NEW Saline Alternative Blog

The Second New Year

2012-01-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

In education, there are two “new years” to celebrate each school year. The first comes in early September when students return to school to start their studies in a new classroom, school or program. The second, just recently celebrated, begins with the passing of a calendar year and the welcoming of a new year. Both offer times to renew, reflect, and revitalize.

For all students (and staff for that matter), I offer the following as ways to renew, reflect, and revitalize.

1. Set goals. For students in an alternative setting, short-term goals work best. Instant gratification. Goals are only goals if they are written down, realistic, measurable, and attainable within the set time period. Action steps help define the goals, and give the learner a pathway to the short-term success.

2. Reflect. What goals did you set in September for your school achievement? What progress have you made toward attaining those goals? If you aren’t where you had hoped, what interfered with that progress? How will you change your actions, thoughts, or behaviors so that your progress will be in line with your goals? What steps will you need to take to avoid those same pitfalls?

3. Revitalize. Try something new. Dream big. Believe. Give back: there is always someone less fortunate than yourself. Learn to look ahead. Let go of the past. Look forward to something, and reward yourself for getting there. Be the most positive person you’ve ever met.

4. Do the right thing. Always. Even when it’s more fun to run with the crowd, or more important to save face, what really matters is your integrity. Be honest in all that you do; it will help you like that person looking back at you in the mirror.

Let 2012 be a new beginning for you. If it’s setting goals or just reflecting on what needs to be changed a bit from the first new year, set aside the time to make 2012 your best year ever in public education. It’s your life. Take charge of it and just see if you can amaze yourself this year.

Do The Right Thing...Don't be a Dirty Diaper

2011-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

THE SAGA OF THE DIRTY DIAPER

On Thursday last week, as I Ieft work at the end of a busy day, I noticed that someone had changed a baby’s diaper and left all of its contents on the drive in front of the school. Used baby wipes were scattered about the front of the school and the exposed contents of the diaper were enough to turn my stomach. Incidentally, I’ve raised four babies to adulthood, so not much grosses me out.

The diaper was still there when I returned to work on Friday morning. Partially frozen due to the overnight sub-freezing temperatures, it was still there, with all of its exposed fecal material in plain view. Several students noticed and commented on it as they arrived for school on Friday morning. “Honestly, who DOES that?” “That’s gross!” “Are you kidding me?” “I’m not picking that up during Service Learning!”

The irony and the parallels to what the Alternative High School is struck me. While I can promise you that I did not change a baby in front of the school on Thursday afternoon, it occurred to me that it WAS my responsibility to pick up and dispose of what someone had left. Leaving that diaper in front of the school for anyone, and especially visitors to see is just not acceptable. Leaving it for someone else to clean up didn’t seem reasonable as the diaper had already been there overnight. Whose job IS it to pick up what others have carelessly discarded? The answer is very evident: We are all responsible.

I implore to the common sense and sensibility of each student. What are you doing to help boost the reputation of the school? Regardless of whether or not you left the lunch tray or dirtied the toilet seat or broke a head set or threw a half consumed sticky beverage container into the recycle bin – aren’t we ALL responsible for what the school looks like? And ultimately, the image of the school speaks volumes about what goes on inside.

So, that dirty diaper has me thinking. Are we in this together or are we simply continuing to take, continuing to expect handouts and continuing to rape the system with preconceived notions of entitlement and expectation? I can hope and I will continue to encourage that we MUST be in this together or we stand the risk of failing and falling together. Is our school an eyesore? If it is, then that’s what the community will think of each of us – right or wrong.

Doing the RIGHT thing, whether it is your mess or something that someone else left – is what we all need to do if we are to develop some sense of pride in the school, ourselves, and in the community. Don’t be a dirty diaper. Do the right thing. Always.

Essays, Research Papers....or Tweets?

2011-03-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

When is enough, well - enough?

Teaching students to write succinctly is difficult, especially when their vocabulary is limited. The author of this New York Times piece, Andy Selsberg, teaches Freshmen English at John Jay College in New York. Professor Selsberg believes that a lot can be said with few words, if the word choice is correct. Teaching students to write captions, descriptions of clothing posted on eBay, or original hooks for You Tube videos requires critical thinking beyond that required for the five-paragraph essay. Getting one's point across in 140 characters or less is a difficult skill, and developing that skill through expansion of a student's grasp of the English language could tax even the master teacher.

Activities that Professor Selsberg suggests may help students increase their vocabulary by forcing them to use descriptive language with limits on the content. Lessons in vocabulary development will increase their skill level, as will practice, especially when challenging others to describe similar objects or events. I can see applicability to language development in students with language deficits to those born with the gift of proficiency in language fluency. In mastering the art of clarity, careful selection of adjectives and experimentation, students should become better writers of all genre.

I like the experiment.

I Can’t Think!

2011-03-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

I Can’t Think!

