The Worthington ALC Insider
Volume 1, Issue 1 November 3, 2003
ALC Students Begin On-Line Newspaper Students from the Worthington Area Learning Center (ALC) became the first students in District 518 to begin publication of an on-line newspaper. The newspaper, entitled the ALC Insider, began publishing with the November edition. The Insider is available to anyone, anywhere in the world with access to the internet. Readers simply need to log-on to www.isd518.net, then click their way to the Insider page via the Worthington ALC homepage. “We are excited about this new development,” said ALC Dean of Students Paul Langseth. “Eighty percent of ISD 518 student households have access to the internet,” added Langseth. “We hope they will be eager readers.” ALC students were also excited about the first issue of the Insider. “This is a great opportunity to have people, not only in the community, but far beyond, to read articles written by students,” said ALC student Amanda Mejia. “I think it’s fantastic that my friends living overseas will be able to read what I write.” Others in District 518 are also pleased with the Insider. “I’m thrilled to see an on-line newspaper,” said District Support person Tom Ahlberg. “It is a great way to increase use of the district web site, and it encourages interaction between students, families and staff.” The students hope to produce several new issues per month, with a goal of eventually become weekly. The plan is to have all back issues accessible via the Insider homepage.	Schrieber takes over as ALC Science teacher Kathy Schrieber is the latest addition to the Worthington Area Learning Center (ALC) teaching staff. Mrs. Schrieber has taken over the Science Department and is enjoying herself. “Teaching here is a challenge,” she said, “and I love a challenge.” Mrs. Schrieber is originally from Jackson, Minnesota. She earned an AA degree from Minnesota West in Worthington. She later completed a BS degree in Science Education at Southwest State in Marshal. Mrs. Schrieber also earned a Middle School teaching license from Minnesota State University in Mankato. Prior to working at the ALC, Mrs. Schrieber taught at Jackson County Central (JCC) in Lakefield, Minnesota, as well as at the Worthington Middle School. Mrs. Schrieber has adapted well to the ALC. The students feel as if they have known her for years.

ALC Insider November 3, 2003 Page 2

ALC student cast as new character on the Rugrats

The latest character on the popular Rugrats TV cartoon series is played by none other than ALC student Amanda Rodriguez.

Amanda was hanging out with her friends one day, when Rugrats producers approached her about playing the role of Chuckie’s new stepmother. The character Amanda plays in the series is nearly twice Amanda’s actual age, yet she has handled the role well. “It all about projecting a mature image,” said Amanda.

The real challenge Amanda has faced is in keeping up with her schoolwork. “I have to spend every other week in Hollywood filming my part,” said Amanda. “The other kids here think I’ve just been skipping school. If they only knew.”

Teachers have been willing to cut Amanda a little slack. “It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to teach a real, live cartoon character,” said ALC teacher Ray Lowry. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to have Amanda in my class for the world.”

Mr. Z takes over as English teacher

The 2003-2004 year seems a little different at the Area Learning Center (ALC). Not only does the school have a new science teacher (see article on page one), but a new English teacher is on board, as well.

Peter Zotalis, or “Mr. Z” as the students call him, came to us from St. Cloud where he recently graduated from the University.

Mr. Z took over for Sarah Drost who taught English at the ALC for three years. While Mr. Z is very different from his predecessor, the students seem to have accepted him.

Mr. Z is also happy with his new job. “I’m pleased with everything, so far,” said Mr. Z. “People have a negative stereotype of alternative school students, but these kids do not live up to that stereotype,” added Mr. Z.

ALC JOKE

How many ALC students does it take to screw in a light bulb? All of them. One can screw it in, but all the others will need to complain about it.

ALC Insider November 3, 2003 Page 3

	ALC Mystery Person
	Read the clues and guess the identity of the ALC MYSTERY PERSON. E-mail your answers to: ray.lowry@isd518.net. The first winning answer will win a lump of coal.
Ø I played the trombone as a kid. Ø I graduated from high school in 1975. Ø I attended the University of Minnesota. Ø I once taught school in Truman, Minnesota. Ø I’m married and have three children. Ø My favorite holiday is Arbor Day.

Students play it safe,

stay home

The fourth largest solar flare ever seen caused a massive geomagnetic storm to hit earth on Wednesday, October 28. But ALC students Tania Torres and Jenna Harsma were home, safe in bed.

The storm, the largest to hit earth since 1989 knocked out some airline communication, and posed a threat to radio, satellite and TV broadcasts.

“I was afraid my cell phone wouldn’t work,” said Tania, “so I stayed home.” Jenna was worried about her hair. “I didn’t want the electromagnetic waves to wreck my perm, so I stayed home, too”

ISD 518 policies allow students to stay home when they believe their lives or property are at risk due to climatic conditions.

ALC students participate in simulated archeological dig

Sirjio BlueArm, Amanda Mejia, and several other students took part in a simulated archeological dig as part of their Western Cultures class.

The students used correct archeological procedures to uncover a simulated burial site. The students then created their own site maps, and made inferences regarding what might have happened at the site.

Sirjio commented that this type of activity is often controversial in the real world. “There’s a big water project out in South Dakota that has been stopped because it would flood out an old burial site,” he said. “People need to be sensitive to whose grave they might be messing with.”

The simulation was developed to give students a hands-on activity so they might learn by doing, not just by reading or listening.

ALC Insider November 3, 2004 Page 4

STUDENT EDITORIAL The ALC vs the High School Some people in this community have complained about the existence of the ALC, suggesting that ALC students get “pampered” and treated in a “lenient” manner. An examination of the facts shows otherwise. Worthington High School students have the freedom to leave the building at lunchtime. They can eat at Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Johns, etc. They can spend the time driving around in their cars if they so choose. ALC students, on the other hand, need to maintain a certain grade-point average, perform two hours of community service per quarter, and have a signed parent permission form before they can leave the building at lunch. In other words, they must earn the privilege of leaving the building. For those high school students who remain in the building at lunchtime, there are several options as to what they can igh School studentsW

eat. The regular school lunch menu usually has several entrees to choose from. If students want something else, there is an a la carte line where they may pay to get hamburgers, fries, nachos, etc. At the ALC, meanwhile, the regular school lunch is more limited (check the district web site and click on “menus”to see for yourself). The only other thing available is chips or pop from a vending machine. The comparisons can go on and on. The High School has many new computers. Most of the ALC computers were donated to the school thanks to Ken Knuth at Midwest Wireless. The High School has new textbooks and a library. The ALC gets the cast off books. The High School has a mutli-million dollar state-of-the-art athletic facility and gets to utilize the YMCA swimming pool The ALC has one very small gym. Let’s put this myth about ALC “pampering” to rest.