Welcome to Heights Student Advocacy Blog
This forum is for you, let's keep it clean. To use the school blogs, you must agree to the following statements.
- I will not use any curse words or inappropriate language.
- I will not use fighting words or provoke anyone.
- I will avoid the use of chat language.
- I will try to spell everything correctly.
- I will only give constructive criticism.
- I will only use my first name.
- I will not plagiarize.
Thank You
posted by RS at 11:49 AM
26 Comments:
ok, most students may or may not agree with me on this but, there are things that have been added this year that shlould have been planned better. take sap/it for example. it is just thrown into the schedule. even though i'm a senior this year, i believe it will benifit students in the coming years if it is made an actual 45 minute class period. as for feshman, the SAP should only be done once a month. this way the freshman students will be able to see the teachers they need to see twice a week like the upper classmen do. the d/f list, i believe that seniors who have atleast 3.25 GPA should be exempt fromt he list. as a senior, we have been at heights for 4 years and have earned the right to be able to attend any after school event that includes prom. i know mr. deterding from south high when i attended school there and i believe he has added great changes to heights, but i dont think they were very thought out.
Seniors who think they have seniority: Well the D&F list is part of our attenpt to have and maintain high standards. If you have a GPA that is 3.0 or better you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If having seniority should exempt people from things our society would be full of people who think they shouldn't have to do anything because they've done the time and they should have to worry about anything because they've put in the time regardless of the effort they put into something. If we look at your arguement that seniors should be exempt because they've done the time then what about the one's who argue that they should be able to graduate regardless of the amount of credits because they attended school all four years and those that argue that they were in class everyday so they should at least be given a "D" in the class because they at least showed up for school? There are problems with SAP/IT and they are being worked but to say that freshmen aren't given enough time is not totally true. Teachers have always been available before and after school by appointment and during lunch. Student's are not utilizing their available resources. School is a give and take relationship. We give all we can but you have to take the opportunities afforded you in order to be successful. If we give, give, give and there is no effort on their part then it's not a healthy relationship. In high school as you know student's have to be an active part of their educaiton or they won't be successful. Being active means going to the teacher sometimes on your own time to get help.
Why are students even allowed to try out for a sport if they are on the D n F list? Those ineligible students should be weeded out prior to try-outs. This would allow the eligible students more time during try-outs.
Some students are allowed to try out for sports for a number of reasons. Kansas has it's requirements for eligibility and that in essence makes them able to try out. Heights has the D&F list which keeps them from playing. Tryouts are different than, a field trip, a dance or going to a game because it's a lot longer in length. Plus sometimes things happen to kids like an illness or something like that and they are for whatever reason on the D&F list for and they didn't really have control of so we let them try out and if they don't come off the D&F list they don't play or practice with the team. If they aren't usually on the list and for whatever reason beyond their control they are allowed to try out and given the opportunity to get their grades back up to where they normally are. Hope this helps.
I have a question about PROM! In our planers it says it is the 28th of April, however, I have also heard that it could be the 21st. WHEN IS IT? Also, I understand that the class I am in and also have taken since freshmen year like: survey science, applied chem, Do not count for my Scince criedts. Now me being a senior next year this will greatly burden me if I have to make up for classes I have already took! Is this true? Why? I was going to graduate mid symester, but now this conflict has set me back greaty and I am very concerned!
In regard to a possible change in the pre-scheduled Junior/Senior Prom date, I do not know of a change at this time. In regard to the question as to whether Science Survey and Applied Chemistry count toward meeting science requirements for graduation, yes they positively do. That was never in jeopardy. The concern earlier was whether the Applied Chemistry would meet the 2007-08 Kansas Board of Regents Qualified Admissions standards for Chemistry. Applied Chemistry will meet the Qualified Admissions Chemistry requirement through this year, 2006-07. However, beginning next year, Applications in Chemistry (formerly Applied Chemistry) will not fulfill the Qualified Admissions Chemistry requirement for future graduates. Applications in Chemistry will continue to count as one of the natural sciences, just not as a substitute for Chemistry 1, if the student is completing the Kansas Qualified Admissions Curriculum or the Kansas Scholars Curriculum.
Anonymous, I encourage you to visit with your counselor if you still have concerns regarding your credit status in meeting graduation requirements.
Victoria Forman
Heights Junior Guidance Counselor
I would second that if you have any quesitons ask those with knowledge and not just go off what you heard. Prom is the 28th so I don't know who gave you misinformation but that's what it was.
