CHS Expands Horizons with New Career and Wellness Classes

 CHS students start their morning strong with a pre-class workout in the new Nutrition and Wellness course. Gene Witt (11) and Jackson Young (11) help each other during the morning routine before heading off to make a nutritious breakfast. Photo credit: Parker Hollatz (12). 

The kickoff of the 2025 school year brought several new classes to Cascade High School, giving Kodiaks more opportunities to explore future careers and personal interests. These new offerings include Nutrition and Wellness with Carl Haberberger, Intro to Event Planning with Roselyn Robinson, and the CNA Program with Amy Reike. 

Nutrition and Wellness 

Nutrition and Wellness is a zero-hour class taught by Carl Haberberger. This early-morning course begins at 6:30 a.m. each day and is offered only during the fall semester this year. 

The first half of class is spent working out, playing games, or participating in other forms of physical exercise. The second half is dedicated to creating a well-balanced, nutritious breakfast. 

“[In the class] you’re going to get a physical workout. It will be some kind of exercise, whether it's lifting, sprinting, or playing a game for half the period. The other half of the period, you eat. I have this classroom where kids can cook breakfast, so how cool would it be to have this workout class and come back and eat?” said Haberberger. 

While the class is open to all students, it is primarily geared toward athletes who want to push themselves and build healthy habits. 

“The zero-hour class helps me get motivated to wake up early and start my day off well and awake. It also allows me to get in more workouts, which helps me get stronger. This class also influences me to eat good food in the morning and helps me learn about what food will make me healthier. Along with the importance of a good sleep schedule because I wake up early and go to bed early, this allows me to be more productive during the day,” said Micah Wilder (12). 

Intro to Event Planning 

Intro to Event Planning is a combined class with ASB Leadership, offered through Eastern Washington University. Students have the opportunity to earn college credit while developing practical skills in event management and leadership. This year-long class is held on “A” days. Students in the course are responsible for planning and managing school events ranging from lunchtime costume contests to the Veteran’s Day assembly, organized by Parker Hollatz (12). 

“I found Intro to Event Planning and Management aligns closely with the work we already do in Leadership,” said advisor Roselyn Robinson. “It teaches practical skills for managing events, including coordinating multiple parties, overseeing facilities, and planning timelines in reverse to ensure everything runs smoothly.” 

Intro to Event Planning alternates each year with Intro to Leadership, allowing students to earn two different college credits by completing the leadership sequence during their four years of high school. 

Intro to Event Planning alternates each year with Intro to Leadership, allowing students to earn two different college credits by completing the leadership sequence during their four years of high school. 

“I took Intro to Event Planning because it was a college-level class, and learning leadership is an important skill outside of high school. Learning to take the lead is important. I like that I get to be the one in charge—I get to tell people what to do when it’s my event,” said Parker Hollatz (12). 

CNA Program 

The CNA Program—Certified Nursing Assistant—is a Career and Technical Education class that allows students to complete their first level of nursing certification before pursuing further medical education. The program is a prerequisite for entering the Wenatchee Valley College nursing program. 

The class focuses on personal care skills and preparing students to take the state CNA exam. 

“You get certification by passing the licensure test. This class will get you to the point where you’re ready to take that test,” said advisor Amy Reike. 

This class will be offered in the spring. Over the last few years, many CHS graduates have pursued nursing or medical school. Since many colleges require CNA certification before admission, offering this program in high school helps students take an important first step toward a nursing career. 

These new classes are part of CHS’s ongoing effort to provide students with diverse, career-focused, and personally enriching opportunities. Both the zero-hour Nutrition and Wellness class and the year-long Intro to Event Planning course have proven popular among students, ensuring they will continue to be offered in the future, while the CNA program, set to be offered in the spring, is also expected to attract strong enrollment.