Page 4 - "I AM" School Newsletter - Spring 2020

The coronavirus outbreak has taken its toll on into the online classes. Despite the occasional spotty
daily life in almost every aspect in Siskiyou County, with network problems, this system has proved effective to
one of the most heavily affected systems being schools. keep the school on track.
In the wake of government-recommended isolation, all I think the best way to describe our new online
schools in Mt. Shasta City have been faced with indefinite learning is that we are making lemonade out of lemons,”
shutdown, and many have turned towards alternative said Shelley Blomberg, the school’s administrator. “I am so
solutions in order to keep up the education of their thankful that our teachers have found a way to continue
students. Some schools have been adapting to online- teaching their innovative curriculum online; and I am so
based education, aided by the use of video call services thankful that our students are very productive. But we
such as Zoom and websites like Schoology. miss our kids. We enjoy our time in the classroom much
Mt. Shasta’s “I AM” School took to this almost more than seeing students’ faces on a computer screen.
immediately after the shutdown, developing a new Even during this time away from our students we think
schedule of virtual classes for the students to stay on top about them all the time, and we pray that they are safe
of their work while at home. and healthy. So we are making lemonade the best way
Though the “I AM” School has an easier time than we know how and hoping that we will see our students as
most adjusting to the new circumstances, having soon as it is safe to do so.”
fewer students, The school has had to address not only the
the trials still cancellation of classes, but of major events such as
prove to be recitals, presentations, and the end of the year junior/
challenging as senior trip. The sudden absence of these plans has left
the students disappointment in their wake, but students continue to
from Lake look towards the future.
Shastina to Mt. This situation provides a new perspective on daily life,
Shasta grapple especially for those who are about to graduate and move
with their onto the next phase of their lives.
own internet by Alexis
connections in
order to tune This article was printed in the Mount Shasta Herald, where our senior
Alexis, has been working as a contract reporter for the past year.

AP Physics - 2020

It is a unique opportunity that a school as small as ours is able
to offer and teach a college-level class to its students. Being one of the
students fortunate enough to take this class, it is safe to say that we are
all very grateful for the opportunity.
Our teacher, Mr. Williams—who currently teaches his AP Physics
class at Century High School all the way in Pocatello, Idaho—has gone out
of his way to build his curriculum into our school. Considering we do not have him as our present teacher here
in Mount Shasta, he has offered to have video call sessions with us after school, in his own free time, to
ensure we are understanding every section and thoroughly prepared for the exam. Whenever any of us have
experienced difficulty grasping a certain concept, he has always given us the chance to improve by offering
makeup work and covering any problem of which we have questions.
While it has undoubtedly posed a challenge in comparison to other classes, taking AP Physics has
certainly encouraged me and has given me further confidence to pursue and aspire to work in the field of
engineering. I will always be thankful to Mr. Williams, and Mr. Elrod for holding our practical labs, and all those
who have made it possible for me to take it this year.
By Aidan