Chinook West's 2007 Graduates Shine

Chinook West celebrated its graduating seniors on Friday. Students glowed and
parents beamed as the graduates were honored one by one for the challenges they had
placed before themselves and the goals they had achieved.

Chinook is a small school, creative in its approach to education and groundbreaking in its achievements. It has offered a saving grace for some, who benefit from the wholistic approach to education and the teacher’s natural mentoring in such small classes. It has offered a creative intellectual outlet to others, who thrive on thinking ‘outside the box’.

Graduating seniors Colin Bosma and Silas Tittes have been honored with awards and scholarships. Both young men are admired for their community involvement as well as their personal achievements. Ed Porritt, Nederland MS High School Dean of Students said he admired both young men, “They stand up for their morals.” He then jokingly added that Silas “kicks butt with his pinky finger’’, referring to one of Silas’ achievements. (Silas recently earned his Shao-Lin Black Belt.)

Silas explained that he knew early on that he wanted to attend Chinook. “ I knew
there would be more freedom and opportunities for me at Chinook.” Silas said he knew that for some teens, that wouldn’t work, because they don’t know how to work independently, but Silas was home schooled until middle school and so this was already a developed skill. He says he enjoys real-life learning, and he thinks this aspect of Chinook gave him an opportunity to mature. He was able to get experience working on a psychological study, ‘running subjects’ and learning about different aspects of the study. This past year, this ‘real-life’ education enabled Silas, along with Colin Bosma, to work on 1190 Radio Station, doing promotion and CD reviewing as well as production of their own CD from their original music. Their name is “The Illusionists”and their CD is called, “More Bang For The Buck.”

Silas says that he thinks, “A huge part of why you can thrive here is because it is such a small school. That allows for more ’hands-on’ participation in your education”…but also its about learning how to ask the right questions, to thoroughly understand what you’re learning…and its easier to ask questions in a small classroom.

Silas’ mom says she was glad Chinook was there as an educational option because, “we wanted to keep that creative side of him.” She thinks the Peace Jam and Conference on World Affairs are special highlights of his time spent at Chinook. The students at Chinook are encouraged to be active on local as well as global levels. This allows for a greater understanding of their world, as well as being a great lesson in empowerment.

Silas was awarded the Edith Scates memorial scholarship for leadership, which is a $1,000.00 scholarship, and the Nederland Lions Club also awarded Silas a $1,000.00 scholarship. Silas has been accepted to CU Boulder and says he likes Life Sciences, but since he is graduating a year early, he will take the next year off to travel and work and then enter CU in the fall of 2008.

Colin Bosma is also graduating a year early. He has been honored with the Community Champion Award given by Peak-to-Peak Healthy Communities. Colin says that Chinook is a ‘High School of opportunity’, and that it takes oneself to harness and use it…. that made my High School years enjoyable.” Colin will also take a year off before starting college. He says he has an interest in psychology.

Stephen LeFaiver Executive Director of Teens, Inc., where Chinook is located, noted that “everyone learns different things at different speeds and at different times. We like to honor that. We have found that with a lot of encouragement from us, students get to where they want to take ownership of their education. Mike Wight, Academic Coordinator of Teens Inc., says, “The beauty of Chinook’s methods is in its wholistic approach to education…we are able to provide individualized education catered to student interests.”

Cameron Boswell, Graduation’s Master of Ceremonies, praised that Chinook students were “encouraged to express themselves and be heard, and given resources to fulfill their own needs.”

Bridget Chiarito was honored this year as Colorado’s Teacher of the Year. She
loves teaching at Chinook, and praises the way the students there consistently think
outside of the box…creatively and intellectually. She says she enjoys close relationships
with her students, as well as their parents, who she finds very involved in their teens
education. She praised the high level of communication, both between the other teachers and Teens Inc. administration, as well as the students and their parents. She appreciates the way ‘everyone has it together there…’

Another favorite teacher, Dan Vardamis says he believes students like having a say in what they’re learning. He feels students embrace what they’re passionate about. Dan says he appreciates that every student here is able to think critically… and to have unique opinions.

Julia Keast, Program Director at Teens Inc., grew up in a small, conservative town with little artistic opportunity and later went on to earn her degree in Fine Arts. She says “the freedom of self-expression & creativity that Chinook embraces is truly wonderful.”

Local ‘Blue Owl Books’ owner Kimba Stefane runs a program linking musical instruments and instructors with students through Teens Inc., where the school is located. She has this to say about Chinook, “In a society where many kids are taught what to think instead of how to think, it’s great to have an alternative like Chinook where kids are given greater freedom and control over their education. Her son Silas says he would like to attend Chinook once he reaches High School.

Graduate Jenny Ousley glowed with pride, as did her mother. She was honored with the Metropolitan Mayor’s Commission Youth Award. She also won Boulder Tech’s Outstanding Senior of the Year award. She was praised as having outstanding writing ability for a high school student. Jenny says Chinook “allowed me to be independent.” A lot of people gave me support and helped me make good decisions. Jenny will attend Red Rocks College in the fall where she plans to study Environmental Studies and work on her Liberal Arts degree. She says she is sad to leave, but says she feels like “everyone who comes here will excel.”

Luke Dobson, aka ‘Chuck’ was also honored with the Metropolitan Mayor’s Commission Youth Award. Chuck played football on Nederland’s High School Football Team this past year. He is described as a natural leader and a very compassionate person. He says Chinook gave him a chance to succeed. He needed to work with people who understood his learning style. He says the most valuable thing he learned was how to manage his time well. He was very happy at Chinook.

Philip Bosma, aka ‘Pip’, liked the diverse classes, like the Chess/Math class and the Neuro-Anatomy class. Graduate Megan McMillan was honored for her stubborn will which helped her to reach her goals this past year.

Former student Jordan Morrow, said Chinook “allowed me to find a path I enjoyed. I’ve learned things about myself and gotten the best sense of my body, mind and spirit. In a world that dampens what defines one’s self, nothing is as important.

It is a very gifted group of students who participate in these small classrooms. Subjects are often taken much deeper than in traditionally larger classrooms. This, and the wholistic approach to education have created a graduating class of productive, happy citizens who know how to make a difference in their lives and their world. And, as the Margaret Mead quote gracing the wall says, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.”