Catalyst is transitioning from a program to a school this fall. High School Principal Chris Stevens said that Catalyst offers so much, but whether it is a school or program, this education hub can best be defined by its hard-working students.

What Is Catalyst? 

Previously a program with Newberg High School, Catalyst will officially become its own high school within Newberg-Dundee Public Schools this coming school year. Over the years, Catalyst has matured from a strong initiative to its own small school with diverse offerings. More than 120 students are enrolled in Catalyst, and they are divided among three programs:

• Real World classes for students who need a change, offering students a smaller setting, with class sizes of 10 to 15 students;
• GED studying support; and 
• Student-Centered Achievement (SCA), an online independent study opportunity with in-person teaching support. 

Real World and SCA classes are offered in six-week intensive learning cycles. Depending on space, Catalyst admits students throughout the year, usually in groups of 10 to 15. (Chehalem Online Academy, a K-12 virtual school, is now fully housed at Catalyst, although it is a separate school and not a Catalyst program.)

The true essence of Catalyst is not that these opportunities exist but how the students themselves take advantage of them to change their lives.

Amazing Students

For example, as a junior at Catalyst, Hudson Veatch interned at A-dec, a Newberg-based manufacturer of dental equipment and office furniture. Stationed in the machining section, Veatch shadowed professionals who operated machines that shape metal.

“The internship definitely helped me gain experience and some concept of what I want to do after high school,” Veatch said.

That’s the idea. Stevens encourages his students to gain as much experience as they can. He introduces them to opportunities such as Willamette Career Academy (WCA), also offered at Newberg High School (NHS). WCA provides students with the opportunity to learn a trade, finishing with a certificate when they graduate. Programs include IT/computer science, PAPÉ Diesel Technology, Health Services, Construction Technology, Freres Manufacturing, and Cosmetology.

Many students participate in WCA, but they don’t all participate for a full two years, like Jody Watson. Watson, who graduated from Catalyst this past June, enrolled in the Cosmetology program through the WCA. Her focus was esthetics, which entails skin care services such as waxing and facials. 

“It feels good just to get it all done and be prepared to go out into the world as an esthetician,” she said.

She said her mom and school counselor were key supporters in guiding her as a student and as a professional. 

As for Veatch, he plans to enroll at NHS full-time this fall while taking a class at Catalyst in American Sign Language. In his spare time, he’ll be helping his grandfather with building projects. Like a lot of young people, he’s just beginning to discover his next steps.

“I’m still deciding what I want to do,” he said.

Yet with support from his granddad and local schools, along with his experience at A-dec, Veatch is beginning to see his own future. 

So what is Catalyst? Catalyst is a high school with strong programs and career opportunities. But it is, perhaps, best defined by students like Veatch and Watson, who are willing to seize new experiences and work hard to find their best path forward.