1. Freshmen Transitions Program

2. 21st Century Summer Institute Participants
Sally Bimrose, Principal
Jose Castro, Student Achievement Resource Specialist
Mike Erickson, Computer Teacher
Pam Sorenson, Computer Teacher
Barry Sullivan, Counselor
Advisors: Dan Blake, SCOE Jessica Parker, SSU

3. Current Freshmen Transitions Team
Sally Bimrose, Principal
Maureen Cecil, English/French Teacher
Mike Erickson, Computer Teacher
Joni Falkenberg, Computer Teacher
Jenna Jewel, English Teacher
Bianca Rosario, RSP/English Teacher
Amy Schleuter, English Teacher
Tony Slaten, English Teacher
Barry Sullivan, Counselor

4. Influence of Summer Institute
Coordination of various aspects of the students’ educational needs
A 21st Century classroom needs to be different
Cross curricular collaboration with Piner staff working as a team
Enhanced use of technology in classroom assignments

5. Influence of Summer Institute
Our guiding question:
What do we need to do to make the transition from 8th grade to 9th grade more successful for our students?

6. Implementation
Quarterly Freshmen Transitions Team collaboration meetings
Regular communication among Team members
Creation of cross curricular assignments
Strategies for enhancing critical thinking in the classroom

7. Implementation PHS Secondary Support Life Works of Sonoma County
Padres Unidos
Crisis Assessment, Prevention, and Education
Parent Institute for Understanding Education
Choices Program
Peer Tutors
Career Day, Volunteer Center of Sonoma County

8. Implementation PHS Secondary Support Life Works of Sonoma County
Padres Unidos
Crisis Assessment, Prevention, and Education
Parent Institute for Understanding Education
Choices Program
Peer Tutors
Career Day, Volunteer Center of Sonoma County

9. Student Response Positive response to peer tutoring
Awareness of teacher collaboration for their benefit
Greater sense of community within the freshman class
Realization concerning the importance of grades and credits

10. Student Response
The students’ attitude reflects our attitude; they know we care.
Students demonstrate teamwork; they care about each other.
They know there is
a safety net to catch
them if they fall.

11. Measurement of Success
Attendance
Discipline
Grades
Campus Culture/Climate
End of year student
survey

12. Measurement of Success
Response from WASC visiting team:
“Your students like each other and they like you.”

13. Lessons Learned
Keep the standards high.
We must work together.

14. Lessons Learned
Use early warning signs to trigger intervention.

15. Lessons Learned The program needs to be visible to the
entire community.

16. Continuing On Add Science, Math or PE Keep quarterly release days
Maintain team effectiveness

17. Continuing On Infuse 21st Century learning in the classroom
Provide team members with hands on technological training
Expand/continue Peer Mentor program

18. Changes Underway
School-wide effort in re-visioning Piner as a 21st Century School! Shifting our paradigm for teaching and learning.

19. Changes Underway
New science
building

20. Changes Underway Using new technology collaboratively
Connections with Sonoma State University & Sonoma County Office of Education

21. Time’s Up! About your speaker: Name: Freshmen Transitions Program Team
Company: Piner High School
Tel: (707)
Website: pinerhigh.com
Quick bio: Piner High is a comprehensive public high school located in Santa Rosa, California. We are re-visioning ourselves as a 21st Century school.