Online Learning

2011-01-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

The instructional format of the NEW Saline Alternative High School has implemented a largely online learning experience, for the majority of the core classes required by the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Students engage in lessons provided through the accredited vendor Education 2020. Tutorial, re-teaching and curricular explanations are provided by certified teachers and instructional para-professional staff. For many, taking classes in this format has proven to be a highly motivating, academically competitive learning experience. The curriculum is consistent. Credit accrual has been swift, and some have achieved early graduation.

However, as instructional leaders, we often question whether this online experience will adequately prepare students for what comes next: post-secondary education, the work force, or the military. Are we doing all that we can to prepare them for the rigors of those experiences?

A review of more than one managerial preparation website questions the validity the total online experience in efforts to prepare the student with other skills necessary for life. Are we neglecting to instruct students in the requisite "soft skills" that they will need for a successful adult life? The Ladders, a web based career preparation company, suggests that even IT executives must posses sensitivity, common sense and people skills in order to keep the job that the hard skills posted on a resume secured for them. Read more at http://goo.gl/dHXq1

In an effort to ensure that all students are prepared for whatever "comes next," the NEW Saline Alternative has employed a thematic programming component to aid students in becoming more well rounded, employable, compassionate citizens of the community. Each week, a theme is chosen that guides instruction in BASE classes. Teachers present the theme and provide talking points to begin discussions. As the week progresses, students practice skills they've learned in a non-threatening, small group discussion format.

While it is difficult to measure what impact this instruction has played, there are some related data: disciplinary referrals are down from October, attendance is up significantly from last year, and students are showing an increase in confidence, self-worth and self-satisfaction.

We will continue to question if this alternative experience, provided largely in an online learning community, is what is best for the traditionally unengaged, at-risk learner. For now, predictions are good that this form of instructional delivery, coupled with valuable instructor face-time, is working and producing students that are informed, curious and ready to contribute.

Saline Alternative Clothing Drive

2011-01-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

Saline Alternative Clothing Drive

Early Successes

2010-11-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

One of the criteria by which we judge a program's success is through student achievement. Is it working?

All of the students in the NEW Saline Alternative are enrolled in core classes offered through Education 2020 (e2020), an online accredited vendor. Their experience in these core classes can be individualized, with accommodations such as extended time or pre-testing added as applicable. The classes provide academic rigor and consistency in curriculum delivery. Further, as necessary, staff members offer tutorial or re-teaching.

During the first six-week marking period, the fifty-three students enrolled at the NEW Saline Alternative completed 64 courses in e2020. They took Biology, Algebra II, Economics, English, US Government, Career Planning, Financial Math, Environmental Science, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Health, Physics.....and many more course offerings. Progress has been, well, REMARKABLE!

Staff members award each student upon completion of a course in e2020. The hall lockers are now adorned with paper trophies, each depicting a completed class. I've felt a renewed sense of academic competition - and academic interest! - as students compare their list of achievements to those of their classmates.

So, is it working?

To date, five students have completed all requirements for high school graduation. On October 18, 2010, the first graduate of the NEW Saline Alternative received his diploma, a full eight months prior to classmates at traditional high schools. With a firm plan in place, he has enrolled in college level courses at the local community college and has his sights set on the Peace Corps. If earning a high school diploma and having a solid post-secondary plan in place is the mark of success, then the early reports decisively indicate, YES!

US Constitution Day

2010-09-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

The students at the NEW Saline Alternative High School spent the past week learning about the US Constitution in preparation for Constitution Day on September 17, 2010. Working in their “Family” groups, the students memorized the Preamble to the US Constitution and focused their studies on the Bill of Rights. They’ve learned that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution are bound by responsibility. That responsibility is to themselves, the school, the greater Saline Community and also to the global community. They have learned that while you can be many things without knowing your own Constitution, you cannot be an effective citizen. Knowing your Constitution is not only a birthright; it is a rite of passage that allows you to become a responsible citizen in a modern representative democracy.

What is Constitution Day? According to the Law Library of Congress, Constitution Day, enacted by Congress, is observed on Sept. 17 each year to commemorate the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Constitution Day traces its roots to federal acts in 1940 and 1952 that authorized the president to recognize citizenship through observation of the signing of the Constitution. It formally became Constitution Day and Citizenship Day in 2004, with two new provisions, including one that stipulates every educational institution that receives federal funds shall hold an educational program on the Constitution on Sept, 17^th of each year.

Two hundred and twenty three years ago, the founding fathers of this nation signed the United States Constitution. In all, 55 men representing 12 of the 13 original states attended the Constitutional Convention, although there were just 39 signatures on the original document. In the opinion of many, the Constitution signed in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787 embodies the greatest expression of statesmanship and compromise ever written. In just four hand-written pages, the Constitution gives us the owners' manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known.

Professor Jamin Raskin teaches Constitutional Law at American University in Washington, DC. He makes a strong point in this excerpt:

“ Every great legal conflict has at is heart a clash over values and principles. Learning the Constitution enables you to clarify what your values are and to engage in real dialogue with other people about the rules of our common life. No one knows what leads to disasters like the Columbine High School massacre. But it is hard to believe that the students responsible were taught to think for themselves as citizens and to appreciate the values and equal dignity of other people in the community.”

