Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council 2008-09
33 middle and high school students meet 33 middle and high school students meet with the superintendent monthly. with the superintendent monthly. 8 Desert View students – 2 from each 8 Desert View students – 2 from each
classclass 8 Sunnyside students – 2 from each 8 Sunnyside students – 2 from each
classclass 2 S.T.A.R. Academic Center students2 S.T.A.R. Academic Center students 3 students from each middle school3 students from each middle school
33 middle and high school students meet 33 middle and high school students meet with the superintendent monthly. with the superintendent monthly. 8 Desert View students – 2 from each 8 Desert View students – 2 from each
classclass 8 Sunnyside students – 2 from each 8 Sunnyside students – 2 from each
classclass 2 S.T.A.R. Academic Center students2 S.T.A.R. Academic Center students 3 students from each middle school3 students from each middle school
Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory Council
2008-09
ThinkTank SessionNovember 18, 2008
University of Arizona – McClelland Hall – Hoffman E-Commerce Lab
The visit was hosted by Mr. Jaime Gutierrez, UA The visit was hosted by Mr. Jaime Gutierrez, UA Assistant Vice President for Community Relations. Assistant Vice President for Community Relations.
The lab uses GroupSystems software to facilitate The lab uses GroupSystems software to facilitate brainstorming. Each of the students worked at a brainstorming. Each of the students worked at a computer; all ideas are anonymous and are viewed computer; all ideas are anonymous and are viewed simultaneously by the group. simultaneously by the group.
Questions were based on the Five Promises from the Questions were based on the Five Promises from the America’s Promise Alliance, as presented at a America’s Promise Alliance, as presented at a summit held at Sunnyside High School:summit held at Sunnyside High School: Caring AdultsCaring Adults Safe PlacesSafe Places A Healthy StartA Healthy Start Effective EducationEffective Education Opportunities to Help OthersOpportunities to Help Others
The visit was hosted by Mr. Jaime Gutierrez, UA The visit was hosted by Mr. Jaime Gutierrez, UA Assistant Vice President for Community Relations. Assistant Vice President for Community Relations.
The lab uses GroupSystems software to facilitate The lab uses GroupSystems software to facilitate brainstorming. Each of the students worked at a brainstorming. Each of the students worked at a computer; all ideas are anonymous and are viewed computer; all ideas are anonymous and are viewed simultaneously by the group. simultaneously by the group.
Questions were based on the Five Promises from the Questions were based on the Five Promises from the America’s Promise Alliance, as presented at a America’s Promise Alliance, as presented at a summit held at Sunnyside High School:summit held at Sunnyside High School: Caring AdultsCaring Adults Safe PlacesSafe Places A Healthy StartA Healthy Start Effective EducationEffective Education Opportunities to Help OthersOpportunities to Help Others
The Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory The Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory Council summarized the main points of the report in Council summarized the main points of the report in four areas:four areas:
What students like best about their schools and What students like best about their schools and what needs improvementwhat needs improvement
SafetySafety
Caring AdultsCaring Adults
Effective EducationEffective Education
The Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory The Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory Council summarized the main points of the report in Council summarized the main points of the report in four areas:four areas:
What students like best about their schools and What students like best about their schools and what needs improvementwhat needs improvement
SafetySafety
Caring AdultsCaring Adults
Effective EducationEffective Education
ThinkTank SessionNovember 18, 2008
University of Arizona – McClelland Hall – Hoffman E-Commerce Lab
What students like best about their schools
What students like best about their schools
School spiritSchool spirit Free tutoringFree tutoring Extracurricular activities Extracurricular activities Opportunity for self-expression – art and music, Opportunity for self-expression – art and music,
culinary arts (also ways that students earn culinary arts (also ways that students earn scholarships)scholarships) Concern about culinary arts being cut from Concern about culinary arts being cut from
Sunnyside HighSunnyside High Concern about budget cutsConcern about budget cuts High school orchestra concert for fifth-graders High school orchestra concert for fifth-graders
to expose them to opportunities – a valuable to expose them to opportunities – a valuable experienceexperience
