Odem High School
March 2017
Principal's Corner
Email: walkers@oeisd.org
Website: oeisd.org
Location: One Owl Square, Odem, TX 78368
Phone: (361)368-3401
STAAR End of Course Preparations
Power Hour Focus March 20th--April 28th
Monday Tutorials for Algebra 1 EOC
Starting March 27th all freshmen will have Algebra tutoring from 3:45-5:00 in the high school cafetorium. A snack will be provided from 3:45-4:00 then tutoring will begin promptly at 4:00. All band and athletic practices will not begin until after 5:00 p.m. on Mondays.
Tutorials for Biology and US History
All eligible grade level students are welcome to attend. Students not doing well in class or having low Benchmark scores will be assigned to attend tutoring to prepare for the exams during the first week in May.
Tutorial High Attendance Field Trip to Rockport Beach-- April 20th
Odem High School Prom
Saturday, Apr 22, 2017, 07:00 PM
The Reserve at Dancing Elk Ranch Mathis, Texas
Staci Frerich--Rock Star Teacher for Marking Period 4
Have you ever actually thought about what goes into making a fluffy stack of pancakes? Just a cup or two of flour, some milk, and an egg or two sounds about right; pretty simple. Well, try again. I had the opportunity to visit our Rock Star Teacher’s class on a day they were making pancakes. Trust me, making pancakes from scratch requires much more thought than you would imagine.
Mrs. Frerich had her students grouped in fours with each student taking turns leading the others through the steps then writing reflections on the results of their pancakes. Round 1 was 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of milk, Round 2 they added 2 eggs to the mix, Round 3 five teaspoons of baking powder, Round 4 four tablespoons of sugar and one teaspoon of salt, and Round 5 six tablespoons of oil. Each round students cooked the mixture then tasted the pancakes. Quite a few “yucks” went around with the first two rounds. As more and more ingredients were added, the better the result. Until, at last, golden brown, fluffy pancakes.
This lesson was much more than following a recipe. Mrs. Frerich had Kagan going. Students had their directions and roles to perform, the cook, the mixer, the scribe, the taster. Clearly, the groups knew what was expected of them and did a wonderful job of working together. The reflection piece was much more than a worksheet. Students had to determine the texture, taste, smell, and reflect on how the addition of each ingredient changed the outcome. Students were highly engaged, eager to volunteer. The level of questioning lead to a much deeper understanding of why it was so important to be precise when measuring each ingredient. So many little details to remember when preparing the mixture: level spoonful not rounded or partial, teaspoon or tablespoon, proper handling of the griddle, when to turn the pancakes, not measuring over the bowl. The teacher had anticipated all the possible pitfalls that her students could have and addressed each one throughout the lesson.
This is the level of teaching I see each and every time I go into Mrs. Frerich’s classroom. She also teaches our Ready Set Teach students, oversees the student work program visiting each job site, and is our FCCLA director. She is such an asset to Odem High School and I’m very pleased to name her as our Rock Star Teacher for the fourth six weeks.
Student Spotlight--Joseph H. Martinez
"High School is Temporary, but the Memories are Forever."
What are your future plans? Throughout all of high school, unlike many of my fellow students, I believed i had everything figured out. I thought I was going to be a chef and go straight into college. Of course this has not changed. My dream is to be a mini angry Gordan Ramsey. But, as I've learned, dreams change. Now my current dream or planfor the future is to be a chef for the marines so I can travel and do the things I love.
What advice would you give to students entering high school and considering advanced academics? Plain and simple, get it done. People from other schools who like me wanted to be a chef with every fiber of their being took the dual credit classes. They learned fast it was nothing like the shows on tv. No fame, no glory, just hours of hard work. It didn't take long for as much as one fourth of the students to drop the class. The main point I'm trying to make is, "Try it while you are not paying for it. While you can still afford to make mistakes. Keep an open mind and if you are going to do dual credit, STUDY."
Upcoming Events
- March 3rd--Early Release for students
- March 7th--One Act Play performs in Goliad
- March 10th--Cheerleader Tryouts for OHS and OJH at 1:00
- Spring Break--March 13-17
- March 20th--Last day for English Tutorials 4:00-5:00
- March 24th--ASVAB Testing for 11th/12th grade students
- March 27th--April 28th--Monday Tutorials for Algebra 1 3:45-5:00
- March 28th--English 1 STAAR End of Course Exam
- March 30th--English 2 STAAR End of Course Exam
- April 3rd--Pre-Scheduling for 9th (current 8th) and 10th grade 6-7:00 p.m.
- April 6th--Pre-Scheduling for 11th/12th grade students 6:7:00 p.m.
- April 6th--TSI @ Del Mar College. $29, sign up by March 30th
- April 5th--Benchmark Testing for Algebra 1 and US History
- April 6th--Benchmark Testing for Biology
- April 7th--No School for students
- April 14th-17th--Easter Break
- April 20th--Rockport Beach Fieldtrip
- April 22nd--Odem High School Prom
--Nelson Mandela