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Dale Kern » Staff Profile

Staff Profile

Greetings!

 

My name is Dale Kern and I’m the High School Social Studies teacher and Senior Advocate. I received my Bachelor of Arts in History from Tennessee State University where I also minored in Political Science. While I was there, the emphasis of my studies centered around eras of social change in US history and the practices implemented by people who sought social justice. I earned my State of Colorado teaching license through the ASPIRE to Teach Alternative Licensure Program at CU Denver.  

 

 The 2023-2024 school year will be my eighth year of teaching and my fifth at Westgate. Before coming to Westgate, I taught US History and Music at Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center in Golden where I worked with at-risk youth who were in the custody of the Division of Youth Services. My time at Lookout gave me experience practicing trauma-informed care and guided me in adopting the principles associated with TIC; safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment.

 

As a social studies teacher, I believe that it is imperative to not only develop the readiness of my students as critical thinkers and engaged citizens; but to also help facilitate learning experiences where they can find growth and personal enrichment.

 

In my free time I enjoy backpacking, traveling, and snowboarding. I'm also a musician and I play guitar in a few local bands around Northern Colorado. 

 

Classes

Posts

Week of 8/24-8/28

Welcome back for another wonderful year at Westgate! I hope you had a relaxing summer and are ready to begin the New Year. I’m really excited for this sociology course and I think we all will enjoy it very much. This week we will go over some introduction sociologist key terms and take a look at the history of sociology and some of the founding thinkers that shaped how we got to the subject we know today.

Classes: Monday/Wednesday, 1:00 – 1:30 PM

Zoom ID: 740 3251 3917

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

  1. Chapter 1.1. What Is Sociology?
  • Explain concepts central to sociology
  • Understand how different sociological perspectives have developed
  1. Chapter 1.2. The History of Sociology
  • Explain why sociology emerged when it did
  • Describe how sociology became a separate academic discipline

New Assignments

1. Chapter 1.1 – Intro to Sociology- Note catcher
2. Chapter 1.2. The History of Sociology – Note catcher

Orientation Update

Happy Thursday everyone, and welcome back for another wonderful year at Westgate! We hope you are as excited for the beginning of the quarter as we are. Here is everything you need to know about orientation next week:

 

Reminders (please read):

  • Students must wear masks. We will be following all district and state guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety. We will have disposable masks at the door if needed.
  • Arrival procedure: Your student should follow the Adams12 health screening at home before coming to school. If they do not, they will have their temperature checked before entering the building. When they arrive to school, they should find a high school teacher (we will have a sign) and wait with that teacher before being given permission to enter.
  • Most classes/activities will take place in small groups. Your students will be assigned to these groups upon arrival and remain with them for the duration of the day.
  • Your student should bring a cold lunch that does not need microwaved. To keep within state and district COVID-19 safety measures, we have removed all microwaves.
  • Students cannot leave campus for lunch.
  • Students should bring water bottles. The bottle-refilling feature on the water fountains is still functional, but the fountain part is not.
  • If your student has a personal computer, they may bring it to work on assignments and activities during the day. Otherwise, they will use a school computer for the day.
  • Students will be given supplies and, if needed, a computer to be taken home for the quarter.
  • IMPORTANT: If you need a computer and/or supplies, but your student will not be attending orientation, you may pick up both at the school on Friday, August 21st between 9:00 AM and Noon.

Week Schedule: Your student will ONLY come to school on the day their class is listed:

  • Monday, August 17th: Freshmen, 8:00 – 3:30
  • Tuesday, August 18th: Sophomores, 8:00 – 3:30
  • Wednesday, August 19th: Juniors, 8:00 – 3:30
  • Thursday 20th: Seniors, 8:00 – 11:30 (academic material will occur during this time. If they would like to remain for social-emotional activities, they may let us know that they wish to stay until 3:30)

 

 

 

 

 

Orientation Schedule: Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors

Time

Activity

8:00 – 8:30

Go over COVID-19 safety policies

8:30 – 9:30

Advocacy/Welcome Back circle (outside)

9:30 – 10:00

Microsoft Teams training

10:00 – 11:30

Class Rotations (3 classes)

11:30 – 12:00

Lunch

12:00 – 1:00

Class Rotations (2 classes)

1:00 – 3:00

FRCC discussion with Ms. Washington, Electives rotation, Social-Emotional Learning activity (these will be rotations dependent on whether your student is attending FRCC or taking Westgate electives.)

