Category Archives: Student Opportunities

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Kindergarten Buddies!

Mrs. Jones’ Psychology class has incorporated a buddy system with our kindergarten here at Beaver Local. Each student got to pick 1-3 buddies after meeting the class we would be visiting every week. Every Friday, the Psychology class trips down to the kindergarten wing of the school to visit their assigned buddies. Some days we get to just hang out and play around with our buddies and other days we have a specified activity to partake in with them.
My buddy’s name is Katie. She is the sweetest most energetic little girl I have ever met. She really likes drawing pictures of us and playing hide and seek. The first couple of trips down, she couldn’t quite remember my name. After quizzing her a couple times she got it down. Over the short period of time that I have known Katie, a strong bond has grown between us. She jumps with joy the moment she sees me, I suppose the child inside me does too. Whenever the day ends and it’s time for us to leave, Katie latches on to my leg and refuses to let me go. It’s the cutest thing. Eventually, she stands up and gives me the biggest hug I’ve probably ever gotten. She says goodbye and then we do it all again the following week.
In psychology, we’ve learned about how memories and our upbringing shapes us as people. Is our behavior guided by experiences inside of us? A task we were given was to get our buddies to tell us a memory or memories they have. Doing so, we learned a little bit about them and in turn, we got to share our memories too.
We currently are learning about conformity and obedience. Conformity is how people comply with standards, rules, and laws. Obedience is compliance with an order or request to another’s authority. These two ways of thinking are displayed all throughout the kindergarten classroom. Buddies consider us high school students authoritative to them. They obey and comply with almost everything we say. The children also conform to each other. When one child sees another doing something, that child wants to conform and do the same.
I think this mini program for the class is a great idea. It leaves a great impact on the kids and on the high school students. We get to see how the things we learn in class take place in real world situations. Going to visit our buddies is the highlight of my week, every week.

Beaver Local Equestrians

According to Bella Sweigard and Kiley Cook, students from Beaver Local High School, equestrians are people who “love and work with horses”. They also say you need to “be calm, patient, knowledge of how to ride, and have confidence” before hand. You also need to acquire, “balance, confidence, and strength.” The horse is an elegant creature, and with their rider they should have a partnership. With that partnership, both the horse and rider should learn as much as they can from each other. Yes, there is hard work involved, but it can be enjoyable and pass time. As you and your horse are progressing you need to learn and master all the gaits. That way, your horse and you can be confident. The four main gaits, or paces, are walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Different horses have different gaits in between this gaits. With these gaits you can do sports like dressage, vaulting, polo, horseball, polocrosse, hunting, show jumping and race riding. As you’re practicing, you need to be prepared for the take off!

Now, there are different types of equipment for the horse and the rider. Depending on what sport you do, both the rider and the horse needs different equipment. For example, if your horse has as an overreach you need to get overreach boots or bell boots. If your horse has some behavior issue, you might need corrective equipment. For the rider, each sport has different equipment for the riders safety. The helmet is probably the most important, because if the horse does something unpredictable, and you fall, your head will be safe. Whips and spurs are used as a reinforcement when the horse is not responding to you. They can also be there just for looks or because it is traditional. However, there is different tack equipment. There is a saddle, girth, cinches, surcingles, breastplate, cruppers, stirrups, bits, and bridles. Each one plays a different part. You need to make sure the bit is
comfortable for the horse.

 

In Beaver Local we have sports like soccer, football, volleyball, and many other things. Bella Sweigard and Kiley Cook, freshmen at Beaver Local, if horseback riding is a sport. They said “ Yes, horseback riding is a sport, but sadly, not many people think of it as a sport.” They also think that is should be a sport here at Beaver Local, because other big schools have this option. Not a lot of people think of horseback riding as a sport. Many people think this because they think that the horse does all of the work. What they fail to realize is, that there is more work that the human does than the horse. In fact, most people think it is easy! Bella and Kiley say “No, it’s not easy.” and “Those people don’t know what they are talking about!” Yes, the horse has to listen to the rider, but the rider is responsible for the horse’s actions. Training takes days, maybe weeks at a time. Training or practicing is involved with every sport. Just like you have to be in good health and good physical shape. Horseback Riding involves these things according to Kiley Cook. In other sports, you have to have some sort of protective gear. That way, no one gets hurt, serious injuries, or potentially killed. When training a horse, it can get pretty dangerous very quickly. The horse is an unpredictable creature. Something could go wrong in an instant, just like any other sport. Despite not have an equine sport at Beaver Local, it might put those students who have a passion in their after school activities in a sport.

Interviewed: Bella Sweigard & Kiley Cook
Bibliography: Complete Book Of Horses And Riding By: Judith Draper, Debby Sly, & Sarah Muir

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Sophomores Attend CCCTC

On January 24th and 25th, the Beaver Local sophomores attended the Columbiana County Career & Technical Center. They got to tour and interact with the students and staff, learning about all of the wonderful options provided at the Career Center. The sophomores got to experience the different career-based-classes they offer, such as Cosmetology, Welding, and Culinary programs, while also getting to eat lunch with the senior students who attend CCCTC.

These Sophomores listen to Mr. Williams in the cafeteria, anxiously waiting to view their next session.

 

The Career Center offers many opportunities for students to get a head start on their careers and graduate with not only a high school diploma, but also credentials in Auto-Collision Repair, Welding, Construction, Healthcare, and plenty more. In addition to getting a head start, you also get to meet new people from the other nine high schools that send students to the Career Center. These schools include: Beaver Local, Lisbon, East Palestine, Columbiana, Southern Local, Wellsville, Crestview, Leetonia, and United Local.

The wrestlers pose with their coach. Pictured from the left (Garrett Morris, Andrew Solansky, Mr. Williams, Jared Wright, and Beau Smith)

 

Mr. Williams, the principal at the Career Center, and our head coach of the Wrestling program is posing with his wrestlers, giving everyone the positive message of, “Choices.” Mr Williams states, “CHOICES, was set up to remind our wrestlers that they control their future and determine their success with the choices they make.” He gives out his message to not only his wrestlers, but all of the students at Beaver Local and the CCCTC. Mr. Williams used to be Beaver Locals Assistant Principal, but now holds the Principal position at the Columbiana County Career Center. Even though he does not work for the school anymore, he still gives the students here at Beaver Local encouragement and positive messages.

Kobi Ream is smiling as he is lifted up at the Health Care Lab.

 

The Sophomores had a great time spending the day at the Career Center, one of the favorites was the Culinary lab. Addison Guildoo said “Getting to ice a cookie, was the highlight of my day.” Also, Elaina Howell stated, “Getting to watch them cook food was really exciting!” Another favorite from the Sophomores was the Cosmetology lab. Madison Newlun said, “Receiving a hand massage was so relaxing.” Lastly, Kobi Ream said, “I enjoyed it because they actually treat you like an adult there, and you’re still having fun!” The Career Center really seems to understand that students who learn in a hands-on atmosphere are students who are ready for their future.

The Sophomores take a break and eat lunch with the Seniors. Pictured from left (Chase Valentine(Senior), Kyra Lee Mccune, Hannah Virden, Kassandra Rogers, Emma Palmer, Madison Rice, and Liz Uram(Senior))

 

If you want to attend the Career Center, you must be a Junior or Senior. In addition, you must be meeting the graduation requirements at your high school. You get the option to attend the Career Center either a half day, or a full day. Or of course, not go at all. Make sure you’re fulfilling all the requirements if you plan to start your career and attend the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center. If you are unsure of the requirements, visit our high school guidance office in the freshman pod!