By: Mira Zike, Social Media & Distribution Editor
Rave: Forensics
As an avid watcher of shows like Criminal Minds and Forensic Files, I was beyond excited when I heard that a forensics course would be offered. While it can count as a science credit, I am taking it as an elective alongside other science classes — it’s just that fun!
Melissa Kehl is the perfect teacher for the job. Her energy and excitement about everything we do makes it highly enjoyable.
Since it is a lab-based curriculum, it’s very hands-on, which means minimal lectures and notes and more time working together. In just the first few weeks of the semester, we have evaluated crime scenes and evidence, calculated time of death and learned about some lesser-known jobs in the field of forensics such as polygraphs.
Rave: Coconut curry lentil soup
This soup is easily my favorite school lunch, even surpassing the beloved chicken burger; I wouldn’t mind if there was always a big pot of it sitting around as another lunch alternative.
A cup of this stuff will warm you right up on a cold Vashon day. If you are a packed-lunch regular, I would highly suggest taking a look at the school lunch menu and leaving the lunch bag at home on coconut-curry-lentil-soup days.
Unfortunately, I don’t see this gem on the menu often enough, even though I’ve heard nothing but raves about it. Lunch ladies, you’ve outdone yourself.
Rant: Gradebook being closed during finals
I understand that it would be stressful as a teacher to receive a flood of emails complaining, questioning, or negotiating as you’re trying to finalize grades. However, we all have teachers who were still grading assignments from first quarter, or who accidentally forgot to type the “1” in “100” causing our grade to plummet.
In general, our concerns are warranted.
I think I speak for most students when I say that it was stressful to not be able to see our grades until they had been finalized. I hope that any quirks with the gradebook will be solved soon so that this doesn’t have to happen again at the end of the year.
Rant: SAT not offered at VHS
As a junior, this spring is the point in which I really start to throw myself into the college planning process. Taking the SAT is one of those steps — and it can be a stressful one.
I took the SAT prep class that was offered at VHS and found it very helpful. The class was fairly expensive and there were about 20 students, which made me wonder: why doesn’t VHS offer the SAT at the school?
There are over 100 students in the junior class. I took the SAT just last weekend and had to wake up at 5 AM in order to get off island to take it. I had to take a ferry and drive out to Federal Way.
Taking the SAT is not cheap. Add to that the expense of heading off island for a day and prepare to empty your wallet. In past years the test has been offered at VHS.
While I don’t know the reasoning behind letting that go, for the benefit of future classes, I hope the administration can bring it back to Vashon.