To cap off the week’s studies, the students, along with several staff members and administration at Liberty School, raised the first flag over the school. In many ways, we who now work and attend school at Liberty School are representative of a diverse and eclectic inter-mingled society. District Administration, Community Education, Little Stars Day Care, The Saline Young Adult Program and the NEW Saline Alternative now call Liberty School home.

Welcome, Students!

2010-09-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

September 7, 2010

Dear Students,

Today begins a new school year, and from my perspective, this year promises to be the best ever for each of you. The Alternative High School has moved to a new building where you will see new staff, more space, new technology, and many more programs than in the previous setting.

The opportunities are boundless for those who chose just three things:

1. Attend school regularly.

2. Arrive at school ready to learn.

3. Follow the school rules.

In fact, if you commit to those three premises, I can virtually guarantee your success at the NEW Saline Alternative High School.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will be asking you to define your hopes and dreams for the future, establish goals, and define an area in the school or community where you might offer up your time and talents. In return, the dedicated staff at the Alternative High School will provide you with consistent and ready support, guidance and suggestions to help you realize your educational and post-school dreams.

These are exciting times – and I am humbled at the opportunity to serve as your Principal. Through trial and experimentation, we – TOGETHER – will define what the NEW Saline Alternative High School will become. I am feeling a sense of pride and a sense of urgency as we forge ahead with the important work that is before us. My door is open to you at any time. Please feel free to offer your suggestions or discuss your concerns.

Thank you for taking a risk and making the decision that the NEW Saline Alternative High School is right for you. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

Sincerely,

Carol Melcher, Principal

The NEW Saline Alternative High School

Service Learning

2010-08-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

What is service learning and why will it be an important component of the NEW Saline Alternative?

This question has been posed by several students, parents and faculty and in this blog, I'll give my attempt at a succinct response.

Cathryn Berger Kaye offers a definition of service learning in her book, A Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, and Social Action. "...service learning can be defined as a research-based teaching method where guided or classroom learning is applied through action that addresses an authentic community need in a process that allows for youth initiative and provides structured time for reflection on the service experience and demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge." Service learning - for the NEW Saline Alternative, will combine classroom learning with authentic application that meets a need within the community.

That said, service learning differs from volunteer work in that the advancement of academic skills is at its core. Students learn that their academic skills can be applied in community settings. They cement fledgling skills in an environment that is outside the walls of a school building. Students apply academic and personal skills to improve the community. The result is that both students and communities benefit.

To begin the 2010-2011 school year, staff members will guide students through the process of defining "community" and "service learning" and what that means for each student. For some, "community" may mean the school campus or the greater school student population. For others, "community" may mean the greater Saline area including local businesses, parks and agencies. And for a few, "community" is defined globally and may include connecting with a political campaign, national disaster, international charity organizations such as UNICEF, or The American Red Cross. Service Learning is individualized, and what that means for for each student at the NEW Saline Alternative will have more clarity as the year progresses.

Service Learning is a critical component of the instructional programming at the NEW Saline Alternative High School. The aim is to give students a renewed interest in school and a true sense of purpose.

The opportunities are boundless. With a dedicated staff and a redefined structure and format, the NEW Saline Alternative High School is poised to provide programming for students that will ensure academic rigor and transitional success through service learning.

Beginnings

2010-08-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

I'm often asked what defines an alternative high school. What type of student attends such a school? There are no clear definitions, yet one that broadly defines the New Saline Alternative is this: a learner-centered, ad-hoc assembly of students and instructional staff that are in some way dissatisfied with the mainstream, traditional high school education.' Stereotypical concepts of the alternative model bring to mind thoughts of disengaged youth; those who have dropped out of the traditional high school and for some, dropped out of life.

My vision of the alternative high school is one where students are very engaged in their learning. So engaged in fact, that for most, they define what individual path they will choose that will culminate in a high school diploma. The alternative path allows students to explore career paths while practicing newly acquired academic skills.

Flexibility is critical, as is an individualized learning plan, ample adult coaching and on-site opportunities to develop and practice employability skills that are readily transferrable into the work place or into the post-secondary setting. Helping students to realize their unique gifts and how those talents can be transformed into "what comes next" is the essence of the alternative high school.

The flexibility mentioned above offers the alternative student the opportunity to progress through the requisite Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements in as accelerated or remediated a pace as necessary. There are no pre-requisites for any coursework; students may elect as few or as many classes as desired during each designated marking period. As a result, a student may elect a marking period of off-site service learning as an extension of his/her educational development plan. A second marking period might be all classroom-based instruction and a third, a combination of the two.

The alternative high school provides a flexible path to a high school education where students can feel safe to explore a potential career or academic interest without fear of ridicule, judgment or criticism. While students will be held to a new standard for attendance and academic accountability, the New Saline Alternative will put requisite supports in place to allow each student to explore a personal passion while earning credits toward a high school diploma.