(by Don Meador)
Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 19 and make plans to attend PATCON at Allen County-Scottsville High School. The evening features students displaying and explaining projects they have worked on for weeks as part of the educational process at the high school. Additionally, the evening is 8th Grade Night for incoming freshmen in August.
“PATCON is a school-wide initiative at Allen County Scottsville High School designed to inspire students to create, innovate, and collaborate,” explains AC-SH principal Shane Humphrey. “It is a day or series of events where students engage in hands-on projects, problem-solving activities, and collaborative challenges that go beyond the traditional classroom setting.”
Humphrey explains the purpose behind PATCON is three-fold.
“PATCON encourages creative thinking by giving students opportunities to design, build, or propose solutions to real-world problems,” Humphrey said. “PATCON promotes innovation through projects that require critical thinking, technology, and inventive approaches. PATCON also fosters collaboration, as students work in teams to share ideas, communicate effectively, and learn from one another. Overall, PATCON provides a unique, interactive learning experience where students take ownership of their learning, apply skills in meaningful ways, and demonstrate what they’ve learned in a dynamic, engaging environment.”
The event is an opportunity for parents, guardians, and the entire Allen County community to visit the school to see first-hand how students are learning, making discoveries, and working together with one another.
“Visitors at PATCON can expect to see a variety of interactive and student-led displays and presentations that showcase creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration,” Humphrey added. “Examples include students presenting their completed projects, models, or prototypes, explaining their design process, challenges, and solutions. Another example would be hands-on demonstrations where visitors can see experiments, coding projects, or engineering designs in action.”
Additional things to see could include multimedia presentations---videos, slideshows, or digital projects---that highlight research, problem-solving, or innovative ideas. Visitors may also see collaborative workspaces---areas where students are actively working in teams, allowing visitors to observe the problem-solving process in real time. Another example might be live competitions or challenges where students apply concepts on the spot to solve a problem, showcasing creativity and teamwork.
“Overall, the displays and presentations are designed to be engaging, informative, and reflective of the students’ hard work, giving visitors a clear picture of how students are applying knowledge in meaningful and innovative ways,” Humphrey stated.
Teachers are currently working with students to finalize plans for the two-hour PATCON showcase. Specific projects include freshman students presenting a maze project, physical science students talking about electric vehicles and wind power, health science students sharing first aid and basic lifesaving techniques, and senior math students sharing presentations on the use of credit cards in the real world.
Among other activities, DECA---the marketing club at AC-SH--- will be set up during PATCON with a “pick your shirt and pick your patch.” Customers will handpick their shirt and patch and students will create their sweatshirts there onsite for purchase.
Not only does PATCON spotlight the work of current students but also introduces next year’s freshmen to the exciting opportunities at the high school and the Allen County Career and Technical Center. March 19 caps an exciting day for soon-to-be freshmen.
Incoming AC-SH freshmen will spend part of their day visiting the high school to learn about the school, requirements, and registration. Parents/Guardians of the rising freshmen are encouraged to come that evening to learn for themselves about what their high schooler will encounter at AC-S as well as also receive information about career and college pathways and course registration.
PATCON and 8th Grade Night starts at 5 p.m. and continues to 7 p.m. at the high school. Freshman parents/guardians typically have an assembly during the evening’s activities in which school counselors and administration present a short overview of high school requirements. An exact time will be announced.