PORTA High School is excited to announce the Old Salem Chautauqua project. The mission of this project is to provide a multi-curricular educational opportunity for our students and faculty that inspires collaboration, planning, research, design and implementation both internal and external to PORTA High School and renders a product that transports students and faculty beyond the bounds of their classroom and of their current skill set while benefitting their community. Our vision is to provide a website that serves as an accurate record of the history, culture, places and people of Old Salem Chautauqua.

Our vision is to provide a website that serves as an accurate record of the history, culture, places and people of Old Salem Chautauqua.

Our project objectives include:
-Students enrolled in Webpage Design, Graphic Design, United States Seminar, Journalism, Sophomore English and Computer Assisted Drafting will research, write, develop, design, implement and maintain this project.
-Our community, visitors to our community, researchers and teachers and students everywhere will learn about Old Salem Chautauqua.

Our learning objectives will include:
-Students will research Old Salem Chautauqua.
-Students will design a CAD drawing of Old Salem Chautauqua.
-Students will photograph and scan artifacts.
-Students will write descriptions of presenters, sites, and artifacts.
-Students will design a diorama.
-Students will write articles.
-Students will give oral presentations.
-Students will video oral histories.
-Students will map Old Salem Chautauqua with GPS units.
-Students will develop a multi level marketing plan for the project.
-Students will write and perform a play about Old Salem Chautauqua.

To date:
-an Old Salem Chautauqua Project Committee has been formed and an outline of the project has been developed.

-A website domain has been purchased and the construction of the site has started.

-Production of video history segments is underway.

-Digitizing pictures and artifacts is progressing.

-Students have documented the location of 32 historically significant locations utilizing photos and GPS units to record them.

Current Committee Members and Titles:
Darren Hartry-High School Principal
Raymond Montgomery-Co-Author of "Chatautauqua to Remember-The Story of Old Salem"
Joe Fiden-President of Old Salem Chautauqua
Ed Gorney-GPS/GIS instructor, retired teacher
Nancy Gorney-GPS/GIS instructor, retired teacher and research librarian
Matt Puckett-Web Design instructor
Kim Perez-U.S. Seminar instructor and member of the Menard County Historical society
Jared Lynn-Technology Coordinator
Darren Waters-Media Production instructor
Andrea Hart-Journalism instructor
Rachel Lantz-English II instructor
Mark Cox-Biology II instructor
Phil Sexton-Webpage assistant
Pat Marshall-National English Honor Society sponsor
Terri DePatis-Thespian Director
Monica Sorrells-Graphic Design instructor
Taylor Flatt-Web Design student
Aaron Stott-Media Production student

The Friends of the Sangamon-Vern LeGess-President
Charles Joseph Pell Architects Incorporated-Charles Pell- Architect
The Petersburg Observer-Jane Cutright
Old Salem Chautauqua Project Student Committee 201-12:
Kyle Depatis 11th-History
Ali Buehner 12th-Journalism
Josh Griffith 12th-Science
Lauren Christenson 11th-English
Raymond Phillips 12th-Vocational
Braden Schlattweiler 12th-Technology
Taylor Trousdale 12th-Art
Madison Scaggs 11th-Physical Education
Video Chats-Schlattweiler and Griffith
Table Top-Phillips And Trousdale
Articles-Buehner and Scaggs
Artifacts and Documentation-Griffith and Christenson
Play-Christenson and Depatis
Website-Schlattweiler, Phillips and Buehner
Recreational Activities-Scaggs(sports and physical activities) Trousdale(Music) Depatis(Plays)
Current target outcomes include:
-Students, faculty and local residents will gain an understanding and an appreciation of the historical significance of Old Salem Chautauqua.
-A new resource (website) will serve to document and preserve Old Salem Chautauqua and will serve as an education and research tool for anyone studying or researching Old Salem Chautauqua, the Chautauqua movement, New Salem or Abe Lincoln.

The Chautauqua movement helped educate America: Today education helps preserve Old Salem Chautauqua.