KHSD NEWS 5801 Sundale Avenue - Bakersfield, CA - 93309 - 661.827.3100 - www.kernhigh.org A Tradition of Excellence Since 1893 September/October 2016 Aviation Academy Soars KHSD Career Technical Education is cleared for takeoff and launching North High School students to new heights with an Aviation Academy getting national recognition. In an effort to increase and prioritize career pathways, an advisory panel with experts from the aviation community was put in place, an experienced professional pilot was hired to teach courses and state-of- the-art flight simulators, and flight preparation and instruction equipment were brought on board. Magali Lewis says teaching these students the history of aviation and how to navigate the aircraft, as well as a career in the field of flight, is an incredibly rewarding experience. The students are thrilled with the career-focused curriculum and truly understand what an opportunity this is for them. Jacob Flores called it an amazing experience in a state-of-the-art training environment. Blake Seay wants to be a pilot and says the flight simulators are a tremendous help when learning at such an advanced level. Ground School prepares students to take the FAA pilot written test, but they are learning all aspects of careers in aviation. This includes FAA regulations, weather, radio communications and navigation, flight safety, aircraft components, weight and balance computations, principles of aerodynamics, airport logistics, and emergency procedures. Aviation Academy students will also have the opportunity to take flight related field trips and hear from guest speakers and industry experts. A service of the KHSD Public Information Office • kernhigh.org Energy Academy Awards Focus On Falcons Left to right: Aaron Jacobson, Academy Coordinator; Rachel Jimenez; Robert Pipkin; Louay Ahmed; John Cadiz; Krystal Raynes; Denise Newton of PG&E; Emily White of PG&E; and Debbie Thompson, IHS Principal The Energy and Utility Career Academy at Independence High School (IHS) hosted a very special event celebrating the accomplishments of the students and the Better Together Energy Academy Program partnership with PG&E. “Our Academy helps students prepare to succeed in the energy industry and beyond. With an urgent need for a skilled workforce to serve in a range of fields, it’s very encouraging to see programs like this one succeed.” – Dr. Debbie Thompson, Principal, IHS PG&E’s Energy Academy is a three-year in-school program for students in grades 10-12 at IHS, under the leadership of Aaron Jacobson, Energy & Utility Academy Director. Coursework consists of traditional high school curriculum with energy and utility material infused into everyday learning for graduation credit. In 2014, PG&E expanded support to the Energy and Utility Academy by providing a four-week paid internship over the summer to help students prepare for a career in the energy and utility industry, and expose them to a real-world work environment. “You are our future engineers, scientists, innovators, and problem solvers. We want to open more avenues for you to explore potential STEM careers so that hopefully, you will one day find yourselves as part of the PG&E family.” – Denise Newton, PG&E Kern Division Leader The Energy Academy award event provided an opportunity to congratulate these students for their hard work and share some of the projects they completed over the summer while competing for a gold statuette. The group who produced “Conserve It and Deserve It!” took home the award and a check from PG&E for $1,000 to fund their vision. Community and business leaders, parents and other distinguished guests were in attendance including Dr. Bryon Schaefer, KHSD Superintendent, and Dr. Dean McGee, KHSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and Innovative Programs. Paperless Math Classes A full implementation of technology is taking place in math classes at Kern Valley High School. Nathan Schultz is leveraging technology to create paperless instruction and change the way students interact digitally with mathematical concepts. Schultz has been working toward integration for a few years and implemented the ideas and technology. He transformed every lesson into common core digital lessons using the Google products. Each “It is a really exciting process, and I think the future of mathe- student was equipped with a Chromebook and a Ti-Npsire CX CAS matics education is bright and calculator. hopeful. “Students are allowed to use paper and pencil if they want to, but Technology is not a crutch to the real tribute to the technology is that they choose not to. It is enable students to do basic questions. We must important to consider that the point of using technology in class challenge students with such is not to go paperless. The real point is to extend their high level questions that they mathematical thinking.” – Nathan Schultz, KVHS need the technology to answer and communicate that answer.” Schultz says the students are engaged