Waialua Teens Invite Stricter Standards
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.usNinth-graders at Waialua High School are stepping up to the Board of Education’s challenge to have a more-rigorous curriculum and diploma requirement.
The statewide Step Up campaign, launched at the start of the school year, tasked incoming freshmen to work hard over the next four years toward a BOE Recognition Diploma. The new distinction calls for more-challenging classes in math, science and writing, as well as completion of a senior project research paper.
“This movement is required now more than ever, with recent statistics citing Hawaii’s need to encourage students to pursue a more-rigorous high school course of study to better prepare them for success in career or college,“said Tammi Chun, executive director of Hawaii P-20 Partnerships in Education. “Students want classes that are not just challenging but relevant,” added schools superintendent Patricia Hamamoto.“The more-rigorous course load provides challenging courses that will help all those who graduate with the BOE Step Up diploma.”
Waialua’s Class of 2013 hasn’t wasted any time. At an October assembly, the 13 AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students who attended the Step Up kick off at Washington Place in August shared it to their peers.
“It was really motivational in a sense that it was really from a student’s perspective rather than an adult’s,” said AVID college-prep coordinator Ryan Ishimoto. After PowerPoint presentations, he added,the students distributed forms, which are due before winter break. The school then gives them to the Step Up board.
“We think it’s going to be a challenge and an opportunity for the students,” said principal Randiann Porras-Tang.“The Step Up Diploma impacts instruction because now our teachers have to keep content relevant to what’s going on in the world. It’s also a challenge for the students because they’re just freshmen and not thinking of how what they do now is going to affect them four, five years down the line.
“We’re learning as we’re going.”
Waialua High currently offers five advanced-placement classes as well as honors classes in English, math and social studies,among others.Because of the Furlough Friday mandate, however, Ishimoto said Waialua has had to make adjustments.
“It has had a huge impact on our kids,” he stated. “Changes have been made. We’ve compacted schedules so kids get what they need, and teachers have voted to turn the collaboration days into instructional days.”
“Our responsibility is for the students to understand what this diploma means for them. If we don’t provide the options for them, how will they have them later on?” Porras-Tang added.“I think we have to provide hope, or should I say encouragement for the students, because they already have the hope.What we need to provide is a real-life plan.”
The Step Up campaign is aligned with a national movement to raise the value of a high school diploma by increasing school standards, assessments and curriculum to reflect the demands of post-secondary education and careers.Step Up graduates will be eligible for scholarships, admission to local colleges/universities and some job application benefits.
The DOE, BOE, University of Hawaii and Hawaii P-20 hope to enroll 75 percent of public school freshmen statewide by December. They also are looking to sign up 100 local businesses and community groups as Step Up supporters by the end of the year. To learn more, visit http://www.stepuphawaii.org.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
