Transcript S.A.V.E. Sonoraville’s Added Value Education

WELCOME
AHEN
BUS TOUR
S.A.V.E.
Sonoraville’s
Added
Value Education
I learned everything
I know on an
AHEN bus tour.
Gordon County, Georgia
Quick Facts
• Last rural county on the I-75 corridor
between Atlanta & Chattanooga at the
foot of the Appalachians
• Population 52,800
• 80.5% White, 14.2% Hispanic
• Per capita income $17,586
• Persons below poverty 15.86%
• College diplomas 11.68%
Sonoraville High School
• Established in 2005
• 1,026 students
• Free & Reduced = 55%
• Made AYP every year
Barriers to Success
• Poverty
• Generational apathy
towards education
• Drugs
• Teen pregnancy
Opportunities for
Success
• Nurturing community
• Supportive administration
• Fantastic staff
• Positive school climate
• New school facilities
• Technology
YEAR
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Graduation Rates
SHS
88.4%
80.4%
84.60%
83.10%
GORDON COUNTY
87.6%
81.3%
80.75%
76.60%
69.10%
62%
58.60%
50.5%
44.80%
College-Going Rates
Top Down, Systematic Mentality
"What can be conceived can be created.”
“We want to take
Sonoraville High School
to the community,
and
we want to
bring the community
to Sonoraville High school.”
-Bruce Potts
SHS Whole-School Opportunities
212° Awards Banquet- Recognition of
students who demonstrate
excellence in service, kindness,
attitude, commitment, leadership,
focus, belief, and perseverance.
Alumni speakers
Sharing their success
stories with students.
Advisement
Extended time set aside during
school days to work on current
academic planning, as well as
college and career
preparation.
Commitment to Graduate Club
Meets once per month, during
school, to work on college and
career preparation. This is
part of a bi-weekly “club day”
in which all students
participate in at least two
clubs.
Lisa Spain
Community & Career Connections Day
Each class has a guest speaker to talk
about career opportunities.
*Career Center
Located in a visible part of
our school, the career center
contains resource materials
and computer lab for students
and parents to explore career
options, colleges, and
financial options.
CTAE Field Trips
To businesses to explore career
opportunities (i.e. Georgia Justice
Center, Gordon County Jail, Gordon
Hospital, downtown businesses, etc.)
Check-in, Check-out
(SMS) Mentoring program for
students with behavior issues.
“Class of 20**” Banners
Displayed in elementary,
middle, and high schools.
Middle School Career
Exploration Classes
*College & Career Newsletter
Monthly counselor publication.
JANUARY 2011
Volume 4
The Extra Degree
“So... why all this talk about college?”
Students sometimes question why
SHS places such an emphasis on
college preparation. First, you should
know that by “college,” we are
referring to any technical, two-year, or
four-year education.
It is also important to understand that
the U.S. workforce has lost its edge as
a world leader in math, science and
technology...the areas that generate
the highest levels of jobs and income.
Yet, in 2009, the U.S. Department of
Labor reported that 62% of all jobs in
the U.S. require a minimum of a postsecondary certification. The
projection for 2020 is an expected
increase to 75% or above.
providing you with the tools and
education that will lead to a college
degree.
Is it imperative that everyone have a
college degree in order to get a
decent job? No, but if 75% of the
jobs require at least some college,
that means those who do not go to
college only have a 25% chance of
getting any job at all. Those are not
good odds. Also, If you go to
college, you'll gain information
and skills that you'll use for the
rest of your life, no matter what
career you choose.
College is a great time for you to
transition into real life. It allows
It is important for people to select a job
they enjoy, but it is even more vital to
find a “career” that allows you
flexibility and opportunity for growth
and change.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the
difference in income you will make.
According to the 2007 U.S. Census, a
college graduate earns $57,181, while a
high school graduate earns only
$31,286.
The next time you hear someone ask
why we talk so much about college, tell
them “It’s all about you.”
Mark Your Calendar
January 24th– Spelman College Field Trip
February 10th– Seniors College Financial Aid
Workshop 7:00 PM
College Murals Displayed in hallways of schools.
Departmental tutoring
All SHS departments offer
individualized and/or group
tutoring sessions before
and after school.
Dropout prevention fact of the day
Education provided through
daily announcements regarding
the disparities between being a
high school dropout and a high
school and college graduate.
Dual and joint enrollment
with Georgia Northwestern
Technical College.
ESS College Workshop
College preparation seminar for
students with disabilities and
their parents.
Future Finder Days
College and career
representatives available to
speak with students during
lunch periods, as well as
targeted meetings with
admissions representatives.
Gateway Alternative
Placements (GAP)
Pulling students who are
certain to fail a class to focus
on other classes that may
be in jeopardy.
Give 55- Stay Alive
Lowest score on progress
report is 55.
Graduation March
Seniors wear their caps &
gowns in a celebration parade
through elementary and
middle schools.
“Graduate Photo-Op”
Board- Painted with male and female
graduate, so that students may insert
their faces and have picture taken.
Used at special events.
