Jacket U is on February 24, 2023, at Perrysburg High School. It is an early release schedule.
As of today, all course selections are final.
What is Jacket U?
Mr. Aaron Cookson, Perrysburg High School Principal, states, “Jacket U is short for Jacket University. It is an afternoon where students have the opportunity to share their passions, interests, and unique experiences with others.”
Mr. Aaron Cookson, Perrysburg High School Principal (photo credit: Summer Serres)
Mr. Kevin English, a science teacher at Perrysburg and the event planner for Jacket U, said, “We are doing this in hopes that stronger relationships and bonds will be made between students and staff. It is cool to see interests or passions of people that you never knew. You get to know people on a deeper level.”
Mr. Kevin English, Perrysburg High School Science Teacher (photo credit: Summer Serres)
Cookson said, “Jacket U is a way to create a closer knit school community. It is a way to make connections from student to student, student to staff, and everyone to Perrysburg High School. I am really excited, I want it to be a fun, interesting, laid back, informative afternoon.”
Who created Jacket U?
English said, “It was originally an idea by Mr. Cookson, he asked me to plan it. The name Jacket U was thought of by Dr. Short, [retired Perrysburg Principal] but it did not really go anywhere. Events like this have been spreading from school to school. Mr. Cookson approached me in October 2022. We have been planning ever since.”
Cookson said, “This is the inaugural year. I took the idea from the previous school I was principal at. It was a hit at that school. Mr. English has been helping a lot with planning. He has a lot of experience with planning events like these. The planning is going well.”
Students have choices
Students can choose between two forty-five minute course or one ninety-minute course. The list of courses is extensive.
Some forty five-minute course options include rock climbing, building and launching water bottle rockets, yoga, printmaking, music making, podcast making, euchre, football and clay making.
Some ninety minute courses include acting, baking, knitting, games and puzzles.
“I want it to be outside of the normal scope,” said Cookson, “I did not want it to be like school where a math teacher is teaching math lessons.”
The bread baking course seems to be the most popular
Mrs. Brianna Hopkins, Art Teacher at PHS, says, “I decided to help with the baking course because I enjoy baking. I love to bake at home with my kids. My grandma and mom taught me how to bake.”
Mrs. Brianna Hopkins, Perrysburg High School Art Teacher (photo credit: Summer Serres)
“Jacket U is giving students the opportunity to meet other kids and try different activities that they might be too nervous to try,” says Hopkins, “Kids are trying not to sign up, and it is frustrating that they are not. This is an opportunity to sign up and learn different things.”
Since Jacket U registration has been opened, many students have talked about taking the bread baking course.
Hopkins said, “Students are choosing to do bread baking because it is different. Not many people have made bread before. Also, you all [students] are teenagers and it involves food.”
English has had to restrict the class size for the bread baking course numerous times because it is such a popular choice among students.
Even students can teach a course
Ashley Strayer, a senior at Perrysburg, says, “I decided to teach a course about horseback riding because I love to talk about it and many people do not know a lot about horseback riding. It is interesting.”
Ashley Strayer, Perrysburg High School Senior (photo credit: Summer Serres)
“Perrysburg does have an equestrian team,” says Strayer, “It is a club sport. We do not have positions on the team like a president, but we go based on points and I have some of the most points on the team.”
Strayer says, “I have been horseback riding since I was eight. I started getting lessons from my aunt.”
“Jacket U will be good for students to learn about sports and hobbies. Horseback riding is not as popular in Perrysburg because it is more urban. Cities like Bowling Green where it is more rural may get more interest in sports like horseback riding,” says Strayer.
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”
-Albert Einstein
Finding new hobbies has many different benefits
According to HeadToHealth.gov, “Spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing. Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Group activities like team sports can improve your communication skills and relationships with others.”
