"We believe our Freshman Center will help to guide our students towards a successful high school experience"
Freshman Center Goal The goal of the Freshman Center is to help 9th graders make a successful transition to high school, to become connected to their new school and to ensure that they have a team of adults who are addressing their academic and personal needs. Our purpose is to provide students with a personalized, rigorous and relevant standard based education. We believe that students who have a successful transition to high school will have a positive educational experience. This will enable them to be productive and responsible citizens.
Freshman Center Accomplishments The Freshman Center opened in 2005-2006, since then it has achieved the following accomplishments:
- Established Student of the Month Awards - criteria from Character Counts Pillars.
- Established 9th grade leadership Renaissance Program designed to raise student pride among 9th graders.
- Rewarded students at the 10-week for 10 of more E's and no U's.
- Implemented an all 9th grade Activity:
- In October, 425 9th graders participated in an activity facilitated by 11th graders. The Theme was "What influences our Behavior" They participated in trust building and interactive communications designed to make them think about their actions and what influences them to behave accordingly.
- Targeted non-graduation students from the middle schools and placed them in study groups.
- Developed and implemented additional study groups in school for students not doing well in their classes.
- Established and implemented Peer Tutoring in all Life Skill and Elective courses. All 9th graders receive tutorials 2 times a week during the school day for AP and Honors upper level students. Modeled after the AVID program.
- Designed a new 9thgrade elective. This course will provide home to school communication, peer tutorial, basic skills in speech and Chicano studies.
- Life Skill and Freshman elective Staff was trained this summer on AVID strategies, My Roads, and tutorial process.
- Implemented My Roads:
- All 9th graders have received their own email account and completed the ID page of My Roads. This program is designed to kick-start the students thinking about college and careers. The spring semester all 9th graders will revisit My Roads at least 3 times.
- Students that have 2 more fails at the 10 week have been targeted and placed on the 3 interventions:
- After School Academic help
- Study Skills program during school time PE of Elective Class
- Catch a falling Star Mentor program
- "Catch a falling Star" - Staff has volunteered to be mentors to 2-3 students. They will keep contact with them throughout the year.
- In process but not yet implemented:
- Lunch Time sport activities - intramurals between classes - PE staff needed has had staff cut backs and serious illness. Program will implement as soon as staff is physically ready.
- Parent Education Component: The Freshman Center is in the research stage. Upon completion we will offer parent education nights emphasizing community resources and help.
- Parent Volunteer program: As soon as the school's parent center is ready we will bring 9th grade parents to be part of it.
Freshman Center Discipline Policy Our strategies are to counsel, understand, and drive behavioral change. Generally we will try to always call home, even on the first offense. One of our goals is to bring in the parent component. Some consequences we have in place are: lunch detention, after school detention and campus pickup.
All students who are sent to the Freshman Center will write out a What Happened Statement, which is kept on file in our office. This provides a written account of the incident in the student's own words, as well as a written record of each occurrence.
Second time referrals for the same type of behavior is referred to the Dean, discussed with the teacher and a more formal conference is arranged with a parent.
Third referral for the same type of behavior is referred to the Dean and arrangements are made to have the parent attend the child's class if appropriate.
Freshman Center Staff
 
Caryn Michaels, Counselor
School for Advanced Studies (SAS)
Counselor for entire 9th grade,
Center periods 3 & 4 to receive referrals,
Head up tardy and excessive absences,
Lead Parent resources,
Parent center and Parent help |
IMPACT for grades 9 - 12
IMPACT Plus for 9th grade |
Debbie Brahm, Coordinator AVID Coordinator 9-12, Center period 6 to receive referrals, Peer Tutors, My Roads, 9th grade teachers meetings and resources, Beyond the Bell Intervention, Mentor program and lunch time activities, Lead teacher for Life Skills and Elective Group, Conflict Resolution 10th - 12th
Anger Management 9th - 12th
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Diana Casillas, Secretary Enrollment for 9th graders,
Checkouts for 9th graders,
Memos for within the school,
Disciplinary Paperwork,
Morning Attendance, Translation Services |
Fresh News - the Official Newsletter of the Freshman Center
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