Arch
okay just curious, i am considering going to heights but i am really into computers and im going to major in web design but i want to make sure heights has a good opp. for me to do this. Do you have a class that runs the school web site? or can you run it like outside of class or what??
comment back or will the blog author or anyone please e-mail me at bb099@sbcglobal.net =] thanks.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Students do not have an official role in the creation/modification/maintenance of the school website, but those who are assigned as tech specialists to Ms. Von Achen might assist her from time to time. The major role of the tech specialist students is to work with software and hardware to keep the building network running smoothly. In order to participate in this class, students must complete computer systems and be approved by Ms. Von Achen. There are opportunities to be creative with computers in other areas, such as web page design, computer presentations, computer systems, computers and technology, computer programming, and desktop publishing.
Seth Scripter
10th Grade Counselor
Heights High School
316-973-1422
Okay so what is the deal with not letting juniors and seniors out the five minutes earlier i do think we have earned senority for that maybe not the d/f list that makes since if you have good gpa you wont be on it any way but trying to get out at lunch is a hassle and from what ive seen there have been more freshman and sophmores leaving for lunch if you let us out earlier you could actually moniter that because more freshman and sophmores would rather not come back than juniors and seniors because we are over half way done we realize that being at school is important and we know that we should come back
Teachers are to be teaching from bell to bell. If juniors and seniors were allowed a five minute reprieve; you all would be loosing twenty-five minutes of instruction in one week. That is over half a class worth of time every week. Open lunch is a priviledge. Which if abused can be revoked. The security guards are looking at id's of students in vehicles and those underclassmen will be caught and have been caught. School is important to everyone and with our "Academics First" I believe all of our students understand their role--to graduate and when they go to lunch to heed Rule #2.
The last five minutes of fourth hour is not going to hurt our academic learning. I have almost gotten my car hit four times! Also, I could list 20 underclassmen that go out to lunch evryday with other juniors, seniors and even drive themselves. Last year the lunch idea was perfect. We were able to relax, not rush, eat inside! and go back to school. I am a senior and will be graducating early, But i am tring to help out other students that will be coming to heights. Almost all of my teachers have said they hate the lunch scheduale too! SO I just do not get what the school board was thinking. Also isnt it a health hazzard for all of these students to be here? We are over populated and i can barley make it to my 3rd hour. I just think next year the school board or who ever needs alot of reconsidering to do!
To add onto the lunch dismissal situation mention earlier, the five minutes would be worth cutting into out class time. The juniors and seniors should be able to leave for lunch five minutes earlier as like last year. This lunch (07-08), is over crowded. Hallways become congested no matter the situation. freshmen and sophomore going to sneak out into the parking lots, or just getting into lunch lines or ala carte. Either way, the halls will be over populated. The staff also must have to keep caution to the violence in the school because of all the commotion caused by the groups and huddles in the hallways. The hallways are also closed off, which is a good and bad situation. The good part of this situation is that the monitoring of the hallways are easier on the staff. My rebuttal to this relates also to the time we have to get out of the school and into the parking lots. This causes a flock of people out in the hallways going through all exits, also rushing to their lockers then continuing to their cars. For the student body, the students whom want to grab a lunch before the lines get longer and having to wait 30 minutes for their lunches, they rush to grab some food and try to go to their lockers in the "No Zones" wouldn't be able to go even if they are 30 seconds late to the closed off areas. The lunch period also should have the five minutes added on because of all the detentions being served. On the student body's behalf, the students "slack", in other words, they feel no need to go to their detentions, which causes problems for the staff. This also enrages the students and going back to the crowded-hallways situation, causes confrontations between staff and students. On the staff's behalf, they have to watch over the students in the detention room, and they have to search for all the underclassmen that sneak out of the school to go out to lunch. To summarize this complaint, the school should have juniors and seniors a little extra time to leave campus, and take this time out of sap/it and intervention time/PLC.
class of 09
Change is sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes seems unfair, especially if one was looking forward to continuing a tradition that has been stopped, like in your case.
I would hope that the mentality of "slacking" and not thinking that serving a detention is important is not prevalent. We in the administration have instituted new measures to ensure that students do serve their detentions. Although adjustments will be made, the vigiliance of accountability will continue. It is a deservice to your teachers and to yourself to not abide by the established decorum of being on time and if you violate that decorum then it is important to be responsible enough to deal with the consequences.
The amount of underclassmen attempting to leave is not as large as you have stated. Actually the number is lower this year for underclassmen trying to sneak out than last year.
Our overall student population is higher than last year. However, all students that stay here to eat are able to eat and enjoy their meal. Yes, the lines may be long but again, everyone who wants to eat can eat. For those who choose to leave campus, a little more planning may need to take place.
