Seven students came to Erwin High in 2012 with mixed expectations. These students have forged different paths, but they share one common pursuit: attending a top tier university.
Student body class president Noland Cotzin has shaped his legacy during his time in student government. He will attend the UNC Chapel Hill to major in political science in an effort to obtain a law degree. “These four years have shown me that the support of this school allows students to achieve anything they set their minds to. I wouldn’t trade my experiences at Erwin for the world,” said vice president Matthew Braswell. Braswell has also been a voice for change at Erwin through his leadership and involvement in three sports. He will attend UNC Chapel Hill to major in mathematics.
Senior Cooper Smith chose to get involved with the community by volunteering more than two-hundred hours. Smith will continue his service at Clemson University and plans to major in engineering. Cultural diversity became highly important to Clarissa Ward after spending nearly a month in Costa Rica. Ward brought her experience back to Erwin and has continued to advocate for others as the Key Club vice president. She plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill as a pre-medical biology major.
Clocking countless hours at Asheville Humane Society, Denise Poslavsky left her mark on the community. She will attend NC State where she will major in business or computer science. “The close knit bonds that I have made here will never be forgotten. The Erwin community is like a family and I will be sad to leave,” said Melia Kendall. Kendall represented Buncombe County at governor' school last summer. She plans to attend NC State to study astrophysics
Personally, I will be attending UNC Chapel Hill to study broadcasting and journalism. Over the years, these students have shaped the future for Erwin. I’m proud to call these students my friends and I know this won’t be the last time I report on their achievements.
Exchanging Ideas Around the World
Photo by Kathleen Griffin
Tom Turner's English class at Owen High School has been part of a pen pal program with South Korean students. Learn more about the program in this article written by "Warhorse" staff writer Leah Williams.
English teacher Tom Turner’s classes are conversing with people 6,000 miles away as part of a pen pal program with students in South Korea. Students exchange letters and photos through email, getting to know each other’s culture, and maybe make a new friend.
Some students are surprised to find that their pen pals write fluent English. “There were a few missed words but overall everything was easy to understand,” freshman Josie Davis said. Josie said that the South Korean school system surprises her. “They have the same school hours that we do, but then they go to tutoring until like 12 a.m,” Josie said.
Though tutoring is not required, it is heavily encouraged because an admissions test is required to be accepted into high school. Junior Bethany Morgan said South Koreans measure age differently. “She said she was 17 in ‘American age’,” Bethany said. In South Korea, people are considered to be a year old as soon as they are born because age increases by solar terms, not birthdays.
Students are developing friendships. “[My pen pal] wants to become president of South Korea. He said once he’s in office, he’ll invite me over,” junior Zachary Payne said. Turner hopes that the students of South Korea will be able to improve their skills by communicating with native speakers.
For his students, Turner said, “The more we are able to view the world from perspectives other than our own, the better we can judge our own actions and those of our country.”
Owen High School Band Performs for National Title
All band photos by parent Ken Everly
The Owen High School Marching Band members perform a visual (what it’s called when you are not traditionally marching) on the field at the Lucas Oil Dome in Indianapolis.
Left to right—senior Christian White, sophomore Isaias Zampuzano-Gomez, and sophomore Grecia Castaneda-Gomez
Left to right—junior Allen Bell, senior Annie Heath, junior Gable Lammens.
OHS Band Makes History
By Annie Heath, "Warhorse" Co-Editor in Chief
The marching band made history in November when they became the first band from Owen to go to BOA Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Band of America Competition hosted over 100 bands, making it the most impressive competition that Owen has attended.
Bands with up to 300 marchers performed elaborate shows. “It was an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It showed that hard work pays off,” senior Mallory Fox said. Schools from approximately 30 states took the field, including bands from Hawaii and Alaska. This, the fortieth anniversary of the competition, was a national event.
The band show, entitled “Past to the Future,” placed tenth in Class A. The show took audiences on a musical trip through time and space. The championship was the culmination of a new kind of season for the band. Not only were the practices relocated to a new field, but director Jason Minnix allowed students to march with the band without being registered for the fourth period class. This meant less practice time together, and the weather last fall made practicing more difficult.
In addition, Stephen Plotts, a former drum corps marcher, was hired to work with students. Indianapolis is what helped everyone stay focused, according to senior Regan Daniels. Regan said, “Watching the bands perform on the field was overwhelming and mind-boggling because we’re just a small-town band, but we got to see what we could achieve and it gave us all the inspiration.”
Spanish Translation of article entitled,
"Bridging Boundaries - Speaking with One Voice
Norma Durán-Brown sentada con Wendy Montufar, una de sus estudiantes de Juntos, mientras ésta escribe acerca de la carrera que desea seguir.
