The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

Trip to Spain excites staff and encourages students

Spain is said to be a jewel in the ring of the Mediterranean. For  up to 15 students and Spanish teacher Mary Klick, there is an opportunity to travel to six cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and Córdoba.

Students joining the tour will visit many major tourist attractions, including the thousand-year-old mosque of Córdoba, the Alhambra Palace and several cathedrals. Each sight is very popular, averaging around 5,000 visitors a day. They will participate in activities such as an art workshop and meeting with native Spanish students.

“Leaving the bubble of West Linn itself is huge,” Jonathan Peachey, Spanish teacher, said. Traveling to Spain helps students to develop a passion for the language and requires them to step outside of their comfort zone and take a risk, according to Peachey.

Among other things, lessons on Spanish history will be offered. Sites selected are viewed as significant roots to history.  They symbolize occurrences that have forever changed Spain. However, these teachings may not be the only educational aspects this trip has to offer.

“It’s really good for [students] to be able to experience a rich culture,” Peachey said. He speaks of a thrill not only for speaking Spanish, but also experiencing its unique culture. Some may consider West Linn culture to be vastly different from European customs. Peachey considers this comparison a “night and day difference.”

Klick has similar views on the culture of Spain.

“You get a taste for what other cultures are like,” Klick said. “It gives you a new appreciation for the United States.”

In Klick’s view, being immersed into other cultures is helpful in understanding differences. One may also become aware of countries other than his or her own.

Not only does Spain offer new things to students, but they may apply to what they have learned in class as well. “You actually get to see firsthand what you’ve read about and talked about,” Klick said.

Peachey also said that when taking one of these trips, students experience Spain rather than learning about it in a classroom.

“You’re doing, not just being told,” Peachey said.

While in Spain, students will not be monitored around the clock. They will be given three hours of free time each afternoon apart from tours and activities.

Students will be lead by a tour director who will lead all activities and interactions. Several local tour guides will also show participants around cities and detail the attractions.

To some, 11 days for travel in Spain is not sufficient. “You just don’t have time to see everything,” Klick said. “It’s a beginning.”

Because students are not offered lunch every day and may wish to purchase souvenirs, they should bring spending cash. There must be at least six students signed up for the trip in order for it to happen. The desired amount of participants is 12. The total cost of the trip is around 3500 dollars for each participant.

Both Peachey and Klick encourage students to join. “When you travel, you not only learn about the culture of where you’re visiting,” Klick said. “You also learn more about yourself.”

For more information on the trip next spring, see Klick in D202.

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Camille Collier, Editor-In-Chief
During eighth grade, young Camille Collier, senior, was in her language arts class taught by Graeme Sandell at Rosemont Ridge Middle School. While many eighth graders sit and stare at the wall not thinking about their futures, Collier was doing just the opposite. At this time, she had decided that she wanted to be a part of the Amplifier during her high school years. “Mr. Sandell really aided my interest in writing,” Collier said. On the first day of freshman year, Collier walked into the Amplifier classroom and has worked her way to becoming the editor-in-chief. Over the past three years, Collier has made countless memories during her time in Amplifier. “The obvious reason I love this class is because of the people,” Collier said. “The other staff members I have the privilege of working beside present different views and really work well as a cohesive whole. I am delighted that there is a group of teenagers out there as competent as the staff.” Not only does Collier enjoy the people she is surrounded with, but the demanding environment that is the journalism world. “I just love the sense of urgency that is journalism. Without it, it makes it kind of a bore so having to work feverishly to track down people to interview, write, edit, and upload a story is a really accomplished feeling.” Not only does she have an admiration and respect for her classmates, but they feel the same way about Collier. “She’s a really funny and intelligent person,” Nicole Gray, senior, said. “Without a doubt she keeps everything and all of us in order.” Collier stays busy not only with the Amplifier, but runs on the Varsity Cross Country Team along with taking four rigorous advanced placement classes that include AP English, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry and AP French. Collier has managed to stay highly successful with such a stressful workload by simply re-adjusting her mindset towards the classes. “It’s one thing when you’re taking a bunch of hard classes in which you are not vested and have no interest,” Collier said. “It’s another when you actually feel privileged to study topics that intrigue and inspire you.” Collier’s one piece of advice is to “actually select classes that inspire even a little bit of your interest.” With Collier’s strong academic success, she has been able to set herself up in a position to attend a highly elite university. She has set her goals high in hopes of studying microbiology. Collier isn’t just envisioning her college life, but her life after college and her career. “I want to be really interested in my work, whichever specific endeavor I chose. I want to be in a place where I’m working hard and I’m feeling good about my hard work,” she said. “I want to have the mindset I do right now, which is that hard work doesn’t dissipate into despair and it eventually pays off.” Collier doesn’t want to just have a “ho-hum, work 35 years then retire” kind of life. For her, life is more important than just sticking to daily norms. She wants to make a difference. “Life is a journey and I don’t want to sit around and do nothing,” Collier said. I want to break barriers. I want to have an impact.”  
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Trip to Spain excites staff and encourages students