Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Woodside students are thinking college

Innovative program is a hit with students and staff


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Woodside Elementary Principal Gary St. George is spearheading a new approach to learning at the Hailey school. "College prep" are now the watchwords. "It’s a culture and an attitude," said St. George.

Ask students at Woodside Elementary School if they're going to college and you're likely to hear an enthusiastic "yeah."

College talk abounds at the three-year-old elementary school in the working-class area of southeast Hailey. College banners and pennants adorn the gymnasium. Students wear college T-shirts and make posters about higher education.

"We're doing things a little bit different," said Principal Gary St. George. "We've got kindergartners doing college chants now."

The enthusiasm is the result of an innovative "college prep" concept introduced this year at Woodside by St. George and staff.

"Everybody at this school has to believe that we're getting them ready for college," said St. George. "My goal in education jargon is to get a critical mass behind us to get this going. I'm not trying to simplify it, but it's not rocket science—it's a culture and an attitude. We're zealous about it."

Woodside Elementary is one of 28 schools nationwide participating in a new program referred to as "No Excuses University." It is specifically designed to develop a new culture at high-poverty elementary and middle schools in the U.S.

Woodside Elementary, where many lower-income workers send their children, falls into that category. St. George said that 60 percent of his students are from homes that fall within federal government poverty levels.

Of the school's 400 students, about 60 percent are Hispanic.

"Most speak English," said St. George. "I'd say half of them were born here. What that implies is that a lot of them are new to the country, so they speak limited English."

The No Excuse University concept is geared toward changing mindsets. St. George and many of his staff have attended workshops conducted by Turnaround Schools Institutes to help them learn how to do that.

St. George said the workshops help administrators and teachers understand five basic characteristics used in the No Excuse University program. One, children have to believe that they can succeed and go to college. Two, educators need to have a "maverick spirit" by creating opportunities for every student to succeed.

Three, supportive environments need to be created so children can achieve academic success. Four, conversation needs to be changed to focus on success. Five, symbolism needs to be introduced to help motivate students toward success and college.

Though the school year is only a few weeks old, St. George said the results have been phenomenal.

"It's sure a positive feeling," he said. "This has brought my staff together more than anything I've ever seen in my long career. This is fun."

Not only staff, but the students as well are enthusiastic about the program, said second grade teacher Kelly Hughston.

"It was a quick buy-in for the kids," Hughston said. "They're already thinking about college. The most devastating thing for some of my second graders is they're going to have to leave their parents.

"They ask: 'Can I go to college and still live with mom and dad?'"

Colleges and universities are buying into the program, too. St. George said each class will be adopted by a university. Some already have. Participating universities so far include Boise State, University of Idaho, Idaho State, Sonoma State, University of Iowa and Clemson.

The universities are already sending free T-shirts, pennants and other materials to their adopted classes and the students are learning to recite their respective universities' school songs and chants.

"If we haven't done anything else, we've at least put in to the kids' minds that they're not at the end of the bell-shaped curve and that they can go to college," St. George said.

"This is probably the most positive place I've worked, both staff and kids," he said. "This is a happy place."

St. George likes to quote from Michelangelo: "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it."

Family night at Woodside

"You may have already heard your child telling you they are going to college," says a letter to parents from Woodside Elementary School Principal Gary St. George. "We put that thought in their head."

St. George and staff will discuss an innovative new "college prep" concept introduced at the school this year at a family night this Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the school.

From 5:30 until 5:55 will be an open house where families can take a first-hand look at the school. St. George will provide an intercom talk at 5:55. At 6 p.m., parents are to report to children's homerooms and the students head for the playground. A potluck dinner for all will be held on the playground from 6:30 until 7:30.

"We really want to work together with you parents so our children will be ready to go to college after high school," St. George wrote in his letter to parents.




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