Consortium provides expanded opportunities for high school students
Manchester High School junior Madison Katke has enjoyed the South & West Washtenaw Consortium’s Video News Production program so much, she intends to take a second year and possibly pursue this field in her college education.
The South and West Washtenaw Consortium serves six local school districts, including Manchester, Chelsea, Dexter, Lincoln, Milan, and Saline. While most of the programs are located at Saline High School, all programs are accessible to all six districts. (Robotics are located at Chelsea High School, and Graph-X in Dexter.)
Courses available include Accounting; Advanced Photography; Automotive Technology; Agriscience; Building Trades; Careers in Education; CAD (Engineering & Architectural) and Computer Integrated Manufacturing & Engineering; Computer Servicing/Electronics; Cosmetology; Culinary Arts; Graph-X (graphic design); Health Sciences; Marketing; Principles of Engineering/Robotics; Video News Production; Visual Imaging Technology; and Welding.
“What used to be called ‘vocational’ education was intended for kids who may not go beyond high school,” said Dr. Ryan Rowe, Consortium Director. “Now we know we’re preparing students for college and career, in what we call a ‘scaffolded’ approach — a student might receive their CNA certification in Health Sciences, and go straight to work, or they might continue on to WCC or a four-year college for a career in nursing. They can do it all while working, and obtain further certification.”
In addition, students may receive college credit for South & West Washtenaw Consortium classes through Washtenaw Community College, Michigan State University, Ferris State University, Baker College, and Schoolcraft College. Credit is based on the student’s individual skill level.
Rowe, who was previously a science teacher in Manchester and went on to become an administrator in the Madison School District, has a passion for assisting students with their career decision-making process as they prepare for college and career. His experience and his education align perfectly with his position as Director of a program that provides exactly that for the 11th and 12th grade students who choose to participate in the South & West Washtenaw Consortium.
“It’s a great opportunity to join a class that you wouldn’t normally have at a school like Manchester,” said Madison Katke, a junior from Manchester High School who is part of the Video News Production class taught by Nathan Bush. As a member of the Video News Production class, Madison is part of the staff that produces “SHS Today,” a short news segment that is broadcast daily at Saline High School.
Katke explained that she has always been a fan of film production and seeing the process of creating projects, but hadn’t had much prior experience. “When I heard that the Consortium had a Video News Production class, I knew that I needed to try out that class,” she said. “I decided to take this class this year just because I knew I probably wouldn’t have another opportunity to do so in the future. Even with all of the Covid restrictions, I thought that I should still give it a go.”
What she’s learned is that she’d definitely consider a career like this in the future, since it’s always been of interest to her. “I hopefully want to go to college and get some sort of film degree so I can work more with film in the future!” she added.
One thing she enjoys is “how the class always keeps you occupied with something. You are constantly coming up with ideas for future segments, and you are constantly working on some sort of project each week. I also love how this class lets you bond with the other students in the class. You work with other kids in the class to produce and make a new show each week.”
Katke added that she plans to take the class again next year as a senior, and as a current student she has the option to continue for a second year, with teacher approval. Currently, she adds, about 20 different MHS students are enrolled in Consortium programs in a number of different courses. She is the only Manchester student who is participating in the Video News Production program this year.
While the Video News Production class does not have any experiential prerequisites, like many of the other consortium classes, some Consortium programs, notably the Health Sciences program, do. Rowe said that Health Sciences has an interview and application process, which helps determine that the student has a strong enough background in science to succeed in the course. A student who takes Health Sciences can graduate with the additional certification of a CNA certificate, while a student who takes Cosmetology can be certified to take their state board examinations and find a job in that field immediately after graduation.
“The opportunities are out there,” Rowe added. “For our students, the world is their oyster. Regardless of the program they choose, they can help determine whether this is something they want to pursue without going into college debt.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for the Consortium program, it has also encouraged a lot of innovation. Video News Production students, for instance, started out broadcasting SHS Today from their homes, but have since made the transition back to the studio at Saline.
“All of the six districts have had different schedules throughout the year,” Rowe explained. “We’re working on a hybrid format, currently; that’s still a challenge — with practical skills, meeting in-person only two days a week is tricky. But we are making it work. Everyone has had to pivot and adapt this year — students as well as our professional educators. This program is no exception.”
Nathan Bush, who teaches the Video News Production program, is in his 20th year as an educator. The class, which he has been teaching since 2006, was adopted as an SWWC program in 2008. The two sections of the class produce two different programs — SHS Today, which focuses on general student news for the morning section, and Hornet Nation, a dedicated sports show, for the afternoon session. In addition, in the afternoon class, if there is a large enough group of Lincoln students, the class will produce a general news show for Lincoln High School called “Lincoln Splitter View.” Each class has about 20 students currently enrolled.
“Each year we build on the previous and try to grow from there,” Bush said. “It has taken a while, but the traditions of the class have become the norm, and our communities continue to support our efforts for producing a quality product that is both entertaining and informative. Every year the shows evolve to reflect the times and the students in the program. I teach them the basics, and then sit back and watch them explore and enjoy the process of growth over a show season. It is the highlight of my career to watch students gel into a group that really cares about the product they are producing. There is no more authentic teaching experience for students, in my opinion! The students who experience it don’t always realize it at the time, but they are a part of something special.”
Everything is taught in the class, from working with cameras and studio equipment to video editing, Bush continued. “It is a fast-paced class that requires a lot of computer usage and creativity. There are lots of opportunities behind the scenes for students who never want to be on camera as well as those who love to be in front of the camera (on-air talent). There is truly a spot for every student in the program if they’re willing to work hard as a team to create exciting media content.”
Like many of the programs, there are competitive opportunities offered for the students as well. Each year the Video News Production program competes in several video contests, including the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA), Digital Arts Film and Television (DAFT), National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), and Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB). Last year, even with a shortened school year in the pandemic, the class won Spartan Awards (the highest honor for a broadcast journalism program in the state of Michigan from MIPA), for both SHS Today and Hornet Nation; a Student Emmy from the NATAS for SHS Today, and highest honors from both DAFT and MAB. “It was a great year for us in terms of competition,” said Bush.
Video News Production students also had the opportunity to compete and win individual awards for their videos that were submitted into individual categories.
The Consortium held its open house in December but is still accepting applications in all programs for interested students who will be in 11th or 12th grade during the Fall 2021. Applications, due February 19, for Manchester High School students are available here. If the interest exceeds the allowable enrollment, a lottery is held to determine which students are able to participate.
To learn more about the South & West Washtenaw Consortium, and the varied programs and opportunities that are offered to Manchester High School students, visit the website at https://www.salineschools.org/schools/swwc/
The Welding program is one of 20 or so Career and Technical Education programs offered in the South and West Washtenaw Consortium, located at Saline High School.
The Automotive Technology Program at SWWC includes Manchester High School students Jeff Carpenter and Zack Wiseman.
Video News Production students brainstorm a segment on the set of SHS Today.
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