Inside our schools: CV stages mock convention
Central Valley High School’s gymnasium was transformed into a political convention Tuesday, complete with delegates passionate about selecting presidential nominees.
Barack Obama came out the clear favorite after students divided up as state delegates to cast votes for Republican and Democratic candidates. They waved state banners, political signs and dressed up to represent the different states.
More than 1,400 students participated in the all-day mock political convention featuring speeches by students selected to represent five candidates, state caucus meetings and an afternoon roll-call vote to finalize two nominees from each party.
In order to allow full debate, students cast votes for current and former candidates – Republicans John McCain, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Obama. A third-party candidate – Ralph Nader – was added to the ballot on Wednesday along with McCain and Obama for a mock presidential election.
On Tuesday, student Luke Winslow stood before one microphone station to speak on behalf of California delegates. He said afterward that he and other “Californians” started out by voting in their advisory class. “We’re all acting as delegates. I think it’s really cool we’re doing this.”
Winslow announced that the California delegation voted 42 for McCain; 14, Romney; 52, Paul; 112, Obama; and 24, Clinton.
Sophomore Kyle Davis, representing Michigan, rode up to the microphone in a small battery-operated, student-built car covered with cardboard and decorations. McCain and Obama surfaced at the top of his state delegate votes.
“We studied the state,” Davis said before his presentation. “This shows students what a real political convention would be like.”
The groups didn’t always agree on the candidates. The Kansas delegates supported Clinton rather than Obama, which drew some boos from the crowd.
Students sat by state in rows of chairs on the floor or in the bleachers. A long stage was set up before the audience with a podium, microphone, and projector showing events as they unfolded around the convention.
Teacher Bill Gilchrist, one of the event organizers, said Tuesday’s modified convention – representative of real political conventions held by each party – was designed to get students thinking about the presidential election process. Outside the gym, a table was set up for eligible students to register to vote in November.
“It helps students become more politically aware,” Gilchrist said. “We’re trying to simulate the national conventions to be held this summer.”
Several students were involved in planning as part of a yearlong collaborative process by the school’s social studies department, including the making of candidate posters and debating national topics such as doctor-assisted suicide.
“The students have been hardworking, attentive,” Gilchrist said. “I feel that the students have learned some fundamentals of a Democratic Republic.”
Students take Reasoning Test
A total of 43 seventh- and eighth-grade students from Central Valley School District were honored for their mathematical and verbal reasoning abilities when the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth invited them to take the SAT1 Reasoning Test.
One sixth-grade student took the SCAT, which tests at two to three grades higher than the current grade level. The students qualified by scoring at or above the 95th percentile on a national standardized aptitude or achievement test or by otherwise demonstrating extraordinary academic achievement.
Twenty-one Central Valley students who took the SAT achieved awards of distinction by meeting or exceeding the average scores of college-bound seniors: 508 verbal and 520 math. Statewide honors went to 14 students for scores of at least 550 for seventh-grade students or 600 for eighth-grade students. State awards were also given for scores exceeding 465 on the verbal or 485 on the mathematics portion of the SCAT.
The following CV students participated. Those who achieved award recognition have the letter D after their names denoting Award of Distinction and the letter S listed for State Award:
“Bowdish Middle School – Mya Harrington (grade 7); Dustin Liu (grade 7); Derek Marcus (grade 7); Benjamin Rash (grade 7) SD; Eric Roe (grade 7) SD; Victoria Tobin (grade 7); Jordon Wing (grade 7) SD.
“Evergreen: Breanna Ahlgren (grade 7); Darien Grener (grade 7) D; Cobi Guerrinha (grade 7); Rachel Langford (grade 7); Gus Lorge (grade 7); Stephen Lucas (grade 8) SD; Abigail Mansoor (grade 7) SD; Michelle Nemeth (grade 7); Natalie Riel (grade 7); Mackynzie Watts (grade 7); Katie Weisbeck (grade 7).
“Greenacres: Desiree Bernhard (grade 7); Alec Bumgarner (grade 7) D; Brett Busch (grade 8); Michael Butler (grade 7); Patrick Crumb (grade 7) D; Jinhyuk Kim (grade 7); Madison Phillips (grade 7); David Ross (grade 8) SD; Andrew Schutts (grade 8) SD; John Schutts (grade 7); Alexander Wende (grade 7) SD; Andrew Wiggin (grade 8) SD.
“Horizon: Brett Bailey (grade 7); Rebecca Horn (grade 7); Conor Linehan (grade 6); Allison Momb (grade 8) SD; Alexandria Moore (grade 7) SD; Lauren Nemitz (grade 8) SD; Michael Sargent (grade 7); Sarah Wallis (grade 7); Phillip Yan (grade 8) SD.
“North Pines: Brittney Goodman (grade 7) D; Brandon Stover (grade 8) D.
“Summit School: Jonathan Flack (grade 7) SD; Phoebe Lew (grade 7) D; Kelby Lind (grade 8) D.
All of these students were invited to attend an awards ceremony in their honor at Bowdish on May 13. Nine students who demonstrated exceptional ability in one or both areas were also invited to attend a regional awards ceremony at Eastern Washington University on May 18.