Colt Connections

Ms. Strawder-Bubala

2002-03

The intent of Colt Connections is to:

· Provide students with focused study time

· Increase students’ responsibility for choices and decisions

· Personalize the educational experience

· Address academic and career planning

· Insert school business into a concentrated time, which includes assemblies, club meetings, test make-ups, homework assistance, and school surveys

Daily Schedule

Monday – School Announcements and Study Hall

Tuesday – Mentoring Activity with Peer Mentoring Students

Wednesday – Clubs and Activities on some weeks

Thursday – School Announcements and Study Hall

Friday – School Announcements and Study Hall

Colt Connections Information

Colt Connections is a mentoring program that seeks to improve the academic achievement of students, while also meeting the social and emotional needs of our students. The foundation of the program comes from the primary recommendation of the National Alliance of High Schools – Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution, which states: “Every high school student (should) have a Personal Adult Advocate to help him or her personalize the educational experience.”

It is our goal at Thurston to increase students’ responsibility in making choices and decisions about their academic and extracurricular involvement and to be more fully aware of their opportunities.

The vision and long-range goals of Thurston’s mentoring program are to:

· Increase the academic success of our students – fewer failing grades

· Increase the number of students who take college entrance exams and apply for scholarships

· Increase the number of students who attend college

· Increase the number of students involved in extra-curricular activities

· Increase students’ self-esteem and confidence

· Decrease drop-out rates

· Decrease days/periods students skip class

· Decrease harassment and incidents of violence

· Decrease the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco

Colt Connections Class Atmosphere

Students are expected to maintain a respectful and socially responsible atmosphere.

· All students must be able to hear the school announcements. No talking during the announcements.

· Study Hall time will be quiet, individual study time. No talking during study hall time.

· Study materials must be put away during mentoring activities. Participation is required, with the exception of voluntary activities.

Special Notes:

ü make-up tests - Students needing to make up tests must have a pass from their teacher. There will be no movement on mentoring days.

ü library - The library is closed during Colt Connections.

ü class notes - Do not eat, drink, or wear your hat in the classroom. Use behavior appropriate for the school environment. All school rules apply during CC class, including the attendance and tardy policies.

Attendance:

School Policy – See the school handbook.

IMPORTANT -- If you are absent, you must bring an admit slip to class on the day you return to school. Students must obtain these slips from the attendance office. If you come to class without a slip, you will be asked to report to the attendance office. You will be marked tardy to class. You will receive a detention and/or referral for every unexcused absence.

Tardies:

School Policy – See the student handbook.

IMPORTANT – You will be marked tardy to class if you are not sitting in your seat when I start talking. Being more than 10 minutes late to class (without a pass) counts as an unexcused absence. If you are late to class, you are to enter quietly, hand me your pass, and take your seat. This is an excused tardy. If you do not have a pass, it is an unexcused tardy. On your third unexcused tardy, and on EVERY tardy after that, you will be assigned a detention. If the problem persists, you will be given a referral to the dean’s office.

Fun notes from first semester: Students in Strawder-Bubala’s Colt Connections class collected several hundred canned food items for Food for Lane County (way to go Tyler Wilson), bought Christmas presents for a local girl in need, bought pumpkin and toy soldier cut-outs representing their $1 donations to the March of Dimes, participated in a snowflake cutting contest (congratulations George Miyata), and survived their first experience with arena scheduling. These are just some of the activities we shared this semester. Ask your student about others!

Parents, please sign the bottom of this form. Your student has been asked to return it to me so I know you know what is expected in room 96 CC! Thanks!