing that you gave the best care to them they could get. Certified Nursing Assistants are at the bottom of the nursing system, but we are the people who are with residents as they are facing death, and as they take their last breath. It is a hard, but meaningful and rewarding job.

Welcome to the New Chieftain News

By Mr. Fry

Welcome to Potosi High School's all-new online student newspaper.  The Journalism class, made up of juniors and seniors, will be publishing feature articles here all year.  Check in often to hear a unique perspective on all the news in our district with a strong human interest and storytelling angle for each story.  Feel free to leave comments on our articles to give us feedback or ideas for article topics you would like to read about.  Thanks for visiting, and enjoy the students' writing.