SDHS – Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
Date: 1/12/09
In Attendance: Mr. Billy Hunt, Kristy Slate, Kelly Bledsoe, Penny Hensley,
Corby Causey, Kim Strothers, and Tim Bean
Mr. Hunt opened the meeting with the announcement of a new program, SoaringBeyond Expectations, which is being launched in the spring 2009 semester. The purpose of the program is to provide students with academic enrichment opportunities along with activities designed to complement the students’ regular academic program. These services include but are not limited to tutoring and mentoring, homework assistance, academic enrichment (such as hands-on science or technology programs), community service opportunities and much more. This is being made possible through a $200,000 grant awarded to the Denton schools of SDHS, SDMS, and Denton Elementary. This grant is to be divided among the schools and carries specific stipulations such as there must be a minimum of fifty-one students from the high school level participating and twelve hours of services provided after school each week.
Mr. Hunt also announced that our Algebra 1 teacher, Kaye Hunt, is the “test-pilot” for an online remediation program to help students prepare for their EOCs through usatestprep.com. It seems to be a success and hopefully will be implemented by more teachers in the near future.
Once a month Mr. Hunt and Mrs. Slate meet with the principals of SDMS, Denton Elementary and Silver Valley Elementary to discuss various issues including the needs and problems of at-risk children and possible solutions. The elementary schools have asked for Mr. Hunt and Mrs. Slate to select some students from the high school that they feel would be good role models to participate in the Peer Helpers Project. Through this project high school students will each mentor 1 to 3 students at Denton or Silver Valley Elementary school. Mentoring will include such activities as reading to, talking to, having lunch with, and encouraging their peer to have a positive outlook on school. This will be an internship whereas each peer helper will spend one class period every school day with their elementary peers and receive class credit and a final grade for this project. The students chosen to participate at the high school level are very excited and happy to help and this program is sure to be a success.
Mr. Hunt closed our meeting with some more good news. The first Senior Project presentation night was a huge success. Every senior that presented the first semester has passed with a big sigh of relief. Their advise to students preparing their projects for second semester, DON’T PROCATINATE!