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Principal's Message - August 2008

 

Welcome to the New School Year at Piner High School!

The 2008-2009 school year promises to be one of the best for Piner. Hopefully, a number of goals put in place last year will be realized this year: we expect to exit program improvement status at the end of the year by continued focus on testing participation and increased test results; we expect to receive an additional three year accreditation following the WASC visitation on March 9 and 10, 2009; we will begin implementation of the BEST (Building Effective Schools Together) program, a positive behavior support program, and will expect to see results in increased attendance rates as well as in stronger student performance as we address issues of safety, respect and responsibility. Finally, we will begin the new GIS/GPS pathway, funded by a $200,000 state grant awarded to Piner last year, which in combination with the popular Biotechnology Pathway, will put Piner on the map as an innovative science and mathematics magnet school.

Piner is about academics. As parents and students at Piner, we want you to take ownership in the school—Piner Pride, we call it—and realize that the goals identified above will take the work of all of us—staff, teachers, students, parents and community members. In addition, the revised Board Policy 5126, Graduation Requirements, will put a new emphasis on taking academics seriously for our ninth grade students who will be retained at the end of their ninth grade year if they fail to pass English and pre-algebra or receive less than 40 credits. To be successful, a student must:


• Attend school daily;
• Participate fully in all classes;
• Complete all homework;
• Attend tutoring sessions and/or the Homework Club if having trouble in any class; and, above all
• Keep a good “I can do this!” attitude and talk with teachers and counselors if there are concerns.

A Piner student is a successful student. I look forward to meeting each of you and your families this year!

 

Mary Beth Halsey

Piner High School Principal