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