About
This School
Laguna
Continuation High School serves students in the West Sonoma County Union
High School District (WSCUHSD) and is located in Sebastopol, California in
Western Sonoma County. Western
Sonoma County stretches from Sebastopol to Fort Ross and from Santa Rosa to
the Coast. The major town in the
community is Sebastopol with a population of approximately 8,000. Several smaller towns stretch along the
Russian River from Forestville to Jenner at the mouth of the River. The community is socially, culturally,
and economically diverse. Residents
in the Sebastopol/Santa Rosa areas tend to have above average income and
work in professional or technical jobs and in agriculture. However, there is a high percentage of
low income and poverty in the area, especially in the Russian River
communities. The area is primarily
rural, with agricultural being a major industry. It is rapidly changing from an apple-growing region to
grapes and wine production. An
increasing number of farm workers have settled in the area to work the
vineyards. This has resulted in a
significant increase in the Hispanic population. Politically, families span the range from conservative to
those who practice alternative life styles.
The District
Laguna
High School is part of the West Sonoma County Union High School
District. The District consists of
two comprehensive high schools, Analy and El Molino, as well as several
small alternative schools: Russian River Ramparts (independent study);
Nuevo Leon (small necessary school); and an Independent Study Program at
Analy. The combined student
population of all these schools is approximately 2400. Ten elementary school districts send
students to WSCUHSD. Students in
WSCUHSD consistently score above the state and national average on
standardized tests. Families from
the surrounding districts regularly enroll their children in this
District. WSCUHSD has a net gain of
approximately two hundred students enrolling from outside the District over
local students who seek education elsewhere.
The School
Laguna
is located in Sebastopol, California, which is approximately 60 miles north
of San Francisco, and twelve miles west of Santa Rosa. It is housed in an attractive,
state-of-the art facility, which was completed in 1996. Its student population varies between 95
to 110 students. The current ethnic
make-up is: African-American--2%; American-Indian--3%; White, not
Hispanic--70%; Hispanic--14%; Other--11%.
While the student population in the District is generally stable,
Laguna High School’s families are often lower-middle income, and tend to
move regularly. Last year 163 students passed through Laguna and 171 the
previous year. The graduation
requirements for Laguna match the comprehensive high schools’ and are among
the highest in the State; i.e. 230 credits. Our students have a number of means by which they can
complete their education: graduation from one of the three district high
schools; passing the General Education Diploma or the California High School
Exit Exam; or entering the local junior college or Lewis Adult School. Students often come to Laguna deficient
in graduation credits. We offer a
number of options for making up credits: taking courses at the Junior
College.; Work Experience and Workability; community service; credit
make-up at home or after school; Regional Occupation Program (ROP) courses;
and independent study. Laguna
emphasizes transitioning to both higher education and the world of
work. This is implemented through a
Career Education class, Workability for the special education students,
Work Experience for Juniors and Seniors, guest speakers, workshops, by the
guidance counselor, the principal, the career technician, and a focus on
career/life planning in the classroom.
Along with an excellent academic program, Laguna has an active
student government, an athletic program, an Interact Club, a community
service program, a literary magazine club, peer mediation, a yearbook, a
Safe Schools Ambassadors program, and a FARMS Leadership program. Local service organizations provide
funding twice a year for our students for a “Ropes Course” which emphasizes
building teamwork skills, overcoming fears, building a sense of community
and increasing self-confidence and self-esteem. Laguna is a four-time recipient of the Model Continuation
High School Award. The School Board
is committed to providing quality education to the Laguna students,
budgeting nearly 50% more to the school than the State of California
allocates for the school. For
additional information go to our website at lagunahs.org.
The School Day
The
school day begins at 7:50.
Students go to three classes, followed by a snack break that
includes free brunch for those on the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Snack is followed by a 20 minute Silent
Sustained Reading class in which the entire school (including teachers)
reads novels of choice. This is
followed by three more classes, resulting in a six and a half period
day. School ends at 12:30. Many students go on to jobs, to the
junior college, or to Regional Occupation Program (ROP) classes on the
Analy High School campus. We have
an agreement with Analy in which students can also take electives there
during the day if room allows. The
staff meets a minimum of once a week for an hour and forty-five minutes to
do an on-going evaluation of the effectiveness of the total program and to
review student progress. The staff
eats lunch together daily and informally performs the same ongoing review
of our program.
The Laguna Staff
Laguna
has a highly dedicated and cohesive staff, committed to the well-being of
each student. Very low staff
turnover attests to this commitment.
Two staff members have been here over thirty years. Three others began their career here and
have chosen to stay. Recent changes
in personnel at Laguna have had a positive effect on establishing a
project-based curriculum consistent with state standards. We have a science teacher who has a
hands-on curriculum, complete with lab activities. We have an industrial arts teacher who
offers a practical construction course for students seeking more elective
choices. The principal is a
previous special education teacher at Laguna and returned after many years’
absence to once again participate in the staff’s, Board’s, and community’s
commitment to students. The staff
includes: 6.4 classroom teachers; a full-time special education teacher; a
full-time counselor; a full-time principal; a .20 counseling therapist; a
secretary; a .75 attendance clerk; a full-time special education aide; a
.20 Career Center Tech; and a .6 custodian. Our diversified staff is able to offer students a variety of
opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them. Teachers share a common planning
time. It is during this time that
we meet to plan, discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of the
program. The staff, individually
and collectively, has a strong loyalty and commitment to the school and
students.
|