Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Open House Held At Prescott High School

On August 12 Prescott High School held its annual public meeting in the high school auditorium for parents, students and visitors from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

New faculty members are Allan Dunn (special services), Larry Newson (boys' basketball coach), and Dawn Higgs (speech/tech. writing and Wolf Trail advisor).

The instruction being provided for PHS students in grades 9-12 is teacher controlled and student centered and geared to bring about group and individual thinking, responsibilities, work and discussion.

The goal of the high school staff is to provide students with the best teaching possible based on research-based practices that are proven effective. This will allow each student the best opportunity to be responsible for their learning and to achieve their educational goals and objectives.

Prescott High School is a fully accredited institution with no deficiencies.

School policies, rules and regulations have been provided for students and parents in the form of the student handbook. The handbook serves as a guide to students in matters relating to grading, students' rights and discipline. Students were also given a syllabus for each course in which they are enrolled.

To better prepare for the use of technology, faculty members have continued to take part in technology workshops under the tutelage of Laura Ward and Kendra Haynie of the business department.

New updates on some technology will allow for broader student usage of the computer labs. One of the labs will be available throughout the school day for faculty to schedule their classes into.

The high school will be utilizing an 'accelerated math program' this year and will be entering its second year with the 'accelerated reader program.' PHS will also begin its second year of calculus via 'Distance Learning' in conjunction with the Arkansas School for Math and Sciences.

Special attention is being given to the students concerning standardized test scores. The district has the Stanford Testing (SAT-9) scheduled for September 14-16. The PHS faculty, through the school's COE process, has developed plans for increasing student awareness of the importance of the testing.

Daily drinks and snacks were provided for all students grades 9-11 who took part in the testing for three days in last year's testing and the district will continue a similar 'boost' for this year's tests, it was reported at the public meeting.

The COE planning has developed and will be implementing strategies in the following target areas to:

• improve standardized test scores;
• improve math scores;
• improve reading scores; and
• improve student behavior and responsibility.

It will also make appropriate career decisions based on a solid foundation of information concerning the new minimum core curriculum and the career focus as mandated by the Arkansas Department of Education.