WELCOMEWELCOME

AHEN BUS TOUR

S.A.V.E.S.A.V.E.Sonoraville’s Sonoraville’s

Added Added Value Value

EducationEducation

I learned everything I learned everything I know on anI know on an

AHEN bus tour.AHEN bus tour.

Gordon County, Gordon County, GeorgiaGeorgia

Quick FactsQuick Facts• Last rural county on the I-75 Last rural county on the I-75 corridor between Atlanta & corridor between Atlanta & Chattanooga at the foot of the Chattanooga at the foot of the AppalachiansAppalachians

• Population 52,800• 80.5% White, 14.2% Hispanic• Per capita income $17,586• Persons below poverty 15.86%• College diplomas 11.68%

Sonoraville High Sonoraville High School School

•Established in 2005Established in 2005•1,026 students1,026 students•Free & Reduced = 55%Free & Reduced = 55%•Made AYP every yearMade AYP every year

Barriers to Barriers to SuccessSuccess

•PovertyPoverty•Generational apathy Generational apathy

towards educationtowards education•DrugsDrugs•Teen pregnancyTeen pregnancy

Opportunities for Opportunities for SuccessSuccess

•Nurturing communityNurturing community•Supportive Supportive administrationadministration

•Fantastic staffFantastic staff•Positive school climatePositive school climate•New school facilitiesNew school facilities•TechnologyTechnology

Graduation RatesGraduation Rates YEAR SHS GORDON

COUNTY2011 88.4% 87.6%2010 80.4% 81.3%

2009 84.60% 80.75% 2008 83.10% 76.60%

2007   69.10%2006 62%2005 58.60%2004   50.5%

2003 44.80%

College-Going RatesCollege-Going Rates

Top Down, Systematic Top Down, Systematic MentalityMentality

"What can be conceived can be created.”

“We want to take Sonoraville High School

to the community, and

we want to bring the community

to Sonoraville High school.”-Bruce Potts

SHS Whole-School SHS Whole-School OpportunitiesOpportunities

212° Awards Banquet- Recognition of students who demonstrate

excellence in service, kindness, attitude, commitment, leadership, focus, belief, and perseverance.

Alumni speakersSharing their success stories with students.

Extended time set aside during school days to work

on current academic planning, as well as college

and career preparation.

Advisement

Commitment to Graduate Club Meets once per month, during school, to work on college and career preparation. This is part of a bi-weekly “club day” in which all students participate in at least two clubs.

Lisa Spain

Community & Career Connections DayEach class has a guest speaker to talk

about career opportunities.

*Career Center Located in a visible part of our school, the career center contains resource materials

and computer lab for students and parents to explore career options,

colleges, and financial options.

CTAE Field TripsTo businesses to explore career

opportunities (i.e. Georgia Justice Center, Gordon County Jail, Gordon Hospital, downtown

businesses, etc.)

Check-in, Check-out

(SMS) Mentoring program for students with behavior issues.

““Class of 20**” Class of 20**” BannersBanners Displayed in Displayed in

elementary, middle, and elementary, middle, and high schools.high schools.

Middle School Career Middle School Career Exploration ClassesExploration Classes

**College & Career College & Career Newsletter Newsletter Monthly counselor Monthly counselor

publication.publication.

The Extra Degree

JANUARY 2011

Volume 4

“So... why all this talk about college?”It is important for people to select a job they enjoy, but it is even more vital to find a “career” that allows you flexibility and opportunity for growth and change. Oh, and let’s not forget about the difference in income you will make. According to the 2007 U.S. Census, a college graduate earns $57,181, while a high school graduate earns only $31,286.The next time you hear someone ask why we talk so much about college, tell them “It’s all about you.”

