SCHOOL CLIMATE
Highland Park High School

Purposes:

• To provide a warm and caring environment for everyone in the learning community.

• To provide opportunities for all students to participate in positive school experiences, specifically finding ways to help each student find his or her niche.

• To provide a student home base where discussion forums on selected topics are facilitated by adults.

• To enhance adult-to-adult communications in all aspects of our school life.

Description:

Two specific programs have been designed and implemented to achieve the purposes of providing a warm and caring environment.  All students and staff participated in our dignity and respect program entitled “Class Act,” with a focus on demonstrating behaviors that communicate that we care about and respect each other. 

Our Advisory Program for Freshmen is designed to ease the transition from junior high to high school, giving a student a home base.  It provides an opportunity to address issues to the high school community in a supportive, caring environment.  APF seeks to meet the goal of providing a greater understanding of the extracurricular, curricular, social and career development opportunities of the school.  On the three activity days a week, freshmen work on a variety of activities which foster educational and personal responsibility.  On the other two days, the APF acts as a directed study experience.  Students learn effective study skills and frequently receive tutoring help from the Senior Advisors and the APF teacher.  Because all students in an APF class have the same counselor, efficient and frequent contact with students is possible.  Students in the APF are not graded in traditional sense.  Emphasis is placed on citizenship and personal growth.  Students are asked to identify personal goals each semester and then assess their progress in achieving these goals.  The advisory team of teacher, counselor and student advisors provides parents with an assessment profile of their freshman once each semester.  All incoming freshmen are automatically enrolled in the program and it is a non-credit experience.  This year, all freshmen will assemble digital portfolios to assess their progress on the Learning for Life Abilities as part of the APF program.

Annual Events:

• Design teams plan activities and monitor progress

• Training for students and staff in Class Act and Freshman Advisory Program facilitation

• Data collection and goals

• Steering committee performs an internal review

• External review conducted by visiting team

• Feedback from student dialogue and student surveys

• Presentation at faculty meetings

• Sharing of ideas between schools

• Presentations to outside groups

• Faculty meeting discussion regarding school climate

• Daily meetings of Advisory Program for Freshmen

• Curriculum evaluation of Advisory Program for Freshmen

• Monthly conversations with staff

Contact Persons:

Class Act – John Gorleski/Mary Swanson
Advisory Program for Freshmen – Kris McKavanagh/Anita Weis

page last updated 08/27/2002