By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

PARK HILLS - Watching a dozen young men cut 2-by-4s, pound nails and listen to rock music, you'd think you were at a normal construction site.

Art teacher Tim Haders helps student Tyler Zembrodt, 17, with the sculpting class's final project. (Melissa Heatherly photo)

But this is Tim Haders' seventh-period specialized art class at Covington Catholic High School, where building a six-hole miniature golf course is the theme.

Haders has been teaching art at the all-boys school for 20 years. He started the specialized art class in 1998 to give his senior students a chance to experience sculpting.

That led to an annual fourth-quarter project of building totem poles. The students carved memories of their four years at the school into a 12-foot piece of wood, then raised the poles outside the school.

But demolition of the old school last year to make way for the new building that opened this year also brought down the poles, which couldn't be salvaged. And with no room around the new building for future totem poles, it was time for a change.

"It kind of started as a joke that we'd do a Putt-Putt course," said Haders. "But it turned into our fourth quarter (project) this year."

Poles to putts

They call it "Totem Putt 2004." For 20 years, Haders has taken his art students to play miniature golf at the end of each year. This year they will play their homemade course. But first they have to finish it - and their grades depend on it.

"They've been working on it for about three weeks and the last day of school is May 20," said Haders. "I've told them their final exam will be that we must play the course."

They made sketches for each hole, using some of the concepts they've learned in geometry class. The course will be made of wood, plastic pipe, paint, photos and even a kitchen sink. A lot of materials were pulled from garbage cans during the year.

"Every good artist needs to be a good garbage picker," Haders said.

Like the totem poles, the course's theme will be one of their high school memories - specifically, the transition from the old building to the new.

When the course is done, it will be put outside and left for future classes to play while learning about the memories of some of the students in the class of 2004.

Tyler Zembrodt, 17, is working on the frame for the third hole. The tee shot will have to go up a steep slope - which will look like a hill of mud when it's done - to reach the hole.

"There was a big mud hill when the workers had to tear up the front lawn. It got in the way and kids were always tracking mud into the school," Tyler said. "That was an obstacle for us every day, so we decided to make that an obstacle for this hole."

David Averdick, 19, is working on the first hole. "I'm trying to use a lot of right angles because the old building didn't have much character," he said.

The tee shot will go down uneven steps, symbolizing the awkward stairs the students walked to get from the old building to the old art building. He'll use a lot of blue paint like the old building had, and put cinder blocks around the hole.

Those who drove past the school on Dixie Highway during the capital campaign a couple years ago may remember seeing a thermometer drawn outside the school that was colored in as money was raised for the new building. Danny Ruberg's work on the second hole will have a picture of a thermometer, a photo of former Principal Jack Kennevan and a sculpted dollar sign over the hole.

"I think it's really cool how we're tying all this in and telling a whole story," Danny said. "(Haders) pretty much let us go and do what we wanted. He just told us to first think of it as a sculpture, then as a Putt-Putt course."

Sculpting friendships

The 12 students in the class are all seniors and most have had four years of art classes. Four of them will study architecture in college. Another student is headed to the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

"You really have to work hard for four years to get in this class," said David, who will study architecture at the University of Kentucky. "It's special to be in it."

Haders said the class gives him a chance to watch some of his best students solve problems, tell a story through their work and relive some of their high school memories.

"It's really interesting to see these kids bond together," said Haders. "These guys are pretty dedicated."

For the students, it's easy to be dedicated to something they love.

"This is my favorite class," said Tyler. "It's the end of the day, it's relaxing, the music's jamming. The class allows us to be ourselves. It's a great camaraderie."

About the class

School: Covington Catholic High School

Teacher: Tim Haders

Subject taught: Art

Why the class works: It gives the students a chance to tell a story and go on a journey through their four years. It gives them something to leave behind.

Quote: "I usually don't have a story behind the art I do," said Jon Hancock, 18, who will attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati in the fall. "This project has taught me about getting a conceptual sense of what I'm doing."

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This series spotlights a local classroom in which teachers are challenging students in bold, innovative ways. To nominate a class, e-mail dhofmeister@enquirer.com, fax (513) 768-8340 or write David Hofmeister, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202. Please include your name, daytime phone, e-mail and school.

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E-mail williamcroyle@yahoo.com