Ever since our current school year began, we have been planning for our upcoming school year. Many new initiatives are coming to Carpinteria High School next year with the hope of making this educational institution the best in the area, just as I committed myself to the community last September.
2007-2008 promises to be an exciting school year for all students and, with the help of parents, teachers and community members, we intend to increase school activities to provide a more positive place for students to call their school. One of the most significant projects we will be introducing to Carpinteria High School is the Ninth Grade Academy. This academy will provide incoming freshmen the opportunity to establish relationships with their teachers that in the process will develop into a strong academic performance. The teacher/student ratio in this academy will be 20 to 1, and all teachers in the academy will share a common preparatory period to develop lessons that are challenging and rigorous, at the same time teachers will be able to use this period to come up with solutions to issues that they may face in the classroom in order to better assure that all students are reaching their academic potential.
In addition we will be bringing to our campus a new program named “Link Crew.” Miss Hunt and Miss Featherstone will be spearheading this program that promises to change the culture of our entire high school.
What is Link Crew?
Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, Link Crew trains members of the junior and senior class to be Link Leaders. As positive role models, Link Leaders are motivators, leaders and teachers who guide the freshmen to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school.
Link Crew increases freshmen success; more and more studies are showing that if students have a positive experience their first year in high school, their chances for success are exponential. The Link Crew high school transition program provides the structure for freshmen to receive support and guidance from juniors and seniors who have been through the challenges that high school poses and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming.
Link Crew begins with a powerful orientation day that makes freshmen excited and proud to be attending their new high school and allows them to begin developing relationships and strategies that will contribute to their high school success. After orientation, the Link Crew freshmen transition program continues, providing a variety of both Academic and Social Follow Up Activities throughout the year. The Academic Follow Ups are lessons presented by trained Link Leaders during visits to freshmen classes.
Link Crew's goal is to provide your schools with a structure in which students make real connections with each other. Through this program, students learn that people at school care about them and their success. Link Crew is the high school transition program that will increase attendance, decrease discipline referrals and improve academic performance at your school.
In addition to the support system we will provide to our incoming freshmen, we will establish activities and support systems for our entire educational community. We are currently planning an after school homework center to assist students who are struggling with concepts or just need a place to do their homework.
As we continue to challenge our students, we will introduce classes next year that promise to put Carpinteria High School on the map of high schools that are leaders in educational reform. Those classes include (but are not limited to):
Chinese I and II
Latin I and II
Oceanography
Dynamic Earth (geology)
Veterinary Science
Freshman Seminar
Chemistry in the Community
If you would like a complete list of classes, visit our website www.warriorcountry.com and download our current course catalog.
Lastly, I will like to take this opportunity to thank all students, parents, teachers, staff and community for their support not only of me in this my first year as principal, but for the support our high school has received throughout the year. Carpinteria High School promises to be the best high school in the area, and with your continued support we will make it a reality. So, stay tuned, Great things are happening at 4810 Foothill Rd.