Over the past month of the new school year, students have been adjusting to the new Canvas learning management system, the first of several improvements by the school in response to the results of its Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) report.
Every six years, WASC, a third-party organization that works for the California Department of Education, reviews and accredits schools on their courses and progress.
After going through the WASC process last year, the school learned it had received the highest possible accreditation, said assistant principal Kevin Mount.
Even so, the visiting committee made several recommendations for improvement. These improvements will be the focus of a six-year plan. implementing the Common Core curriculum, instituting Canvas and continuing to improve instruction.
In order to implement Common Core State Standards, the school plans to create more collaborative teaching classes, develop better rubrics for collaborative learning and continue to move to more project-based learning. The school would also like to develop programs reinforcing foundational skills such as math and critical thinking.
To assist students in managing their stress, the school plans to teach students more time management techniques, promote more physical activity among students, improve responses to bullying and find more speakers to talk about health issues.
Each Wednesday morning, teachers meet to collaborate and support each other in achieving these and other goals. Working out the technical issues of rolling out Canvas has been one of the first hurdles to overcome.
In order to keep students informed of changes, a School Site Council, a group consisting of administrators, teachers, students and parents, is involved in plan implementation and informs the community.
Because Saratoga High received the highest accreditations, there will not be another self-study for five more years.
Said Mount about the WASC report: “There’s nothing huge, it’s all small things. It’s an accurate reflection of where we are and where we need to go. I’m really proud of this school.”
