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Principal’s Perspective
Elizabeth Twigg
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Principal Sharon Stratton is looking forward to the school year ahead of us from a positive standpoint. Here are some things she has to say: |
Q: What are you looking forward to this school year?
“We can expect increased achievement among our students, whether it be on national assessments like the SAT or AP tests or local like the HSA.”
“Overall increase in scholarship money by seniors, and seniors working with counselors to make that money. I hope we can have our achievement gap reduced
Q: How do you feel about the new staff?
“I think they’re great! We spent all summer interviewing people to get the best people for our school. We make sure they’re about student learning and that person will commit to teaching.”
“We have 26 new teachers to Arundel, and for many of them this is not their first time teaching, it’s just their first time teaching here. It’s a challenge when you have that many people, getting them up to speed with our programs: Wildcat Hour, the Proficiency Program, and Pride Bucks are all new to them.”
Q: How do you feel about WCH?
“WCH is a challenge with getting kids who really need to use it the way it needs to be used. I’m not worried about the AP and the Honors kids; they study and see teachers. It’s the kids who don’t worry about their grades that need to be using WCH more wisely.”
Q: What do you hope to teach the new class of 2015?
“I’m hoping the freshman will value education and see the need for education. I hope they work to achieve with the new Common Core examinations; present a portfolio. Their senior year they should take a college course 1st semester. I’m trying to get a partnership with University of Maryland so we can do things like that. Then their second semester they should do some internship to develop a portfolio. I’m thinking about having that as part of their final exam; to present portfolio to teachers, the representative of that internship, and their parents. It would answer, ‘What have you learned in high school that you put into your internship?’ I would love every senior to be able to do that.”
-What new programs are reappearing this year?
“Interact is coming back, and I know diversity club is re-igniting, as well as Mrs. Kirk’s Step Up club. The Signature Program has really taken off and continued to teaching others about it.”
“Chinese is becoming more practical to learn, and our new Chinese courses are doing great and students tell me they love it.” |
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From the Slums, to the City
Rucha Bhide
Guest speaker, Kenneth Oyodo Owade, came to Arundel High on Monday, September 12th, to speak about his programs to help the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Twenty-six year old Owade is currently in America to attend a leadership and innovation conference for young leaders in Boston; giving inspirational speeches along the way including at Arundel. Mrs. Dziedzic, English teacher and highly involved member of the signature program, witnessed the speeches that Owade gave. “I think the most inspiring thing is how dedicated Ken is,” Mrs. Dziedzic says. “He lives in the largest slum in Kenya. Although he has the money to leave, he chooses to stay to try helping out his family.” Owade’s generosity does not stop there. He is trying to get free education for the slum. Owade also organizes the local YMCA and sporting events for children in Kibera, as well as paying for five kids’ education. “I think what spoke to me the most is how hard kids have to work day to day to get by,” Ian Wiles, student at Arundel, says. “Owade gave us an inside look at Kibera and the slums.” Owade also has a website, www.dreamagainkenya.org, to help raise money for the slums in Kenya. |
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