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School to Community Connection |
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Issue 110 Healdsburg High School Accreditation “Home Run” Congratulations to the Faculty and Staff of Healdsburg High School (HHS) are in order. As directed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), HHS performed a self study in order to renew its accreditation. The self study process was led by HHS Science Department Chairman, Mark Giampaoli. In March, a team of professionals from WASC arrived on campus to evaluate and confirm the results of the self study over several days. At the end of their visit, the visiting WASC team reported their findings to faculty, staff and members of the School Board of Trustees. Their comments could not have been more favorable. The WASC team’s exit report was filled with accolades for the faculty, staff, student body and broader community of Healdsburg High School. They singled out as exceptional the Healdsburg High School student body and dedicated faculty, quoting one student’s comment: “My teachers are always there for me.” They spoke at length about the learning environment being one that is exceptionally safe, clean and orderly. Both the Peer Helping Program as well as the teachers’ weekly Common Planning Time (which occurs each Monday morning) were identified as worthy of being statewide models. Other exceptional, and outstanding components of the school’s program included the intervention programs to close the achievement gaps amongst particular groups of students, the broad offerings and strength of the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, the use of multiple methods of evaluation of student work, the commitment to a Standards-based curriculum in English, Math and Science, the extensive student involvement in curricular and co-curricular activities and the strong and dedicated support of parents and the community at large. They closed their report by stating: “And you have absolutely fantastic kids.” A copy of the report is available online at http://www.hhs.husd.com/ under the heading of “Special Notices”. AH!TV Celebrates 1st Anniversary with HUSD DVD Release On Friday, April 28, 2006 from 7-9 pm there will a reception at the Media Center/AH!TV on the Healdsburg High School campus to celebrate the release of the new HUSD DVD as well as the first anniversary of AH!TV. The DVD will be played continuously for all to view. The public is welcome and refreshments will be served. Call AH!TV at 473-0888 for more information. Healdsburg Middle School Orientation Faculty and staff from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades continue to work on the details of curriculum, bell schedules and other logistics involved with the creation of a middle school with grades 6th - 8th on the Healdsburg Junior High School campus. An orientation for incoming students and their parents is scheduled for April 26 at 6:30 PM in the multi-purpose room on the Fitch St. side of the campus. For more information, please call Principal John Curry at 431-3410 or e-mail him at john.curry@husd.com. Healdsburg Elementary School Campuses Progress is being made as we transition from two K-6 schools into one elementary school, Healdsburg Elementary School, on two campuses-- a K-2nd school (the HES Campus), and a 3rd - 5th school (the Fitch Mountain Campus). The physical impact of these changes on the two elementary school campuses will be dramatic. By moving the 6th grade to the middle school and housing the remaining grades by grade level at two campuses, the student population on the HES Campus will be reduced. The students that remain will be our smallest children and this will create a much more open and less crowded feel to the campus. Currently, there are 588 students housed on the HES Campus; next year there will only be a projected 440 students on the campus. All the demolition work on the old kindergarten wing at the HES Campus will be completed during the summer. The exterior of HES will be re-stuccoed and the interior will be painted and refreshed. The school should look terrific when school starts in the fall. The construction of the new kindergarten rooms will take place behind a carefully constructed fence, well away from the children’s playing fields and playground. For next year, our kindergarten students will be housed in large, “kindergarten sized” temporary buildings and in two redone classrooms in the main building. We anticipate minimum intrusion during the construction process, which has been carefully planned by our construction manager, Mark Van Pelt. As always, parent and community input is welcome. Please contact HES Principal Laurie Whiteside at 431-3465 (lwhiteside@husd.com) or HUSD Superintendent Bob Carter at 431-3488. You may also contact the HUSD School Board of Trustees by e-mail at boardoftrustees@husd.com or by leaving a message with Patti Jobson at the HUSD offices at 431-3117. -------------------- By Mary Burke Mary Burke is a retired educator and member of the HUSD School Board of Trustees. |
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