As for the comment above yours:
Teachers are to be teaching from bell to bell. If juniors and seniors were allowed a five minute reprieve; you all would be loosing twenty-five minutes of instruction in one week. That is over half a class worth of time every week. Open lunch is a priviledge. Which if abused can be revoked. The security guards are looking at id's of students in vehicles and those underclassmen will be caught and have been caught. School is important to everyone and with our "Academics First" I believe all of our students understand their role--to graduate and when they go to lunch to heed Rule #2.
those students who have asked to the a gay/straight club, if they are allowed it is not fair. I can not bring my bible to school, they should not get to promote their "sexual preference" to us all by gathering...this is so sad.
Those students who desired to start the G.S.A. club have just as much right as you do to start a Bible/Christian club. You have the right to carry your Bible to school. The Bible is not banned nor is it written anywhere that you cculd not bring it to school.
What is sad is the attitude of self-righteousness that you exude.
I helped get GSA started.
Its awesome that we now have a gay-straight alliance club because I came from east high where GSA was widely accepted and running strong.
Why cant it be widely accepted here at heights?
Would it be fair to you if we went about saying how 'sad' it was for you to start a 'bible carrying' club?
Its called gay-straight ALLIANCE. Not everybody in the club is gay or bi.
Infact, Im straight, and we have many members who are also straight and are in favor of equal rights for those of different sexual orientation.
We are all people here.
Respect the views of others.
To be quite honest, I rather think all you are whiners. Just follow the rules laid forth by your school and principal, do you job, make the grades, and you'll be better off in the long run because you have a principal who care enough about you and your life to actually lay some rules down for your own good. Quit being silly. Life outside of school won't get much better as far as rules and regulations go. Don't be so spoiled. Learn to deal with the upsets along the way. It will do you good later in life.
Having just read the stuend bulletin on line, I am beginning to wonder if Heights has not become the Stalag 13 of USD 259. I particularly like how you think you could revoke someones driving privilage. The law says I can drive at 16 and you can not take that away from me. Also the school is a PUBLIC place (paid for with tax dollars by my parents) not PRIVATE. You already have taken my civil liberties and crushed them by telling me that you can search me whenever you feel like it for not "apparent" reason other than your need to be the bully. No wonder some of my friends go to private/christian schools...at least there the kids are given respect until THEY personally do something to loose it..here you don't have it to loose.
"j man"
J man. It is obvious that you need to study up on your school law. We can deny your privilege of parking on school property and deny you the privilege of leaving for lunch.
A search is not conducting for no "apparant" reason, there is a reasonable suspicion when one is conducted. You are absolutely incorrect in your assumption that students aren't treated with respect in public schools. Public schools educate the majority of students in the state and are doing a fine job. We will continue to provide the most safe and secure environment possible and if a student does something counter to those efforts then, yes they may be searched; yes they may feel their rights have been violated, but we will not let an individual or individuals deter the safety and security of our school.
With the implementation of the AVID program at Heights next year, how will it effect the honors and AP classes? Students in those classes have shown they can excel in those learning environments for years prior to placement. Will placing students who have not shown that drive bring the level of learning down? I am all for expanding the minds of all students, just not at the expense of my child's education. They have worked hard through out their MS and HS years to be placed in these classes, I just don't want to see a change. Please advise. Thank you.
Concerned Parent of a Heights student.
The AVID program will increase the number of students taking honors and A.P. The misconception is that these students would somehow bring the rigor and expectations down in those classes. That is the farthest from the truth. The students are selected to the program and the teachers who teach the AVID portion are going to be selected also. This program has been proven and Wichita North High School is a shining example of the tremendous impact that it can have on the entire school climate. The November 15th Wichita Eagle's front page highlighted North's achievement. We are excited about the program coming to Heights and it will be a positive addition.
How can I find out more about your curriculum, what type of schedule do you have - a block schedule or a 6 hour schedule and what are the requirements for graduating. I might be attending your school this coming year. Please reply and let me know. Thank you.
Our students have seven classes a day. There is a modified schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Advocacy and for Intervention. You may want to visit the districts website: www.usd259.com to get a thorough understanding about what this district offers and the curriculum for each grade level.
Heights has a great spirit... Whenever there is a football game we would have like 4000 people come and watch the football team play.. My concern is th student section where we all stand up.. I 've had many people in the back throwing stuff down on people...such as wrappers, gums, bottles, foil ball from hamburgers, change, etc. and It's getting worse than last year.. Can you guys have someone that stands in front of the student section and montior us? I saw a girl who had gum in her hair and she was really mad because ofc it's gross and it will be hard to get the gum out of your hair!
Heights does have great spirit. However, we do have a few individuals who aren't mature enough to act correctly. We will have more visibility and coverage in the student section at the next home game. Those individuals who do not behave will be banned from all future games which may include the basketball season also. We will be watching.
Post a Comment
<< Home