BY
EARLENE WARD - FOR THE SIERRA STAR
“Evidence is
mounting that meeting the basic developmental needs of students
-- ensuring that they are safe, drug-free, healthy, and resilient,
is central to improving their academic performance” said WestEd,
the organization that oversees the California Healthy Kids Survey
(CHKS), which the California Department of Education mandates all
schools to give to their students.
“Research studies and reviews over the past decade have consistently
concluded that student health status and achievement are inextricably
intertwined,” WestEd said on its Website regarding the CHKS.
Yosemite Joint Union High School District trustees and administrators
agree with those conclusions and have several programs in place
to help students in the district feel safe and to meet personal
needs.
“We are committed to do everything we can for our students in all
areas,” said District Superintendent, Bill McCabe. “With support
of our board of trustees, we have a number of programs in place
to provide for the well-being of our students.”
“We know that for some students, there are issues that can get in
the way of them getting an education. We have implemented a number
of strategies to address these issues including intervention programs,
support staff, and activities to connect students to school,” says
Yosemite High School Principal,Steve Raupp.
Raupp said students who are connected to the school in some way
other than just attending class tend to do better academically and
personally. Extra curricular activities, including sports, help
students feel involved and part of the school.
Freshmen are encouraged to become involved in some activity from
the beginning of their school career.
A survey of YHS students taken during the spring indicates that
over 60 percent of the students are involved in some extra curricular
activity.
“While our primary function is to provide our students with the
best education possible, we also must meet their needs to feel safe,
accepted and successful,” McCabe said.
“We accept the research that says students must feel safe in all
ways to do well academically.”
One of the programs available at YHS is Peer Mediation under the
supervision of Stephanie Samuels.
Selected students are trained in techniques of mediation and then
these students are available upon request to meet with students,
or staff and students, who are having a conflict.
YHS health teacher, Nancy Lusby said, “Peer mediation empowers students
to solve their own conflicts and allows them the opportunity to
take responsibility for their actions. The process helps students
recognize that perceptions of individuals are not always the same,
which often leads to conflict.”
Lusby takes the lead in bringing the Challenge Day program to YHS
once a year, with assistance from students in a Peer Communication
class she teaches.
More than 400 students and many staff members have been through
the program the past two years.
Lusby said it is the most powerful program she has seen in over
25 years of teaching. Students from all areas of interest are involved
in the program and they learn to know each other as individuals
instead of as a stereotype.
“Challenge Day is a unique opportunity for students and adults as
well to ‘get real’ and drop their facade,” Lusby said. “It allows
everyone to see each other as having much more in common than they
have differences which improves tolerance of others. Most important,
it shows participants that we really are not alone in the problems
we face.”
Challenge Day is funded through donations from community businesses,
clubs and individuals.
For the 2004 program, the school received a grant from the Madera
County Department of Public Health to help with the expenses.
Staff members receive training in asset development to help them
better understand the importance of supporting students. Karen Worobey,
manager of youth development programs for the Madera County Office
of Education conducts the training session based on the 40 Developmental
Assets program.
A major source of support for students is the YHS counseling department.
Head Counselor Valinda Clevenger has been on staff at the school
since it opened. She and the other counselor, Dr. Bob Yohn, provide
academic counseling and they also counsel students who have personal
issues they need to discuss.
Additional academic
counseling
Additional academic counseling is provided by Larry Pesetski for
the International Baccalaureate students and Al Nocciolo for the
special education students.
There are two counseling technicians, Jeanne Ratchford and Greg
Hill, who assist with academic counseling.
While some schools are reducing their counseling staff because of
budget cuts, YHS has added a new position beginning with the 2004-05
year.
Valarie Edwards-Shaffer, who formerly worked at YHS under contract
as a substance abuse counselor, has been hired as a full-time student
support facilitator.
In this position, she will manage the district’s at-risk programs,
including support groups for anger management, tobacco use, substance
abuse, children of divorce, parents with dependency problems and
so forth.
Edwards-Shaffer will coordinate a program of support for unforeseen
emergency situations such as the death of a student or staff member.
She will work with parents, teachers, counselors, principals and
appropriate agencies to provide support as students reach for social
and academic success, Raupp said.
Edwards-Shaffer holds an associate degree in alcohol and drug counseling
and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
For the past three years, using campus safety funds, YHS has hired
campus supervisors to be on site during the school day. Five people,
Richard Joseph, David Eames, Lina Moberly, Kellie Romine, and Jerylyn
Williamson serve in this capacity.
“The addition of campus supervisors has made a significant difference
on the campus,” Raupp said. “We have seen fewer incidents as a result
of the increased level of supervision. The campus supervisors do
a great job of working with students in a positive way to ensure
school safety and hold students accountable for appropriate behavior.”
The Madera County Sheriff’s Department has placed a deputy on campus
for the past six years. The first three years, Deputy Roy Broomfield
was assigned to the campus through a grant the sheriff's department
received.
After the grant expired, Sheriff John Anderson agreed to leave Broomfield
on the campus.
“Deputy Broomfield is a very positive influence on the students
at Yosemite High,” Sheriff Anderson said.
“When the grant expired, we found that Roy had done such a good
job at the school we decided it was in everyone’s interest to leave
him on campus. It gives students an opportunity to mingle with law
enforcement personnel in a non-enforcement environment.”
The sheriff said calls for service at the high school have gone
down since Deputy Broomfield has been on campus.
“I hear good comments about him from students and staff,” Sheriff
Anderson said.
“I think the students and staff appreciate having him there.”
“We are extremely grateful to Sheriff Anderson for providing this
level of service to the students,” McCabe said.
“With the large territory the department has to cover, it is very
reassuring to know we have a deputy who can respond almost immediately
to any situation that may arise.”
The district also contracts with a company for contraband dog services.
These dogs have the ability to sniff out contraband such as drugs,
alcohol and weapons.
The dogs and their handlers make unannounced visits to the district
schools.
The dogs are used to sniff lockers and cars and may go into classrooms.
“This contract is part of an overall policy of designating our campus
as drug-free, gang-free, weapon-free and to provide our students
and staff the opportunity to learn and teach in a safe and orderly
environment,” Raupp said.
Administrators at YHS conduct several surveys each year to determine
many things about the school and including how safe the students
feel. These surveys include the CHKS, a safe school survey and a
survey sent to students, staff and parents.
Administrators use the information from these various surveys to
determine what programs are most needed.
Raupp and members of the YHS Steering Committee recently met to
plan staff development activities and set goals for the school.
Much of the information used at this meeting came from the student,
parent and staff surveys.
Support services are also available to students in the district’s
alternative education schools. Students at Mountain View High School
have access to all of the services available at YHS.
Students in the other schools, Ahwahnee, Evergreen, Foothill, Glacier
and Raymond-Granite, have access to many of the services provided
at YHS.
“Our bottom line is that our students feel safe, respected and ready
to learn,” McCabe said. “When students have help available when
they are having a problem, they are much more likely to be successful
students. We strive to create an atmosphere in which all students
believe they can be a success.”
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