Student Newspaper: Cascades Insight
March 2007

Cascades Insight is published monthly by
Cascades Job Corps Center, Sedro-Woolley, Washington.
Managing Editor: Bob Cockburn
Typographer and Web Design: Kate Weisel

Cascades Insight is a monthly publication of Cascades Job Corps Center in Sedro-Woolley. All items for publication must be turned in to the Newspaper Mailbox in the Staff Lounge in the administration building by the 10th of every month. Letters to the Editor must be legible, double spaced, and signed by the writer with complete address and phone number. No letter will be published that is of a personal, libelous, or malicious nature. The writer's name may be deleted by request of writer and acceptance of the editor.

Please scroll down this page to read stories from this issue.

Electrician Pre-Apprenticeship Program Offered at Cascades

The Electrician program is operated by the Home Builders Institute (HBI). You learn electrical theory, basic residential wiring, wire pulling, conduit bending, plus you will gain knowledge of circuitry, electrical code, proper safety practices, receptacles, and switches.

The Electrical trade classes are very popular at Cascades.

The Electrician Pre-Apprentice program is operated by the Home Builders Institute (HBI). Students learn electrical theory, basic residential wiring, wire pulling, conduit bending, plus they will gain knowledge of circuitry, electrical code, proper safety practices, receptacles, and switches.

This program gives students a very good chance for a well-paid job. When they have completed the courses (in 9 to 11 months) they go to work as an apprentice in the union.

The courses offer written instruction and hands-on experience. It is broken down into three categories: residential, commercial and light industrial electrical wiring.

To graduate a student must have a GED or High School Diploma and a Driver’s License. These options are available at Cascades, as well as driver’s education training.

After leaving Cascades, graduates are placed in union electrical jobs, that range from $11 to $20 an hour plus benefits.

If you are able to relocate to the southern states that were heavily damaged in the weather related floods you may be able to start at the higher wage. A journeyman electrician earns $33.32 per hour plus benefits. The Cascades Electrical trade instructor is Alex Pasillas.

Employability skills are a process and the student’s skills improve each day while at Job Corps.

Students cover topics such as safety, tools, trade math, blueprints and building codes, temporary work platforms, measurements, fasteners, load centers, raceway systems, basic concepts of electricity, luminaries and other electrical devices, troubleshooting and repair of electrical systems, and identification of materials and parts including inventory management skills.

Also taught are the importance of communications, dependability, adaptability, interpersonal skills, and career development paths.

Bulletin Board

SGA News

Cascades SGA Executive Board

Mike Jorgensen, SGA President
Rebecca Stone, SGA Vice-President
Tessa Akbari, SGA Secretary
Adam Anderson, SGA Treasurer
Carolyn Zepeda, SGA Sergeant at Arms

Dorm Representatives:

MR: Matt Roberts and Scott Wolthuis
EV: Danica Parrott and Adrien Beaver
CH: David Rich and Rachael Bartram
WW: Alicia Jones

Student Government Association meetings are every Thursday at 6 pm in the Cultural Center. Dorm points are increased by one point for each participant. Please attend and get involved.

Certification Achievements

High School Diplomas Earned

• Joshua Langdon
• Joseph Kimmel
• Trever Pearson
• Regina Loutherback

GED Achievers

• Akila Martin, 1/17/07
• Ryan O’Sullivan, 1/22/07
• Travis Bjornson, 1/22/07
• Tyler Peckham, 1/23/07
• Jacob Schmitt, 1/31/07
• Justin Purtell, 2/1/07
• Brandon Leisure, 2/1/07
• Tina Fultz, 2/5/07
• Kevin Larsen**, 2/5/07
• Abigail Lopez*, 2/9/07
• Paul Baran***, 2/9/07
• Desiree Samaniego, 2/13
• Ryan Lang*, 2/13/07
• Michele Mata**, 2/13/07
• Joshua Alnes, 2/13/07
• Brieanna Wagner**, 2/13
• Sam Lopez***, 2/13/07

* Honors (2,500+); ** High Honors (2,700+); *** High Honors With Distinction (3,000+)

Job Shadow Experience

Most people are scared of the dentist, hate the smell of the dental office, and have nightmares of that dreadful drilling sound. Dental offices actually are not as bad as you think. They want you to be as comfortable as possible and do whatever they can to make it that way.

In the beginning of February, I had the opportunity to job shadow an oral surgeon. I’m fascinated with oral surgery and feel fortunate that I could do this. I arrived at Dr. Stivers’ Oral Surgery and Implant office in the morning and began observing the assistants. I made sure to ask as many questions as I could and also took notes.

Working as a dental assistant you are constantly on the move. In oral surgery you are either sterilizing or you are assisting in the operatory. The assistants said they would recommend getting a job in oral surgery instead of general dentistry. They all seemed to enjoy their jobs.

Dr. Stivers told me that he went to school for about 14 years to become an oral surgeon. I asked him if it was worth it, he said it was.

Towards the middle of the day I made my way into the operatory with Dr. Stivers and watched him extract (remove) wisdom teeth all day. Over all, I saw five patients, four of whom had their wisdom teeth removed, and one broken his tooth in half. The dentist was not able to save the tooth, it needed to be extracted. This patient actually woke up during the surgery and started pushing the doctor’s hands away, but then fell asleep again. Of course, he wouldn’t remember this after the surgery. In most offices you see the dentist sitting in a chair working on the patient, but in oral surgery they stand and operate on the patient.

Usually in the office there are the Oral Surgeon, an Office Manager, an Assistant, and a Registered Nurse. The RN administers a drug that sedates the patient (puts them to sleep).

When you are sedated you are unconscious, but not fully asleep. You are in the first stage of sleep. You still respond to feeling, so they give you oral anesthetic, but you do not remember the procedure at all. You also have no gag reflex when you are sedated.

If you are not used to seeing blood, I would not recommend this field of work because it’s "graphic".

I had a great time and learned a lot from Job Shadowing. So far, this was my best experience here at Job Corps. I now have a new-found respect for oral surgery and a better understanding of this field.

Join Us to Plant Trees

Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group was joined by Job Corps volunteers on March 3 at Nookachamps Creek.

The SFEG works to restore native riparian plants along the Skagit River and its tributaries. These plants will help restore salmon habitat by providing shade and cover for salmon; and leaf litter for aquatic insects, which in turn provide food for the salmon. These riparian zones also improve water quality by controlling erosion and filtering pollutants. You can help provide all these things by volunteering for our planting parties.

Sign up sheets are on Bob Cockburn’s office door in the Rec and on the office door in the Cultural Center.

Next dates are March 10 on Silver Creek, South Skagit Highway; March 17 on Mouse Creek, Darrington; and on April 7, there is nursery potting party, here at Cascades Gateway Center.

Bring warm clothing, rain gear, knee boots, gloves and a friend.

Volunteers Help State Park Clean Up Woody Debris from Storm Damage

Shown here are Cascades Student Volunteers at Wenberg State Park. Winter storms took down many trees, so roads and paths needed to be cleared and debris removed. A heart-felt thank you goes out to all volunteers from residents and visitors who frequent these national treasures. Thank you for your hard work for the common good!