Eleven Rhinebeck High School students are reflecting back and looking ahead to how their Student Innovation Fellowship projects may be difference-makers for their peers.
Two groups of students presented their projects to groups of students and staff from other schools in Dutchess County as well as administrators from Rhinebeck to conclude the program offered by Dutchess BOCES on April 3.
In all, students visited Dutchess BOCES five times to work on and present their projects.
“Overall, it was a remarkable experience,” said teacher and adviser Monica Zimmers. “It exceeded my expectations and I think the students really got something out of it, which is great.”
The first group – Rose Wheeler, Sabine Terranova, Alison Stephan, Winnie Wang, Jack Leder and Daphne Tamm – addressed the issue of food waste in the cafeteria. They decided to ask if a refrigerator might be added to the cafeteria where students may place unopened food or beverages to be consumed later.
“I think it went really well,” said Stephan. “There were some nerves. We said all the information we needed to say and I thought the tips we received afterwards were really helpful.”
The second group – Max Longman, Sammy Erdman, Bella Kemp, Thomas Penepent and Carys Protheroe – discussed the new rotating, drop period schedule, which gives high school students the opportunity to take eight classes, six times over eight days. The group said there were conflicts in the scheduling that may keep a student from taking class they may need.
They offered the solution of students with a scheduling conflict to take an independent study where they will watch a recording of the class and do all the work to meet the course requirements.
“It was fun,” said Longman of the process. “I enjoyed preparing it more than presenting it. I learned the process of coming up with solutions. We had to come up with a bunch of solutions even if they didn’t work. I feel that really led us to our final solution.”
Erdman added, “I learned how to work with people and how to speak in front of people in a professional manner.”
The teams are scheduling future meetings with district officials. Edwin Davenport, high school principal, and Katie Andersen, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, attended the presentation at Dutchess BOCES.
“I think they were excited about working with us and asked us to schedule more meetings with them,” said Wheeler.
Students said they would participate in the program again.
“It was really fun and I learned a lot,” said Wheeler.