Thirty-four high school students from Magnolia Student Center and Renaissance Valley Academy traveled to CalTrans in San Bernardino to learn about careers with CalTrans, reported Maureen Roye, director of CITE. CalTrans created a “career fair” atmosphere, she said, and students were able to talk with CalTrans staff from its different departments such as maintenance, construction, material testing, real estate, drone flying, and planning.
Taking Such Classes Can Be a Benefit to Students, Says Director of High School Programs
Beverly Voechting, Springs’ director of high school programs, reports that there has been a “huge” increase in the number of college courses taken by Springs high school students this school year. Last year, Springs High School students took 135 classes online from Barstow Community College as compared to 425 in the present year. Eighty-one percent of Springs students pass their classes, as compared to 75% of college-aged students.
Springs’ Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) Vice Principal Brian Bailey shared that a former student, Willow Boe, is a new high school teacher at the site. She was his student in the 6th to 8th grade when he taught science; he notes that her first year at Springs was his first year at Springs. He said, “I knew then she was going to be a teacher, and today I got to show her to her class but this time as a teacher. It was a very emotional moment as I opened her class door and the reality of it all set in!”
Springs presented both a parent and high school student “Ignite” conference to prepare for the new school year, shared Tammy Jackson, senior director – ILP.
Springs has had staff members advance to new positions as well as welcomed new staff members for the 2023-24 school year. Staffing changes reported include:
Springs Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) Vice Principal reported that the school held an anti-vaping assembly for middle and high school students with Alexandra Swift from the San Diego County Department of Education.
Springs’ Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) delivered a hot chocolate gift basket for deputies at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station. The Sheriff’s department “has been an indispensable partner in delivering quality service and support to the San Jacinto community” of which RVA is a part, said RVA Principal Hugo Ramos and the gift basket the school delivered is “a small token of the appreciation we have for all they do and for the commitment they have to ensure the safety of our students.”
In addition to its new principal, the Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) will be moving to a seat-based system of enrollment, reported Brian Bailey, vice principal. He explained, “Like many sites, we’ll be moving from an independent study model to a more traditional model in which students are required to be present in class for enrollment. It does present some challenges, but in the long-term, I believe it will work out and be a benefit to us.”
Springs’ Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) seniors attended an on-campus workshop to complete onboarding tasks to attend Mount San Jacinto College, reported Annette Butler, Springs Career and Post Secondary Coordinator.
Springs’ Renaissance Valley Academy’s Team 4114/The Pallondrones, a student robotics team, has begun building and competing after a two-year hiatus, reported Vice Principal Brian Bailey. The team is optimistic that they will have a successful season, he said, and will next compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition San Diego Regional in March.
Springs Charter Schools are parent choice schools where the community is our classroom. Our mission is to foster the innate curiosity of our students, empower their parents, and promote optimum learning by collaboratively developing a personalized learning program for each student.
Eagle = Choice, Freedom, Initiative
River = Community
Book = Empowering Parents (Knowledge is Power)
Torch = Curiosity, Passion for Learning
Hands = Collaboration
Keys = Personalization, Unlocking the Student’s Potential
Oak Branches = Continuous Lifelong Learning