Gordon County College &
Career Academy
Offers college credit to high school
students earning technical skills training in
local industry-driven fields. Located on
campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical
College.
Internal credit recovery
Teachers are encouraged to
develop contracts with
students who come within five
points of passing (given
extenuating circumstances),
so that they will have the
opportunity to immediately
recover the credit.
*March Madness College Blitz
Each homeroom is
assigned a college from
the NCAA basketball
tournament. They are
to research a list of
items regarding the
school and decorate the
door using the school
colors and facts about
the college.
Mentoring Target Students
(SMS) At-risk students matched to one
staff member whose role is to develop
a relationship with the student, to
provide the emotional support needed
for school success, and support the
student’s academic pursuits in the
same way that an athletic coach
provides supervision, encouragement,
and direction for the members of the
team.
Online opportunities
Novanet, Ombudsman, Ed Options
Academy, Georgia Credit Recovery,
& Georgia Virtual School.
Partnerships for
Academics & Social Skills
(P.A.S.S.)
Peer mentoring offered on an
individualized basis.
PSAT, SAT,
Georgia Work Ready Test,
and ASVAB
Testing done on-site at SHS.
Reading Everyday Accelerates
Learning (R.E.A.L.)
Football players go into an
elementary classroom and read
books selected by the teacher.
Relatives As Parents Program
Support group for grandparents
raising grandchildren and similar
relative custody arrangements.
SAT Words of the Day
SAT class does presentations
published on daily video
announcements.
Scholarships
Posted on counseling web-site and
Facebook page and sent out in monthly
e-mail newsletter. Daily announcements
posted on You Tube.
State of SAVE
Annual updates delivered to Board
of Directors, staff, and community.
Stand and Deliver
Personal educational success
stories shared by teachers
during staff meetings.
“Ticket to the Future”
Mock diploma display.
WIN Career Readiness
Courseware
Connects classroom curriculum
to careers, and offers a good
picture of a students
vocational aptitude.
Watch D.O.G.S.
A father involvement initiative of the
National Center for Fathering that
organizes fathers and father
figures in order to provide positive
male role models for the students
and to enhance school security.
Grade Level Opportunities
K-4th Grade
Career Guidance Lessons- Introductions to broad career
areas and what is required to work in various positions.
5th Grade
GRAD T-shirts-Every 5th grader receives a shirt with
their graduation class on it. GRAD (Get Ready,
Achieve, Dream) is a community grassroots coalition
working to improve the graduation rate in our schools.
Career Days- research careers, dress in attire
appropriate to a career they choose, and do
presentations to 4th graders about the job.
ESS Middle School Transition Parent Meeting
Middle School Tour- attend an assembly and meet with
6th grade teachers, receive a brief introduction to
some of the “special area” subjects and tour the
building.
6th Grade
Transition Activity- Evening activity (i.e.
games, ice cream social) for all incoming 6th
graders and parents at the beginning of the
school year.
Begin portfolio on www.GAcollege411.org -an
online resource to help students and their
families select a college, apply for
admission, and plan to finance higher
education.
8th Grade
Sonoraville High School tour
Freshman Registration DaySaturday open house and
registration for students and
families to become familiar
with the SHS campus and
available classes and
programs.
9th Grade
Freshman Transition Class- ½ credit course to
familiarize students with SHS physical layout, rules
and procedures, continue career exploration, and
begin goal setting.
*Career Unit through Language Arts
Reality Store -activity to expose students to life’s
financial and decision-making demands; co-hosted
by SHS, Gordon Central H.S., and Calhoun H.S.
*Class trip to Reinhardt University
Business Ethics- Junior Achievement
curriculum led by community
volunteers.
10th Grade
*Career Unit through Language Arts
Job Shadowing- one day of job shadowing at a
local business related to a possible career
pathway
* Class trip to Berry & Shorter Colleges
11th Grade
*Career unit through Language Arts
Spanish 3 Honors career unit:
•career vocabulary
•writing resumes in Spanish
•career related guest speakers
*Class trip to the University of West Georgia
Work-based Learning - county coordinator assigns
apprenticeships based on career interest
SAT and ACT prep class- offered in Fall
GHSGT prep- school-day pull-out sessions online test
prep in class and available at home
12th Grade
• *Summer College Tour- Rising seniors have the
opportunity to do a three-day tour to visit six
colleges.
• *Career Unit through language arts:
• *Class trip to Kennesaw St. University
Evening and/or weekend college preparation
workshops- Designed to assist students and
parents with college and financial aid
applications.
PROBE Fair- Field trip to PROBE college fair.
Apply to College Day- All seniors are encouraged
to apply to at least one college.
Dual enrollment- same as 11th grade
Work-based Learning- same as 11th grade
Economics for Success – Junior Achievement
curriculum led by community volunteers.
Soaring Phoenix - students’ college and
military acceptances are displayed on a
bulletin board and recognized on daily
announcements, on scrolling televised
announcements, and on the SHS web site.
*Student Tracker- Every graduate is submitted
to the National Student Clearinghouse.
“