Kids Helping Kids ~ Free Halloween House Sponsored by Kamiakin DECA

The Kamiakin DECA club is sponsors the annual Halloween House on October 29th at McDonalds. This free event provides children ages 5 to 8 a safe place to go for a fun Halloween evening. Ronald McDonald, a maze and trick-or-treat houses make-up the fun event. Children, young and not-so-young, are in costume!

Kamiakin DECA has sponsored this event for over ten years with the goal to provide an alternative activity to trick-or-treating in neighborhoods that they are not familiar with. The DECA students are responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of this community tradition. McDonalds and Adams Enterprises invest in this activity through their support of the annual appearance of Ronald McDonald!

This is truly a great community partnership of kids helping kids.

DECA Students Receive Leadership Training

Kamiakin Marketing and DECA students had a great opportunity to learn how to be better leaders by attending the Washington State DECA Fall Leadership Conference in Bellevue on October 25-27th. From touring Seattle on the infamous Ducks, to the high energy opening session with the Seattle Sounder’s President, to leadership training sessions, the students learned and had fun doing it! Topics covered included: decision-making, effective communication, citizenship, teamwork, consequences, problem-solving, and communication styles, along with workshops on competition, leadership, and careers. Seventeen Kamiakin students felt the excitement of being a DECA member. Students networked with other students from the local area and from across the state. They also experienced the pleasure of teamwork and got a chance to explore their future goals.

Kamiakin Marketing is doing their part in training future leaders in business and marketing!

Careers In Education Students Attend Future Teachers Workshop!

Southridge and Kamiakin High School’s Careers In Education students had the unique opportunity to attend a Future Teachers conference in October at WSU-Tri-Cities. The students learned techniques to be more successful at their internship sites and as a teacher. These techniques included making math fun, working with special needs students, teaching through song and music, and routines and rituals in the classroom.

Pictured: Southridge and Kamiakin CIE students thank the Kennewick Education Association for sponsoring their T-shirts!

We look forward to an incredible year in CIE!

National DECA Week Celebrated at Kamiakin High School - October 2009

Kamiakin’s DECA chapter celebrated National DECA week with lots of fun activities. The week started with the City of Kennewick recognizing DECA week with a formal proclamation. Each day had different activities: Monday’s activity was “find a DECA Diamond.” DECA Diamonds were strategically hidden around campus for students to look for and find for a reward. The winners were recognized with prizes and bragging rights.

Tuesday was the day for the annual DECA Week Dodgeball Tournament. Mrs. Clizbe’s Sports Marketing class were the winners in this very competitive activity. There was also a parent open house that evening to explain DECA and the opportunities that are available to the members. Wednesday challenged our members with a scavenger hunt at lunch time. This was competitive and creativity in the pictures was key. Thursday was the first meeting of the year. Eighty of the 170 members were present for pizza and information on upcoming activities. DECA members were also encouraged to participate in the blood drive at school. Friday was fun with the “pie-an-officer-in-the face” fundraiser.

The week capped with a Tri-City wide DECA fashion show called “Viva La Glam”. Students from DECA chapters in the area planned, promoted, implemented, and modeled in a fabulous fashion show held at Columbia Center Mall. Even our principal, Mr. Chelin was involved by strutting his stuff on the runway. All in all, this DECA week was filled with fun and rewarding activities for all members.

Kamiakin DECA Officers: Kristin Kontogianis-President, Randee Pemberton-Vice-President, Taran Patel-Secretary, Billy Sharma-Treasurer, Savanna Davies-Public Relations, Brandon En’Wezoh-Fundraising Coordinator, Laura Philllips-Competition Coordinator, Kevin Paulson- Delegate. We are proud to say that we have 168 members this year!

Marketing & Business Leadership Conference - October 1, 2009

Marketing and business students from area high schools attended the 11th Annual Marketing & Business Leadership Conference held on October 1st. Students participated in break-out sessions with local business representatives including, Carl Taylor and Harold Adams from McDonald’s, Matt Price from McCurley, Deb Bowen from Jr. Achievement, Rachael Drouhard, Stephanie Maier and Chris Collier from Imageworks.

Additional sessions included Job Preparation and Job Seeking Skills with Becky Ferguson, Owner, Taste Tri-Cities and Darlene Mendoza, HR, City of Kennewick and Innovation in Action! presented by Jon Heaton, CEO, Pay Plus Benefits.

The featured speaker, Joe Estey, talked with students about how to develop their own futures and create their own destiny.
Students were served lunch provided by Costco and had an opportunity to talk to a variety of business representatives at the mini-trade show.

Agriculture Students Visit CBC and Gauntt Farms

Students from Kamiakin and Kennewick Agriculture programs participated in a tour of the Columbia Basin College research farm, agriculture mechanics facilities and then headed out to Burbank where they met with Gauntt Farm owner, Chep Gauntt. Gauntt discussed the many opportunities in farming today and the important role that technology plays on today’s farms.

At CBC, Tim Woodward, Dean of the Agriculture Research and Development Department led students through the school’s research farm and discussed the many crops they are growing, including soybeans, alfalfa, chili peppers, sweet corn and giant miscanthus. Much of the research is focused on the development of alternative fuels.