3:00 – 3:30

Closing Circle

 

Orientation Schedule: Seniors

Time

Activity

8:00 – 8:30

Advocacy

8:30 – 9:30

Rotations: FRCC and Graduation (Washington) and Seminar (Matthews)

9:30 – 10:30

Rotations: FRCC and Graduation (Washington) and Seminar (Matthews)

10:30 – 11:30

Rotations: Teachers

11:30 – 12:00

Leave for the day OR Stay for SEL activities

12:00 – 3:30

SEL, Closing Circle

Events for the week of 6/1 - 6/5

On Thursday, June 4th, Westgate is hosting an End of Year Parade at the school from 10am-11am. You cannot line up before 9:30. This is a chance for you to wave goodbye to your teachers, from a distance! It's a real shame we must do it this way. But all high school teachers will be there, we'd love to see you if you can make it!

 

The following day on Friday, June 5th, we are having a computer drop off and Yearbook pickup from 10am-11:30am. You may pick up your yearbooks from the school on this day.

US History Assignments for the Week of 5/25-5/31

Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend!
 
Here are the last batch of assignments for the year:
 
Topic 15.5 Post War Prosperity
Topic 15.6 Mass Culture in the 1950’s
Topic 15.7 Social Issues of the 1950’s
Topic 15 Quiz
 
I will also be posting the Final on Wednesday.
Have a great week!
-Kern

Economics Assignments for the Week of 5/25-5/31

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend! 

 

Here are your assignments for the week in econlowdown that are due 5/31:

Get an Education, Even if It Means Borrowing

Investing in Yourself: An Economic Approach to Education Decisions

College Choice 101

Financial Aid 101

FAFSA 101

Cars and Cash, What to Know Before You Go

Why Is It So Difficult To Buy a High-Quality Used Car?

Insurance, Segment 1: Coverage and Cost Basics

Insurance, Segment 2: Types of Coverage, Optional Add-ons, and Possible Discounts

Renters and Homeowners Insurance: When the Unexpected Happens

  
We are almost their folks!
-Mr. Kern

US History Assignments for the Week of 5/18-5/22

Hey Folks, 
 
Your assignments for this week are Topics 15.1-15.4 in One Note. These is no pre-quiz and no movie assignment but I have left a movie link for you if you would like to watch 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers which is an allegory for the Second Red Scare.
​I will also be accepting any missing or overdue assignments until May 25th so please check Infinite Campus or email me for missing or incomplete assignments so that you can make them up.
If you complete them please send me an email letting me know so I can update IC.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Mr. Kern

Economics Assignments for the Week of 5/18-5/22

Hello Folks, 
Your assignments this week in econlowdown are:

Life Goals

Soft Skills: Success May Depend on Them

On the Move: Renting Basics

Filling Out the W-4

Budgeting 101

Banks and Alternatives

Making Sense of Private Debt

Smoothing the Path: Balancing Debt, Income, and Saving for the Future

Your Social Security Number: The 9-Digit Evolution

Individual Income Tax: The Basics and New Changes

Credit Bureaus: The Record Keepers

Continuing Feducation—Understanding How a FICO Credit Score is Determined

​I will also be accepting any missing or overdue assignments up until May 25th so please check Infinite Campus or email me for missing or incomplete assignments so that you can make up.
If you complete them please send me an email letting me know so I can update IC.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Mr. Kern

Advocacy Newsletter Week 3 from Mr. Rowan

As we continue to uncover the vast and complex topic of Wellness, it is important we continue to acknowledge that maintaining wellness during a global pandemic brings forth unique and unknown challenges. We are five weeks into distance learning and the routines are set, but even though there is a lot to do, we may be a feeling that things are getting to be “too routine” and the repetition is getting, well, boring. Boredom is not just a lack of something to do–because there is always something to do–but our inability to find meaning in a task and to pay attention to it.

With some of us now spending a lot of our time at or around home, where we used to find meaning– our friends, our work, school, clubs, going out to dinner, shopping or the movies–is no longer an option. But it’s just as likely that pandemic anxiety has also been shortening our attention spans. I like to think of boredom as a mindset where we are bogged down by our thoughts and can’t think of something fun to do. This can limit our thinking and lead to our attention wandering, having a lack of interest and feeling empty, tired and restless.

