Collaborative Alternative School News
CAS Buzz - November 1, 2009
Volume 2 (Download print version - more pictures)
CAS & Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By: Arielle Rodriguez
October was Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast Cancer has affected men and women all over the world. It is a serious disease & like other cancers can lead to many harsh medical conditions. CAS celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness month by setting every Friday this month to wear pink or put on a pink ribbon to show support for all women & students. men with breast cancer. Our educational coordinator, Wendy Salvatore said she wanted to show support for all the women & men with this disease and breast cancer awareness month. We wanted to show that if the big & tough football players of the NFL could wear pink, so can we! All of October we showed our support & wore the color pink. And, like the pink panther says, Think Pink!
What’s the Buzz???
Alternative Tuesdays at the Alternative School
On Tuesdays our Leadership Team is involved in an adventure based training program. So what happens back at school? Students are engaged in therapeutic groups during the day. Each student attends at least two therapeutic groups during the day. Groups include art therapy, anger management and substance abuse.
Spotlight on Staff
By: Arielle Rodriguez
Evelyn Andino works at the
Collaborative Alternative
School as a secretary, she
has been there 9 years. She
takes pride in her job and
enjoys doing it. When
asked what she enjoyed the
most, Evelyn replied that
she loved the students and
their different personalities.
I asked what she had
wanted to do as a kid and
she said “I actually
wanted
to be a lawyer
or a teacher and
I was so close
to graduating
when I had gotten
pregnant.”
I asked her where she had gone to college. “I had gone to Middlesex College in Lowell.” She replied. When asked what she studied, she replied that she took Criminal Law & Psychology. And, with a gleam in her eyes, she said that she enjoyed studying these subjects very much. “It was challenging, but I like challenges so I enjoyed the experience.”
I asked her that if there was anything in the world that she would want to get rid of or change what would it be & why. She said that she would get rid of all the fast food restaurants because her kids never eat anything she cooked. We went then to the subject of her motherhood. She said that she was enjoying it to the fullest. She has three kids, and she loves them dearly. “I love my kids with a strong passion,” she proudly states. “Even though they are teenagers, I always baby them. And I probably always will!”
Evelyn is a very dedicated and religious woman. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with her kids. All in all, Evelyn Andino is a really good person, with a fabulous fashion sense!!!
CAS Elective Classes
By: Ezekiel Ramos
At CAS we have a variety of
electives this year like culinary,
music, art, newspaper
and a lot more. I personally
like culinary. It’s run by Mr.
G and Joey. They’re good at
teaching us kids how to cook
and all the techniques for
cooking and we help with the
farm stand. The farm stand is
in front of the school; they
sell hotdogs, sandwiches and other products to eat. We
also have a lot of different
Phys Ed electives. On the
sunny days we play capture
the flag with Miguel
and Joey. We also have art
of relaxation for the people
that need to get away
from the stress and to let
their feelings out to one
another.
Movie Review
By: Jeff Perez & Arielle Rodriguez
In our English class we read a children’s book called “Where the Wild Things Are”. We read the book and had multiple discussions surrounding the hidden values in the story. We discussed our personal opinion on how the story was played out. After we read the book, we went to see it in the Imax theater. The movie was very different than the book and we thought it was an ok movie most likely to be a kid’s movie than a teenager’s movie. However, many people think otherwise. Although this may be true, we think it’s a good movie for all audiences.
Halloween Party
By: Tayla Bonvie
We had a Halloween party with DJ Speedy, well you know him as Julio. We had an apple and donut eating contest won by Ryan and Andrew. We also had a limbo contest won by Travis. We played musical chairs and Chachi won that. Julio won the basketball free throw contest and Devon won the ping pong ball toss. They all won gift certificates to the school store. Andrew Peneseau won the award for best costume. Overall the party was fun.
On Belay? Belay on! Adventure Leadership Training
Wild wooly, ding sparkle
sparkle, steppingstones,
wind in the willows, all
aboard and whale watch are
just a few examples of how
some CAS students have
been spending their time.
Our Student Leadership
Team has embarked on an 8-week
adventure-based training
program, led by
Ryan Chasse at the
North Andover
Youth Services.
Each Tuesday the students on our Leadership Team and four CAS staff head into the woods. Students challenge themselves to their own personal limits while gaining insights into themselves and others. The initiatives are often tough and frustrating but . . . success is sweet.
“I felt scared because I was so high up in the tree and when I looked down the people looked so small from where I was.” ~ Charitza Sanchez
“Long hours in the woods paid off when I got certified f or belaying, after the fact Andy almost got pulled in the air while belaying, until I caught him from his harness. So I got to be the hero for saving the craziest teacher in the school. I I enjoy these trips Steve planned for us and I appreciate them so much. Special thanks to Steve, although the heights weren't my favorite. I wish someone would have advised me not to look down.” ~ Kaley Parnell
“It felt kind of weird because I don’t know Chris and I took a big risk and put my life in his hands” ~ Travis Burdick
Student Leadership Fun
By: Jeff Perez
The first earned Student leadership field trip was very good. We had a great day over at Jay Gees. It was fun and entertaining. Students and staff enjoyed playing golf, riding go carts, and the batting cages.
Field Trip Fun
By: Aaron Herring
On Monday October 21st the students went to a
corn maze for a math field trip. The maze was
shaped like Stewie and Brian Griffin from the
show Family Guy. The students and staff had fun
walking around and talking plus laughing and
joking. In addition we
all want to say thanks
to Meg and Steve for
a fun day.
School Store
By: Matt Dube
There is a new school store. It is open twice a day. The prices are cheap. The snacks are good and there is a good selec ion. Snacks include soda, water, yogurt, Twix, Kit Kats, ring pops, twizzlers, honey buns and more.
Page Last modified: January 22 2010 23:09:16.