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Show DAVIS COUNTY SCHOOLS Fall 1993 Report to the Community SEALS Program Requires Student Planning A Leading to Career Paths Davis County high school graduates in 1997 could receive a diploma with a new dimension. Beginning in junior high, students may now opt for what is called the SEALS program. With an emphasis on career and academic planning, students may plot a very specific course through to graduation. This will allow students to affix a seal onto their diploma for Academic emphasis. Technical emphasis, Fine Arts emphasis or a General Categoiy. We want students to set goals toot work for them and not Just register Jor dosses without a plan. Praised for outstanding performance. Dr. Richard E. KendeU was reappointed In August as Superintendent of Davis School District for two years. Incentives for Excellence Committee Awards $48,468 ,, The committee which evaluates school funding requests from the State program. Incentives for Excellence, wished they could have awarded all requests. Financial requests totaled $77,242 and the committee was able to fund only $48,468. Funding was approved for such projects as science kits, Artist in Residence, computer mini-lab- s for math, computer connected Touch Talker, math manipulatives, a precision scientific microscope and a remote satellite Imagery system. The SEALS program is the work of curriculum specialists Fred Brown, Richard Marsden, and Steve Cottrell. Brown, Marsden and Cottrell discovered the seals offering in a school district in Georgia. After much expansion and adaptation the program is ready to offer to the Davis County schools. Students have already begun the process as they registered this year for ninth grade classes. With the aid of computers they were able to direct their emphasis into one of the three specialized areas. By graduation, a student may complete two of the seals (three is unlikely). The student who earns an Academic emphasis will take more units of math, social studies and foreign language than a student holding a general diploma. Those with a Technical emphasis will take more units of math and technical education. Students with a Fine Arts seal will have more art, music, foreign language and social studies. The students who elect to earn seals will not necessarily add credit hours but will spend more time in their chosen area of study. One very important component for the students future is planning for a career and reaching realistic conclusions about the academics and training required to reach their goals. The curriculum staff has prepared a High School Planning Guide so students may get acquainted with the SEALS program. The guide emphasizes making wise choices in selecting elective subjects. ...appropriate electives could empower the student to tailor the high school experience to career and educational objectives." The guide informs parents that college, university and technical school standards are becoming more stringent. Mr. Brown says, We want students to set goals that work for them and not just register for classes without a plan." ' Layton High School student. Heather Bansteirt, was honored as a recipient of the national Horatio Alger Association scholarship. Recipients of the $5,000 award are required to have Integrity, determination and perseverance. The award was presented by Robert Rice. e. Deseret News Poll Shows Strong Public Support for Davis 8chools Teachers In a Dan Jones poll last spring, Davis residents gave their teachers high marks at 68. percent, saying Teachers in the public schools are doing a good to excellent job educating their children. Only 3 percent rated teachers work poor or very poor. Favoring a tax increase to Improve teachers salaries were 53 percent of the respondents, with 44 percent disapproving, 67 percent approve of a decrease In class size frinded by a tax increase, and 62 percent approve of a tax Increase for new schools and school improvement In Davis County. Disapproving were 30 percent for class sizes and 33 percent for schools. The poll was verified, by voters who supported their schools by voting favorably for the construction bond and voted leeway. Chantry DeWeese, a fifth grade student from Clinton Elementary, wrote and illustrated a book, one of 100 selected from 7,500 entries in the National Written and Illustrated Contest. The book is written in prose and is beautifully illustrated using colored pencils. Entitled Speckles, a maligned spotted baby dinosaur teaches that we are all great, even though were different. School Volunteers Give 119,152 Hours For learning, More Volunteers Are1 Weeded Volunteers have contributed 19, 152 hours of work throughout the district this year, an increase of 10,421 hours. More volunteers are needed at every school In the district to tutor students In. the classroom, to help teachers develop learning materials nr to work on special protects and xmt grama- - Effective volunteering comes from diverse retirees, senior citizens, parents, backgrounds friends and extended family members. d Call your local school and join in schools, traditional schools, high schools, junior highs, elementary or alternative schools. year-roun- Centerville Junior High students enroll for the new year with the SEALS program that planning. Brent Neel, Shawn Groberg, Tawni Huber, Alyssa Unopulos. will emphasize career and academic Behavior Increases DisruptiveDangerous demands student district ,...new responsibility policy Davis Schools have not been immune to the increasingly violent and disruptive behaviors of students nationwide. Pipebombs, knives, guns, belligerence, and nonrespect have prompted a Safe Schools policy which gives principals guidelines in getting serious offenders out of their schools. While most teachers do not fear for their lives on a daily basis as in some U.S. schools, parents and teachers are seriously concerned about trends in classroom behavior and discipline. Since 1980 our schools have experienced a rapid increase in discipline problems. Educators are increasingly concerned about the lack of respect students show for teachers, property and each other. KUTV news recently ran a report about elementary and junior who high students. They interviewed sounded like weapons experts. Some had already pre-tee- ns been charged with carrying knives and firearms to school. Violent TelevisionMoviesMusic as Root Cause Often Cited What is happening, or has happened in our society, who is responsible, and what can be done? What questions. Pat Henry, President of the National Association of Parents and Teachers, says: All the social problems surrounding children come to school with them every day . . ." Mentioned often as a root cause by teachers and parents is the negative influence of television, movies and hard rock music with emphasis on violence, abuse and disrespect. In addition, most felt the increased number of single parent families, the so- Continued on page 2 |