Luckily, we have the ability change our mindset and think about boredom in a whole new way. Crisis can bring out hidden reserves of human resourcefulness and times of struggle can bring out innovative solutions; constraints activate flexibility and scarcity of resources increases our creativity. If we let it, our boredom can help us be resourceful with what we have, it can lead to finding creative ways of seeing the routine in new and different ways, we can unplug and daydream, we can check in with ourselves and reflect on who we are, how we are feeling and find ways we can practice ways of being more resilient when we want to give up. So remember, boredom is ok and can be a good thing! So if you are feeling bored, 1) try to say to yourself, ”It is ok to be bored. How might boredom be a good thing?" 2) Try something totally new this week. 3) Check in with our feelings and see what you need. Get creative and feel free to share a picture with me about what you did as a boredom buster at [email protected]

Philosophy Assignment for the week of 5/11 - 5/15

Hey Folks, 
 
This week I would like you to watch an episode of The Good Place and then watch a follow up video I have included in One Note. Your assignment is to come up with 10 existential questions that you have ever wondered about life and then answer a question about how people may be able to overcome an existential crisis. This is an easy assignment so have fun with it. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
 
-Kern

May Advocacy Newsletter_Wellness_WeekTwo (1)

Note from Mr. Rowan:

Thank you all for joining Westgate on our wellness journey in Advocacy this month! Advocacy is a cornerstone for Westgate’s program because we believe that all people thrive when their social emotional needs are being met. We hope to help our students build social emotional skills, learn to connect their bodies and brains through physical wellness, and build and maintain powerful community relationships. Physical, mental and emotional wellness is the foundation of this work.

In this newsletter, you will find a message from Ms. Novak around wellness and the changes we are all experiencing. You will also find links to different workbooks, cards and activities that can help you and your family identify and work through emotions and engage in self-care. I have also left links to the wellness BINGO cards and the Virtual Calming Room. We hope you have time to engage in these activities by yourself or together, and know that we can make it through the Pandemic and Distance Learning together. #bettertogether

David Rowan

Restorative Practices Coordinator

Westgate Community School

K-12 Gifted Education for the Whole Child

US History Assignment for 5/11 - 5/15

Hey Folks,
 
Your assignments for this week are to complete Topic 14 by finishing up Topics 14.1 - 14.4. The Power Point is still in the Content Library and the Assignments need to be completed in One Note as per usual.
Thanks!
-Kern
Assignments for this week:
1. Topic 14.5
2. Topic 14.6
3.Topic 14.7
4. Topic 14.8
5. Topic 14 Quiz
 

US History Assignments for the Week of 5/4 - 5/8

Hey Folks,
 
Hope everyone is going ok. Your assignments for this week are to complete the Pre-quiz for Topic 14(doesn't count against you but do the best you can) and Topics 14.1 - 14.4. The Power Point is in the Content Library and the Assignments need to be completed in One Note as per usual.
Thanks!
-Kern
Assignments for this week:
1. Topic 14 Pre-Quiz
2. Topic 14.1 Rise of Aggressive Dictators
3.Topic 14.2 America Debates Involvement
4. Topic 14.3 The US Enters WWII
5. Topic 14.4 A War on Two Fronts
 

Economics Assignments for 5/11 - 5/15

Hey Folks, 

For the remainder of the year we are going to be completing assignments in econlowdown as we end our study of Macro and Microeconomics and move on to Personal Finance. New assignments will be available every week in econlowdown.

To get started on your assignments, find the email I sent previously from econlowdown and find the link to your student login page and access your account using the student code and password in that email. 

 

Also, please do not login using your gmail. Your econlowdown login is tied to your outlook school emails so use the student login and password in that email to login.

The first thing you will notice is that there will be quite a bit more assignments than you are used to. Relax good people. These assignments are small and you won't have to worry about downloading the power point, copying and pasting, One Note acting funky, etc. as everything is contained within each assignment in econlowdown. Upon completion, your scores will be reported to me.

 

Your assignments for this week are:

Cards, Cars and Currency: Lessons 1-5

Philosophy Assignment for the Week of 5/4 -5/8

Hey Folks,
 
This week we continue with our study of existentialism and look at the controversial philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The Nietzsche assignment is posted in One Note. 
 
 
Have a great week and see you on Wednesday!!
 
-Kern