Discover California GEAR UP, Pasadena - Shadow Hills Intermediate, Palmdale Elementary School District

Tuesday, 07 October 2008 21:20

Suresh Bajnath, Principal  / Pam Williams, Assistant Principal/Site Contact

Demographics: Located in the high desert city of Palmdale, Shadow Hills Intermediate School enrolls 1055 students in grades 7- 8. Student ethnicities are 69% Hispanic, 17% African-American, 9% White, and 2% Filipino; 62% participate in Free or Reduced Price Lunch. API scores increased from 2007 base of 701 to 711 in 2008.

Strategies Used

Shadow Hills Leadership Team members utilize the resources provided by the partnership with California GEAR-UP, including using the College: Making it Happen curriculum in social studies classes, coordinating the Educational Trust Awards with all the staff, and articulating the steps taken to develop a college-going culture at the school. Their academic counselor developed a handout for teachers to use with students on how to calculate their GPA.

The GEAR UP team worked together with some students in writing to over 900 colleges and universities, resulting in boxes of banners, pennants, t-shirts and other college paraphernalia sent to the school. The items were awarded to students during the College Trivia games on Fridays and used in visual displays all over the school, including a college display case and in the college corner. Teachers also hand-delivered some college items on home visits.

Best Practices

• School staff have used many of the California GEAR UP resources to create a college-going culture in the classroom. The many visual displays and College Week activities are motivating students to think about college and be more academically prepared.
• Staff members have more conversations about college options. Teachers in all subject areas include tie-ins to college in their daily lessons.

Regional Coordinator: Joann Zgonc

Kathy Hudson, Special Projects Teacher; Dan Schneider, Business/Computer Elective Teacher; and Warren Rabe, Social Studies teacher stand before the banner of the winning student slogan about college, “Jr. High is the Start. Go to College. Be Smart!”