Athletics – keeps students in positive activities Athletics – keeps students in positive activities and away from negative influencesand away from negative influences
School spiritSchool spirit Free tutoringFree tutoring Extracurricular activities Extracurricular activities Opportunity for self-expression – art and music, Opportunity for self-expression – art and music,
culinary arts (also ways that students earn culinary arts (also ways that students earn scholarships)scholarships) Concern about culinary arts being cut from Concern about culinary arts being cut from
Sunnyside HighSunnyside High Concern about budget cutsConcern about budget cuts High school orchestra concert for fifth-graders High school orchestra concert for fifth-graders
to expose them to opportunities – a valuable to expose them to opportunities – a valuable experienceexperience
Athletics – keeps students in positive activities Athletics – keeps students in positive activities and away from negative influencesand away from negative influences
Snack barSnack bar
College-based classes, AVID, Advanced College-based classes, AVID, Advanced Placement classes, Honors classesPlacement classes, Honors classes
Teen-age Parent Program (TAPP)Teen-age Parent Program (TAPP)
Lunch-time activitiesLunch-time activities
Clubs – a safe environment, positive influenceClubs – a safe environment, positive influence
Feel safe at schoolFeel safe at school
Snack barSnack bar
College-based classes, AVID, Advanced College-based classes, AVID, Advanced Placement classes, Honors classesPlacement classes, Honors classes
Teen-age Parent Program (TAPP)Teen-age Parent Program (TAPP)
Lunch-time activitiesLunch-time activities
Clubs – a safe environment, positive influenceClubs – a safe environment, positive influence
Feel safe at schoolFeel safe at school
What students like best about their schools
What students like best about their schools
What needs improvement?What needs improvement?
CleanlinessCleanliness
Costs of summer schoolCosts of summer school
Teacher–student relationship – teachers need Teacher–student relationship – teachers need to get to know students’ namesto get to know students’ names
Number of students at lunches and in hallwaysNumber of students at lunches and in hallways
Facilities – renovations neededFacilities – renovations needed
CleanlinessCleanliness
Costs of summer schoolCosts of summer school
Teacher–student relationship – teachers need Teacher–student relationship – teachers need to get to know students’ namesto get to know students’ names
Number of students at lunches and in hallwaysNumber of students at lunches and in hallways
Facilities – renovations neededFacilities – renovations needed
SafetySafety
Some students feel safe, some don’t, some Some students feel safe, some don’t, some feel safe sometimesfeel safe sometimes
Feel safe at school, but have concerns in the Feel safe at school, but have concerns in the community. School is a safe place.community. School is a safe place.
Basketball gyms, soccer fields – school-related Basketball gyms, soccer fields – school-related activities are safe places.activities are safe places.
(Need for traffic safety (Campbell and Bilby) (Need for traffic safety (Campbell and Bilby) Cameras needed in school parking lotsCameras needed in school parking lots Intense violence in community – what is the Intense violence in community – what is the
balance between school and community? How balance between school and community? How does community violence affect schools?does community violence affect schools?
Some students feel safe, some don’t, some Some students feel safe, some don’t, some feel safe sometimesfeel safe sometimes
Feel safe at school, but have concerns in the Feel safe at school, but have concerns in the community. School is a safe place.community. School is a safe place.
Basketball gyms, soccer fields – school-related Basketball gyms, soccer fields – school-related activities are safe places.activities are safe places.
(Need for traffic safety (Campbell and Bilby) (Need for traffic safety (Campbell and Bilby) Cameras needed in school parking lotsCameras needed in school parking lots Intense violence in community – what is the Intense violence in community – what is the
balance between school and community? How balance between school and community? How does community violence affect schools?does community violence affect schools?
Caring adultsCaring adults
Students feel that some adults care for them. Students feel that some adults care for them. Some, though, did feel that adults are there Some, though, did feel that adults are there for the paycheck.for the paycheck.
Discussion on: Is there a difference between Discussion on: Is there a difference between teachers in Honors/AP courses and regular teachers in Honors/AP courses and regular classes? – depends on the teacher classes? – depends on the teacher individuallyindividually
Teachers’ treatment of students is a Teachers’ treatment of students is a reflection of how students treat teachers.reflection of how students treat teachers.
