By Katey McGraw

WP Bronco Beat

The school is busting with college opportunities this year. We are receiving three classes and sending one in the distance learning room. There are also three online classes that students are a part of this year. All of these classes are managed through Mid-Plains Community College.

During first hour, Expository Writing 1010 is coming out of Trenton. The class, taught by Mr. Everitt, has a total of 19 students, eight of which are from Wauneta, the remaining students are from Dundy County and Trenton. 

Second hour Mrs. Bradney teaches a Family and Consumer Science class and has two students in Trenton. This is a big deal for the Wauneta-Palisade District because we have never had a teacher send a class to other students during the school day.  

Third hour we offer a foreign language, French. Mrs. Kathy Barger in Trenton teaches this to two Wauneta students. 

The last distance learning class is offered during high school lunch and has five seniors. College Algebra, which is taught by Ms. Good in Medicine Valley, is sent to Wauneta, Paxton, and Hershey. All expenses for these classes will be reimbursed if the student passes with a D or above.

Four students are taking college classes online. There is a new grant, Career Education Partnership Act, commonly called CEPA that enables these students to take online classes. The plan is to have students attend five years of high school but when they graduate they would have a high school diploma along with an associate of arts degree. The student would then only have to go to college for two more years. As you can see the students would be staying in their community longer and then returning sooner, which is the goal of the grant. Wauneta is offering Management, Computer, and Web Design. All costs, tuition, general purpose fees, and books, are covered by the grant. 

These opportunities will benefit high school students in a multitude of ways. For one, they can choose to take classes that are not offered within the school. Students also receive college credit totally free of charge, granted they pass. Many of the students will tell you that it is much easier to take the classes in high school where you can get help from teachers in the building. 

An opportunity that goes unnoticed by students is that they are learning responsibility. They must have their assignments turned in on time. No one is looking over their shoulder and constantly reminding them to turn in their work. The teachers do not care if you fail; it is not their responsibility to pass you. Teachers simply give a schedule with due dates, leaving the students to be responsible for themselves. 

These are only a few of the great opportunities to learn and grow while being thrown into a college class but still having the comfortable high school atmosphere.