Students sometimes question why SHS places such an emphasis on college preparation. First, you should know that by “college,” we are referring to any technical, two-year, or four-year education. It is also important to understand that the U.S. workforce has lost its edge as a world leader in math, science and technology...the areas that generate the highest levels of jobs and income. Yet, in 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 62% of all jobs in the U.S. require a minimum of a post-secondary certification. The projection for 2020 is an expected increase to 75% or above. It is really all about you. It is the job of Sonoraville High School to help prepare you for a career. We believe part of that means

providing you with the tools and education that will lead to a college degree. Is it imperative that everyone have a college degree in order to get a decent job? No, but if 75% of the jobs require at least some college, that means those who do not go to college only have a 25% chance of getting any job at all. Those are not good odds. Also, If you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you choose. College is a great time for you to transition into real life. It allows you to learn to budget, learn how to take care of yourself without mom or dad, and how to deal with a more adult social world.

Mark Your CalendarJanuary 24th– Spelman College Field Trip

February 10th– Seniors College Financial Aid Workshop 7:00 PM

February 24th– Freshman Reality Store @ Sonoraville Rec.

March 12– Ft. Valley St. Univ. College Field Trip

March 31st– FAFSA Day– Parent assistance at SHS 1 - 7 PM

April 12th– Sophomore Field Trip to Shorter Univ. & Berry College

May 5th– Freshman Field Trip to Reinhardt College

May 12th- Senior Honors Night May 13th - Underclassmen Honors

Ceremony May 24th - SHS Graduation

Trade Center in Dalton 8:00PM May 31st - June 2nd College Tour for

upcoming seniors

College Murals Displayed in hallways of schools.

Departmental tutoringAll SHS departments offer

individualized and/or group tutoring sessions

before and after school.

Dropout prevention fact of the day Education provided through

daily announcements regarding the disparities

between being a high school dropout and a high school and

college graduate.

Dual and joint enrollmentwith Georgia Northwestern

Technical College.

ESS College Workshop College preparation

seminar forstudents with disabilities

and their parents.

Future Finder DaysFuture Finder DaysCollege and career

representatives available to speak with students

during lunch periods, as well as targeted meetings

with admissions representatives.

Gateway Alternative Gateway Alternative PlacementsPlacements (GAP) (GAP)

Pulling students who are certain to fail a class to

focus on other classes that may

be in jeopardy.

Give 55- Stay AliveGive 55- Stay Alive

Lowest score on progress report is 55.

Graduation MarchGraduation March

Seniors wear their caps & gowns in a celebration

parade through elementary and

middle schools.

““Graduate Photo-Op”Graduate Photo-Op”Board- Painted with male and

female graduate, so that students may insert their faces

and have picture taken. Used at special events.

Gordon County College Gordon County College & Career Academy& Career Academy

Offers college credit to high school students earning technical skills training in local industry-driven

fields. Located on campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

Internal credit Internal credit recoveryrecovery

Teachers are encouraged to develop contracts with

students who come within five points of passing (given

extenuating circumstances), so that they will have the

opportunity to immediately recover the credit.

**March Madness College March Madness College BlitzBlitz

Each homeroom is assigned a college from the NCAA basketball tournament. They are to research a list of items regarding the school and decorate the door using the school colors and facts about the college.

Mentoring Target Mentoring Target StudentsStudents

(SMS) At-risk students matched to one staff member whose role is to develop a relationship with the student, to provide the emotional support needed for school success, and support the student’s academic pursuits in the same way that an athletic coach provides supervision, encouragement, and direction for the members of the team.

Online opportunitiesOnline opportunities

Novanet, Ombudsman, Ed Options Academy, Georgia Credit Recovery,

& Georgia Virtual School.

Partnerships for Partnerships for Academics & Social Academics & Social

SkillsSkills (P.A.S.S.)(P.A.S.S.)Peer mentoring offered on

an individualized basis.

PSAT, SAT, PSAT, SAT, Georgia Work Ready Georgia Work Ready

Test, and ASVABTest, and ASVAB

Testing done on-site at SHS.