Sobrepasando Límites – Hablando al Unísono
Por, Stacia Harris, Directora Asistente de Comunicaciones
Desde una pequeña oficina sin identificar en la Escuela Secundaria Clyde A. Erwin, Norma Durán-Brown está construyendo puentes entre el personal escolar y las comunidades hispanas a quienes éste sirve. Su esfuerzos se traducen en un mejor entendimiento, mejores relaciones y mejores resultados entre la población latina, lo que a su vez, se está transformado en una cultura escolar que acepta de mejor manera su increíble diversidad.
La carrera de la Sra. Durán-Brown la ha alejado de su tierra nativa en la Argentina, pero sus vivencias la prepararon de manera única, para triunfar donde posiblemente otros tuvieron dificultades para relacionarse.
“Existen retos a muchos niveles” dice, “el idioma es uno muy importante y, tengo la certeza de que la escuela hace un esfuerzo tremendo, con la ayuda de los Servicios de Idiomas, para sobrepasar esta barrera, no sólo para los padres de habla hispana, sino también para los demás padres”.
La Sra. Durán-Brown aceptó en febrero de este año, la nueva posición de Especialista en Acercamiento a las Familias. Sus muchas responsabilidades incluyen, la identificación de los problemas que puedan tener los estudiantes, la causa de sus dificultades y la creación de soluciones funcionales. Los estudiantes pueden estar pasando por contratiempos con su asistencia, su transporte o para poder comprender y adaptarse a una nueva cultura.
“Se trata del éxito de los estudiantes”, dice Durán-Brown, “todos quieren lo mejor para los estudiantes y los retos que ellos enfrentan son únicos, pero lograr abrir la comunicación es la clave. La clave del éxito, es que todos estemos en la misma página, apoyando los esfuerzos de todos. Definitivamente el primer paso, es lograr conocernos mutuamente y comunicarnos intencionalmente y a profundidad.”
Ella dice que la meta principal de su posición es promover un mejor entendimiento entre los estudiantes latinos, sus familias y la escuela. La Sra. Durán-Brown nos dirá con rapidez que ella no es una intérprete, aunque asumiría ese papel si fuese necesario. “Por eso es que ésta es una posición diferente y única, es como una mezcla de todas, trabajadora social, consejera, maestra, estudiante y familiar”.
Continua diciendo, “Ya existe una comprensión del sistema y de la cultura. El hecho es que yo estoy aquí y puedo interactuar con todos ellos. Les puedo ayudar a ganar un conocimiento recíproco muy profundo.”
Su oficina se encuentra en la Secundaria Erwin, pero ella sirve como enlace para todas las escuelas del Distrito. Aunque la posición es nueva, el personal de Erwin ya la está notando. La Consejera Nicole Killeen dice que Durán-Brown está cubriendo una necesidad ya reconocida.
“Tenemos a lo largo y ancho del Distrito Erwin estudiantes de muchos países diferentes y tanto la escuela, incluyendo los requisitos para poder graduarse, como la disciplina, el transporte y muchos otros aspectos, pueden ser radicalmente diferentes alrededor del mundo. Norma es capaz de ayudar a los estudiantes y familias a navegar su nuevo sistema escolar”.
La Trabajadora Social, Shelly Roeder dice que Durán-Brown “trabaja incansablemente para ayudar a los estudiantes y a sus familias. Algo que sabemos sobre el éxito estudiantil, es que todo se haya atado a las conexiones que existen dentro de la escuela.”
Este año, las metas de Norma Durán-Brown incluyen incrementar la asistencia, promover la participación de los padres y facilitar talleres para los educadores, sin dejar de lado su objetivo de realizar cambios tangibles en las vidas de los estudiantes.
Josember Jiménez es un estudiante de noveno grado de Erwin que admite haber tenido dificultad con la transición a la escuela secundaria. Su asistencia a la escuela ha sido un reto este año, ya que está tratando de trabajar e ir a la escuela al mismo tiempo, pero con la ayuda de Norma Durán-Brown, está sacándole el mejor partido a su educación secundaria.
“Esto me ha facilitado las cosas. Si necesitamos alguien que nos ayude, la tenemos a ella. Es como tener un amiga con la que podemos contar para cualquier cosa”, dice Josember.
Él se unió a JUNTOS este año, el cual es un programa que ayuda a los estudiantes a encaminarse hacia una carrera y el college.
“Para ser honesto, yo no estaba pensando en ir al college, pero ahora sí. Estoy tratando de elegir una carrera”, me dijo sonriendo, “Quiero ser psicólogo o mecánico, porque me encantan los autos.”
Durán-Brown junto con Josember Jiménez, otro de sus estudiantes de Juntos, quien escribe sobre volverse psicólogo o mecánico automotriz.