Electives teachers, coaches care.Electives teachers, coaches care. Relationship between teacher and student if Relationship between teacher and student if
teacher caresteacher cares Difference between being a friend and being Difference between being a friend and being
friendly (professional) – students don’t want friendly (professional) – students don’t want teacher to be a friendteacher to be a friend
Students feel that some adults care for them. Students feel that some adults care for them. Some, though, did feel that adults are there Some, though, did feel that adults are there for the paycheck.for the paycheck.
Discussion on: Is there a difference between Discussion on: Is there a difference between teachers in Honors/AP courses and regular teachers in Honors/AP courses and regular classes? – depends on the teacher classes? – depends on the teacher individuallyindividually
Teachers’ treatment of students is a Teachers’ treatment of students is a reflection of how students treat teachers.reflection of how students treat teachers.
Electives teachers, coaches care.Electives teachers, coaches care. Relationship between teacher and student if Relationship between teacher and student if
teacher caresteacher cares Difference between being a friend and being Difference between being a friend and being
friendly (professional) – students don’t want friendly (professional) – students don’t want teacher to be a friendteacher to be a friend
What does it mean, what does it look like, feel like, sound like,
to have a caring teacher?
What does it mean, what does it look like, feel like, sound like,
to have a caring teacher?
Teacher says student can stay after school for Teacher says student can stay after school for helphelp
Don’t be my friend, just be friendlyDon’t be my friend, just be friendly Someone who remembers your name, talks to Someone who remembers your name, talks to
you and motivates youyou and motivates you Open, interested in youOpen, interested in you Knows about your extracurricular activities, Knows about your extracurricular activities,
asks about sports, gamesasks about sports, games Interested in your activities outside of schoolInterested in your activities outside of school Notices when you’re absentNotices when you’re absent Notices when you’re having a bad day, asks you Notices when you’re having a bad day, asks you
what’s wrongwhat’s wrong Shares their own life experiences (within Shares their own life experiences (within
boundaries)boundaries) Gives advice, to a pointGives advice, to a point Cares about your safety Cares about your safety
Teacher says student can stay after school for Teacher says student can stay after school for helphelp
Don’t be my friend, just be friendlyDon’t be my friend, just be friendly Someone who remembers your name, talks to Someone who remembers your name, talks to
you and motivates youyou and motivates you Open, interested in youOpen, interested in you Knows about your extracurricular activities, Knows about your extracurricular activities,
asks about sports, gamesasks about sports, games Interested in your activities outside of schoolInterested in your activities outside of school Notices when you’re absentNotices when you’re absent Notices when you’re having a bad day, asks you Notices when you’re having a bad day, asks you
what’s wrongwhat’s wrong Shares their own life experiences (within Shares their own life experiences (within
boundaries)boundaries) Gives advice, to a pointGives advice, to a point Cares about your safety Cares about your safety
Effective educationEffective education
Students want more experiences outside of the Students want more experiences outside of the classroom – field trips, workshops, something classroom – field trips, workshops, something done with the class but not in the classroomdone with the class but not in the classroom
Take education to where you really need it in Take education to where you really need it in life – relevancylife – relevancy
More student-teacher relationships – students More student-teacher relationships – students taking responsibility for their learningtaking responsibility for their learning
More career-based classes – more vocationalMore career-based classes – more vocational
Students want more short-term rewards – Students want more short-term rewards – student of the month, attendancestudent of the month, attendance
Students want more experiences outside of the Students want more experiences outside of the classroom – field trips, workshops, something classroom – field trips, workshops, something done with the class but not in the classroomdone with the class but not in the classroom
Take education to where you really need it in Take education to where you really need it in life – relevancylife – relevancy
More student-teacher relationships – students More student-teacher relationships – students taking responsibility for their learningtaking responsibility for their learning
More career-based classes – more vocationalMore career-based classes – more vocational
Students want more short-term rewards – Students want more short-term rewards – student of the month, attendancestudent of the month, attendance