An Eastern Hancock student works on a recipe during a cooking class. Passion Project courses will be taught in two-hour blocks. Teachers and staff members were challenged to come up with class ideas that introduce students to new ideas, new learning opportunities or new ways to collaborate with others during the school day.
HANCOCK COUNTY — A group of Eastern Hancock students gathered outside of the high school with all kinds of construction gear in tow. The teacher, Aaron Amos, was putting on a flannel jacket and steering the group toward a landing in the back where they planned to build a shed.
Amos, who teaches physics and computer science, was really looking forward to working with the students and showing them some real building skills. While many physics and computer teachers don’t normally handle teaching workshop skills, for the next several days teachers in the district are stepping outside of their normal teaching duties in the afternoon and working with EH students on “Passion Projects.”
“This was a new idea this year,” Superintendent George Philhower said. “It’s an opportunity for kids to get to do things they normally wouldn’t do in school and to see some of the things our educators like to do.”
Passion Projects are basically mini-courses created by teachers on a variety of topics for students to choose from including community-service-focused projects, adult-type courses, and fun activities to promote joy and connection.
“I used to do construction and I really like it,” Amos said. “We’re hoping to hit the ground running on making this shed.”
The Passion Project idea allowed the district teachers to pick one of their own favorite topics, something they like to do or are interested in, and then share it with the students. The district students each signed up to learn a new skill from a list of dozens of different classes.
From pickleball with principal Adam Barton to dog-training lessons with a chemistry teacher, the students were having all kinds of fun during the afternoon classes, which will last for seven days.
“We believe students are successful when they enjoy school and have opportunities to make connections with not only classmates, but teachers and staff members as well,” Barton said.
While Barton noted he didn’t know a thing about pickleball, he decided to host a pickleball class and brought in people who play to help the kids and himself learn the game. Several students signed up to learn about the new sport, including EH junior Brooklyn Willis.
“I’ve never even picked up a paddle before, so I wanted to come in here for this and to do something to keep moving, but I’m actually learning a lot,” Brooklyn said. “It’s super fun and I like this because we’re getting to hang out with different people, not the normal kids you might always be with.”
Barton had a former EH student, who is now a pickleball expert, work with and train the students since he too was learning about the sport. But, that’s what the Passion Project week is all about, Philhower said, everyone having fun and learning new things.
“We’ve got a teacher teaching crochet who doesn’t even know how to crochet, but she’ll bring in some experts and make it fun for everyone,”Philhower said.
Down the hall, Lauri Johnson, who is normally a chemistry teacher, brought in an official from Custom Canine Training to work with her dog Lego. Her Passion Project included allowing the students to bring their pet in and get some specialized training during the class.
“We’re also hoping to bring in a K-9 officer to come in and speak with the students,” Johnson said. “Something like this gives us a chance to build a different kind of relationship with the students and that’s fun.”
Passion Projects courses are taught in two-hour blocks on seven different afternoons in early March, starting this past week. Teachers and staff members were challenged to come up with the class ideas to introduce students to new ideas, new learning opportunities or new ways to collaborate with others during the school day.
The school’s art teacher, Lorrie Edwards, was working with kids in a cooking class called “Dinner Beyond Ramon.” In another classroom, the sound and smell of wood being worked on wafted trough the airway where students were learning how to flip furniture for a profit.
“The Passion Projects are good because I think it helps us learn about things we might not ever get the chance to,” 8th grade student Brennon Trueblood said. “I am interested in learning about furniture and how I can flip it and make some money.”
Students were able to choose one favorite option from a course guide which had 39 different class choices. The classes included things like chess;, creative writing, the stock market, international and crypto currency, fossil hunting, classic film and television, acting and comedy improv class, mysteries of the museum, horses and many more. They were all free of charge thanks to contributions from the Eastern Hancock Education Foundation.
Philhower noted educators expect some after-school clubs might be created out of what the students discover they like as a result of hosting the Passion Project event.
“These types of things also allow students to see grown-ups, their teachers, through a different lens,” Philhower said. “Connection is one of our corporation goals.”
The last day of the Passion Project is set for Thursday, March 16 when they’ll host an open house from 6 to 7 p.m. to highlight the accomplishments of the students from the Passion Project week.
