Pictured from L to R Beth Pedersen, Jessica Wheatly, Alissa Lambert and Joyce West.
The Cherokee BabyFACE program was visited by their Parents as Teachers (PAT) Technical Assistance Provider, Joyce West. They received an outstanding report on the work they are completing with families in Cherokee.They were credited highly with providing support for the families, encouraging school readiness, promoting reading daily, and implementing the language and culture into the program. Supervisor Beth Pedersen recently nominated Parent Educators Alissa Lambert and Jessica Wheatley for Outstanding BabyFACE Parent Educators of the year. Out of 20 tribes across the US both Alissa and Jessica received the award along with 7 other Parent Educators. They will be traveling to St. Louis the first week of November for the PAT National Conference to receive special trainings and will be recognized at the conference for their outstanding work with the I3 Grant for Native Families.
The BabyFACE Program would again like to thank Cherokee School Systems and The Cherokee Preservation Foundation for their support.
HOPE Center News
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On October 9, 2012, Cherokee High School’s health teacher Mrs. Hess took ten of her students to the 13th Annual Health Careers Education Awareness Conference held at UNC Asheville. They set off on their adventure at 8:00 a.m. from Cherokee High School. A continental breakfast was served while visitors checked into the conference. Jeff Heck,MD (President and CEO of MAHECH) and Jacquelyn Hallum, MBA, MHA (Director of Health Careers and Diversity Education at MAHEC) welcomed students in an opening speech. Students had the wonderful opportunity to listen to the William Ryals, DMD (MAHEC Division Director,General Dentistry) speak at the opening session about believing in yourself and aiming high. Students then broke out into two 40-minute sessions. They chose from the following sessions: Financial Aid Theater, Are Your “FIT” to be an American Idol?, Navigating Career Choices,Diversity in Healthcare, and Obstacles to Avoid on Your Journey. Just before lunch, they attended a student panel discussion. The panel featured students from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, and University of North Carolina-Asheville. The conference wrapped up with the interactive Career Fair.
Mrs. Frances Hess sets on the 2012 Western North Carolina Regional Advisory Committee responsible for organizing the conference. The committee features members from Mission Hospital; high schools, colleges, and universities in Western North Carolina; City of Asheville; and private practices. According to Mrs. Hess, the conference experience provides “students with practical information needed to make good decisions in choosing a future path in health occupations.” She said,“Every age group was welcomed and made to feel as they were important and apart of MAHEC.” Angel Saine, one Cherokee High School attendees, learned the importance of regulating what you post on social media and the Internet about yourself and the value of treating patients equally regardless of appearance or background. Many of the students appreciated the opportunity to interact with career professionals. The conference exposed students, like Stephen Swan and Emre Johnson, to the variety of opportunities in the healthcare industry that are available to them. Jaylen Welch liked the career booths at the interactive Career Fair. Christine Davis found the conference to be “inspiring” and “so much more” than she expected. Ryanne Oocumma loved the bus ride to Asheville, and Jaron Bradley’s favorite thing about the trip was “the learning.” Mrs. Hess said “The breakout sessions were wonderful!” The students agreed. In the Stop, Think, and Click, they learned that no matter what you put on the internet and think you erased never really goes away. This can affect a student’s admission to college. When a college is considering potential applicants, admissions representatives go online to look you up. They can see what all you have put on the Internet. It was this enlightening moment that helped students gain perspective on what should and should not be posted to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and the Internet in general.
Overall, it was a great learning experience for Cherokee High School’s Mrs. Hess and her classes. She has a new awareness and understandings of health career opportunities for students are tremendous. Most of the students plan on taking what they learned and using it to help with their future careers, majors in college, and thinking “deeply” about their future career. Mrs.Hess said “My favorite part was seeing the excitement in their faces when talking to different people”. When conference attendees were asked by the Cherokee High School yearbook staff to describe the conference in one word, they responded with the following words: FUN, FANTASTIC, GREAT, and INSPIRING! All would like to attend again because it was a wonderful opportunity to learn and explore their future.
This is another great example of students and teachers fulfilling Cherokee High School’s vision of preparing students for life in the21st century and encouraging them to be globally competitive for work and post-secondary education. Administration of Cherokee High School supports students being empowered to embrace knowledge and skills and ensuring students’ futures through education and vocational training. Join CHS in supporting student development and achievement through learning and experiences. Together we will continue to preserve our nation and promote our community.
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