Community Enrichment Opportunity - A Communities 2 Student Reflection

Every fall UWO, as well as other team sponsors, put on the annual Dragonboat Festival in Oshkosh Wisconsin. The history of the dragonboats date back approximately 2,400 years ago to Chinese culture. On the contrary, the UWO’s Dragonboat Festival was only founded 7 years ago, in 2006. The purpose behind the festival was to have a community event that would benefit the community as well as the UWO campus. But something interesting happens with the proceeds behind this event. The proceeds are split between a UWO scholarship as well as donations to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, all working towards a better community.

Taking part in such an event is not only benefiting our community, but it is also building team skills and gives us a sense of belonging at such a wonderful event. The “village” for the Dragonboat Festival is held at the Leach Amphitheater which is molded by many blue tents, each home to a dragonboat team. I felt as if we were a community inside of a community, our own little town inside of the city of Oshkosh. Smiles were abroad whether you knew others or not. Teams felt encouraged to cheer others on, socialize, and turn an ordinary Saturday into something special. Living in Oshkosh for the latter half of my life, I never knew such an event existed! When present at this festival, I saw a side of Oshkosh, previously unknown, that made me appreciate my community. I saw many participants in a central area cheering each other on, smiling, laughing, and enjoying each others company.

Whether it was volleyball, bean bag toss, or the dragonboat races itself, there was a feeling of openness and unity, even with competition present. Those who I didn’t even know invited parts of my team to play volleyball for a friendly game. Other teams cheered us on as we went out to our boats and inflicted a sense of pride among us in which we passed on to others. Strangers in my community suddenly became a friendly face, changing my outlook on Oshkosh as a community. Instead of just a city full of nice people, we can rally together and make a huge impact on others.

The Dragonboat Festival is something I was proud to be a part of. It brings our community together while benefiting others, what could be better? For now, we will “hold the boat” as we wait for next years festival where we will put our “paddles up” and, once again, take part in such an amazing event..

(Facts on the Dragonboat Festival were taken from www.uwosh.edu/fallfest/dragonboat-festival)

-- Jordan Paulson, Communities 2 Student

The End June, 4th 2013

The end of the year has come.  Communities at Oshkosh North is wrapping up the year by spending the last day of Communities thanking the partners at breakfast this morning.  Also, having a Communities Olympics.  The ultimate advisory challenge.  As the great Mr. Weber said today, " Temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement.  This has been a very successful year for Communities from the beginning to end.  Thank you to all of our partners and our wonderful staff.  Also, thanks to everyone who supported us through out the year.  And a big thanks to our students who made this vision a reality.

Wrapping up the year June, 3rd 2013

Today the students finished up the final Communities Chats.  Also, Ryne Mosher, Zac Hassman and his brother Josh Hassman were interviewed by Mr. Dumke from Badger Sportsman to pick the winner to be published.  And Zac Hassman defeated his brother and Ryne Mosher for the oppurtunity to be published.  Also the Communities Chats are completed.  They were all fantastic and gave a great review of the year from the kids point of view.  Tomorrow Communities will be having a partner breakfast to thank the partners.

A day in Communites May, 29th 2013

Today in Communities Mr. Schinkten from Whitetales Unlimited is coming in to interview the three finalists for his magazine.  The three finalists are sophomore Kyra Eierman, sophomore Taylor Captain and freshamn Cassie Buelow.  Also yesterday Emily Daun got her paper published by Tru-U.  Tomorrow new principal Mrs. Schleicher will interview the five finalist that have the chance to be published on the Communities webiste!

Leader in the making Nick Kappell, lead the class today in substitute of Mr. Schinkten. He instructed and informed the students of his project to help bring a more sustainable school. By setting up North's first aquaponics. A system of growing and harvesting food using plants and fish. He further showed the green house to the students discussing the new construction plans. In the image below is students assisting in cleaning up the greenhouse trays. Nick has gone above and beyond the sustainability unit and greatly demonstrates the goal of communities; to build a stronger and better community.

Thursday May 2nd 2013

Today was a field day. One group went water testing with Mr. Schinkten. They went to Menominee Park beach and the pond at South Park. They found various things like pH and conductivity using probes (which were purchased using money from our grant) and others took water samples to bring back to the lab. In the lab at UWO, students tested for nitrates, phosphates and turbidity. They also set up a bacteria lab which the next group will be able to look at. This was just a "practice run" and students will be going water testing again in the future. 

 

Monday April 29th, 2013

Today in Communities, students prepared for the field day that they will be having tomorrow. With Mr. Rice, Mr. Leib's student teacher, students learned how to take notes while on field days. They learned how important it is to have notes after a field day, so that if you were to write a paper or just remember what happened during the field day, you would be able to accurately and efficiently.
With Mr. Schinkten, students finished going over how to properly test water and what they will need for the field day when they test water. Finally, with Mr. Weber, students learned how to put detail into their writing, so that their papers that they will be writing later on could be even better than they would have without the activity.