November Post

We had our competition this month and even though we didn't win top post, we believe some funny business was at play because of the fact we won the most trophies and yet we still weren't placed in the competition. We had lots of fun and won 3 gold medals and 3 bronze out of 6 competitions. We all had an amazing time and got to introduce ourselves to a lot of chiefs and new firemen.

EQ

1.   Review this.  Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."
Essential Question 
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.  An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Takes a stance (Allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
• Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
No not specific enough, nor does it take stance.

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
Yes, it follows the rule of 3.

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
Yes it follows the rule of 3.

 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
No, it doesn't take a stance.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.
What is the most efficient way for a Fireman to become successful in LA County?

October Post

For this month we just did the basics and practiced for our future Muster tournament. The Muster competition is a competition between all explorers in the state to see, basically who is the best Post. There are many things we are practicing , my favorite is the hose lays. It is when we get the hose and lay them on the back of the bed, the team with the fastest time wins.

Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?
What is the most effective and efficient way of becoming a successful firefighter for LA County?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.  Examples:
Volunteer work, Dedication, Hunger for more

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?
The most important source I have come across for my E.Q is my mentor, Fireman Castellano. 

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Fireman Castellano, I am an LA county explorer, it is related because I am following around Firemen and learning new things daily to come up with a better answer to my EQ.

Monthly blog

So this month I continued my pursuit to become a firefighter and took my part as an explorer. Over this past month we met 4 times all around 5-7 hours each and leaned about different things that help when a fireman. We also learned about these things called S.C.B.A, which stand for self contained breathing apparatus. They are basically the oxygen tank on a  fireman's back that he as he enters a burning building or some type of structure fire. A quick fact is that although many people believe that the tank is filled with oxygen, they are wrong. In fact it is filled with compressed air which is then taken in by the breather and turned into oxygen. Hopefully I will be ready for the next academy in January. 

Independent Component 1 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

For my 30 hour I plan on being an explorer for LA county and go every Sunday to preform whatever tasks they ask of me.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

To show evidence of my 30 hours I plan on having my mentor write a letter and signing off that I did my hours, including pictures. 

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

To explore my topic in more depth I will go to the academy and become a certified explorer which allows me to do ride alongs, which are me spending the day at a fire station, with firefighters.

Second Interview Questions

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

My mentor is Fireman Cye Castellano, he works for LA county fire department, battalion 188.

2.  What five questions will ask them about their background?

1.) What did you do before working as a Fireman?

2.) Did you always want to be a Fireman?

3.) How did you get the job?

4.) Where did you grow up?

5.) Are you and your wife and family close?

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
Well a positive thing that as resulted in what I have completed so far is giving back to the community as a whole or family. For example, my explorers group and I, one night, gave back by making tacos and selling them to the community in Pomona's Eagle Lodge on a Friday night.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?
A piece of something I got out of the interview that helped me get an understanding of Firefighting is that you really do not have a routine in the field of Firefighting. Yes, it's a routine by the fact of doing Medical calls as of Post 188, but as of what type of things you get called for, that is what is different.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
Hmm, for me something that has worked so far is being able to work with different Firemen and getting my name out there so that way in the future a lot of Firemen know who I am.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?  
Something that hasn't worked for me is waking up at 6am on my weekends.

(5) Finding Value:  

•  What is a potential question you would like to study this year?  

The question I would like to study this year, would be "What makes a great Firefighter?"

•  What do you plan to do for mentorship?  If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.  

For my mentorship I plan on working as hard as I can for my post, and make sure the community is okay and I always give back.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?
Well for my interview I plan on interviewing my Fire Explorer teacher, Mr. Castellano. My reason behind why I chose him to question would be because he is a Firefighter and has been for a numerous amount of years and one thing that I admire of him is that he is able to keep his job close, but his family closer. He is also a very down to earth type of person, he may not seem very old, but by next year he'll be retired as a Fireman.

2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask? 
Well along with the 5 questions we are given to ask, I plan on asking Fireman Castellano many different type of questions. Some personal, while some are just for fun to get an understanding his love for his job. If we begin to get awkward and not talking so much I'll have a set of open ended questions ready so that way I can get him to talk and make me feel like he isn't going to stop.

Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

1.  List your topic here: Firefighting

2.  What do you plan to do this year to show growth in each of the ESLRs?  Be specific and use an example.  Examples can come from senior project, model assembly, core, and/or participation in senior class ASB or other organizations on campus (clubs etc).

To show growth in each of the ESLR this year I am going to do whatever needs to be done to better myself to becoming a great firefighter. For example while in the Explorers program I have learned to become very consistent with the tasks I am given and became extremely more respectful to people around me. So while in senior project, I am going to show everyone that firefighting isn't just about putting out fires. It's about being a good person and if I want people to understand that, I must demonstrate it myself.

Summer Mentorship Component

1. 

7/7/2013	5 Hours	Meeting with parents and mentor. Physical training in the morning, including running multiple miles and various workouts and then introduced into the skill of hose lacing.	5 Hours
7/13/2013	5 Hours	With mentor and others selling tacos to different people at Pomona's Eagle Lodge. Hoested by Explorers Post 15.	10 Hours
7/14/2013	5 Hours	Started off the day with PT, physical training, then once that finished I was tought the ways of the rope. Learning various rope ties and learning different parts of the B.A's, breathing apperatices.	15 Hours

2. Cye Castellano

Ccastell@Fire.Lacounty.Gov

3. 

• Is this something I really want to do?     
• When is the next academy?
• How can I convince my mentor I am ready?

4. Discipline is key to success because without it we'd all be sloppy in what we do. 
  
   
5. It convinced me that I did want to peruse a career as a Fireman because it was something that did catch my attention.

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

Date: Sunday, June 9th, 2013

1.) presentation I saw were:

Sebastian - Woodworking 

Natasha - Interior Design 

Antonio - Locksmith

Alicia – Child Life Specialist

Brittany - Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Manny – Healthy Mexican Food

Christopher - Video Game Journalism

Aldo - Floral Shop Administration

Eric - Skate Shop Management

Angel - Political Campaigns

Cherokee – Animal Control

Jocelyn – Physical Fitness

Zhailah – Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine



2.) Well the only question I have that I was a bit confused on was if you didn't make 

30 minutes of talking time do you have to do it again on another day, or do you 

fail?


3.) The most important part of senior presentations I think was being able to

memorize everything, instead of looking at the powerpoint.


4.) The topic I am considering doing on my 2 hour presentation is FireFighting

because of the fact it is something I really wanna do after college.