ReadingReading Everyday Everyday Accelerates Learning Accelerates Learning

(R.E.A.L.)(R.E.A.L.)Football players go into an

elementary classroom and read books selected by the teacher.

Relatives As Parents Relatives As Parents ProgramProgram

Support group for grandparents raising grandchildren and similar relative custody arrangements.

SAT Words of the DaySAT Words of the Day

SAT class does presentations published on daily video

announcements.

ScholarshipsScholarshipsPosted on counseling web-site and

Facebook page and sent out in monthly e-mail newsletter. Daily

announcements posted on You Tube.

State of SAVEState of SAVE

Annual updates delivered to Board of Directors, staff, and

community.

Stand and DeliverStand and Deliver

Personal educational success stories shared by

teachers during staff meetings.

““Ticket to the Future”Ticket to the Future”

Mock diploma display.

WIN Career Readiness WIN Career Readiness CoursewareCourseware

Connects classroom curriculum to careers, and offers a good

picture of a students vocational aptitude.

Watch D.O.G.SWatch D.O.G.S..

A father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father

figures in order to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school

security.

Grade Level OpportunitiesGrade Level Opportunities

K-4th GradeCareer Guidance Lessons- Introductions to broad career areas and what is required to work in various positions.

55thth Grade GradeGRAD T-shirts-Every 5th grader receives a shirt with their graduation class on it. GRAD (Get Ready, Achieve, Dream) is a community grassroots coalition working to improve the graduation rate in our schools.

Career Days- research careers, dress in attire appropriate to a career they choose, and do presentations to 4th graders about the job.

ESS Middle School Transition Parent Meeting

Middle School Tour- attend an assembly and meet with 6th grade teachers, receive a brief introduction to some of the “special area” subjects and tour the building.

66thth GradeGrade

Transition Activity- Evening activity (i.e. games, ice cream social) for all incoming 6th graders and parents at the beginning of the school year.

Begin portfolio on www.GAcollege411.org -an online resource to help students and their families select a college, apply for admission, and plan to finance higher education.

88thth GradeGrade

Sonoraville High School tour Freshman Registration Day- Saturday open house and registration for students and families to become familiar with the SHS campus and available classes and programs.

99thth Grade GradeFreshman Transition Class- ½ credit course to

familiarize students with SHS physical layout, rules and procedures, continue career exploration, and begin goal setting.

*Career Unit through Language Arts

Reality Store -activity to expose students to life’s financial and decision-making demands; co-hosted by SHS, Gordon Central H.S., and Calhoun H.S.

*Class trip to Reinhardt University

Business Ethics- Junior Achievement curriculum led by community volunteers.

1010thth Grade Grade

*Career Unit through Language Arts Job Shadowing- one day of job shadowing

at a local business related to a possible career pathway

* Class trip to Berry & Shorter Colleges

11th Grade*Career unit through Language Arts

Spanish 3 Honors career unit:  •career vocabulary•writing resumes in Spanish•career related guest speakers

*Class trip to the University of West Georgia

Work-based Learning - county coordinator assigns apprenticeships based on career interest

SAT and ACT prep class- offered in Fall

GHSGT prep- school-day pull-out sessions online test prep in class and available at home

1212thth GradeGrade

• *Summer College Tour- Rising seniors have the opportunity to do a three-day tour to visit six colleges.

• *Career Unit through language arts:• *Class trip to Kennesaw St. University

Evening and/or weekend college preparation workshops- Designed to assist students and parents with college and financial aid applications.

PROBE Fair- Field trip to PROBE college fair.

Apply to College Day- All seniors are encouraged to apply to at least one college.

Dual enrollment- same as 11th grade

Work-based Learning- same as 11th grade

Economics for Success – Junior Achievement curriculum led by community volunteers.

Soaring Phoenix - students’ college and military acceptances are displayed on a bulletin board and recognized on daily announcements, on scrolling televised announcements, and on the SHS web site.

*Student Tracker- Every graduate is submitted to the National Student Clearinghouse.