and their comprehension and - Nathan Schultz, KVHS retention has benefitted along with their scores. The average grade in the course improved by 13% above the previous year, using a paperless approach. “I taught them how to use the technology to get what they need, and immediately the scores jumped above previous years. I moved the rigor way up to compensate, and they excelled at these higher levels.” – Nathan Schultz, KVHS Knitting Club Promoting Math, Life Skills Marti Hoyt, a math teacher at South High School, combined her passion for education with a hobby and launched an after-school Knitting Club. The turnout and student support has been exceptional. Hoyt says knitting reinforces what is taught in the classroom and she compares it to binary code (1’s and 0’s) since there are really only two stitches, the knit and purl. She says you can create new and amazing projects by changing up the pattern and the order of those two stitches. “Learning a true life skill, feeling the frustration and then the elation when it clicks, that is something all students should experience in and out of the classroom.” – Marti Hoyt The South High School Knitting Club is surviving on donations from teachers and alumni. Plans are in the works to begin fundraising so students can purchase their own starter kits of knitting needles to practice at home. West High School Parent & Family Center East Bakersfield High School Parent & Family Center Committed To Education, Engagement The KHSD is proud of the Parent & Family Centers on KHSD campuses offering educational opportunities and resources for the whole family. The creation of KHSD Parent Centers support the District’s core values in the commitment to focus on engaging parents and families as an integral part of the success of our students. Research shows that collaborative leadership strengthens our schools and improves services. It is a KHSD goal to address and meet the needs of parents and families in order to fully assist in preparing students for lifelong learning and success. Parent & Family Centers offer “It is so nice to see the parents walk in and “know” that this is services including: their room. They can use the phone and internet and other Guidance on creating an resources to improve their lives, as well as their communication email, accessing Synergy and with the school. They feel so welcomed and are not intimidated Parent VUE, the parent app, in because this is their area.” - Terrie Bernardin, Principal, West High order to assist parents in being School informed of their student’s grades The KHSD continues to focus on Parent and Community Engagement Training and information on through supporting strong relationships, facilitating two-way typing, job skills, and job communication, valuing diversity, advocating for every student, sharing searches power and decision making, and connecting families to the community. College and financial aid workshops “At East Bakersfield High School, we plan on expanding our parent engagement with amazing involvement opportunities. We Instruction and basic computer are beginning our High School 101, Parenting Partners, One Circle skills Foundation Boys Circles, and Family Engagement Nights. I am Computer/chrome books, working with community-based agencies to bring nutrition and copier, fax, and Internet wellness classes to the school, as well as a financial aid access workshop for our parents.” - Esequiel Esparza III, Community Parenting classes Specialist, East Bakersfield High School Parent Project with Teen Component Currently the KHSD has eight Parent and Family Centers with plans to open four more this academic year. Connecting families to community resources Parent & Family Centers and Liaisons can be found at the following Daytime and evening English schools: Arvin High, East Bakersfield High, Foothill High, Golden language workshops Valley High, Mira Monte High, Shafter High, South High, and West Guest speakers High. Real Men Sing A Celebration Of Song The Choral Music Educators of the KHSD hosted the 12th Annual “Real Men Sing” and “Real Women Sing” events at the Harvey Auditorium on the campus of Bakersfield High School. These workshops brought together over 700 young men one day and 800 young women the following week from high schools and junior high/middle schools all across Kern County. “It gives students the opportunity to work with guest clinicians on singing techniques and an understanding of the importance of music in our lives. This is such an engaging opportunity which, in addition to creating beauty, strengthens the bonds of goodwill throughout our community.” “We loved Real Women Sing! My students learned how to focus on every tone and word to - Jenepher Lapp, KHSD Choral Representative make the music beautiful. They had a wonderful experience singing in a mass choir under the knowledgeable leadership of Dr. Hamre. The guest clinician for the “Real Men Sing” event was Travis The girls took notes during the event and we will Rogers.