High school to offer alternative programs

In the fall, Sisters High School will be offering a number of new alternatives to students in terms of finishing their high school education. These options will include accredited online classes, dual-credit college classes, and credit by proficiency for elective classes.

"We need to keep up with the changes in education," said Dan Saraceno, long-time counselor at Sisters High School. "It is all about the kids. We want to provide the opportunities that will keep Sisters kids in Sisters."

The education marketplace is more competitive than it has been in the past.

"I can identify 30 kids that have left our school for an RPA (Redmond Proficiency Academy)-style program, either because they liked or they needed that flexibility," said Gary Hedin, dean of students at Sisters High School.

"We don't want to lose kids from our district because we can't meet their needs," Saraceno said. "I can line out the seniors that left because they needed online classes, or that needed remediation. They could see that they couldn't graduate, so they just dropped out. If we can bring those types of kids back we can justify the program. Online education provides more opportunity for kids. We can we create more options."

These expanded options are available for next school year's fall term and will also be available to grades seven and eight.

The Sisters High School approach will allow students to take online courses and still take advantage of the broad spectrum of electives and co-curricular activities (including sports) for which Sisters has earned a state-wide reputation.

Other advantages are face-to-face meetings with instructors for guidance, and full access to career and guidance counseling including the ASPIRE and scholarship programs.

"We have some community resources here that are really unique," said Saraceno.

The district is also attempting appeal to home-schoolers by allowing them to complete their classwork away from the distractions of the traditional high school environment, but still allow them to participate in electives, sports and to get direct instruction in classes that are often difficult to complete in a home environment (chemistry, physics, advanced math).

The online experience allows students to complete specialized advanced-level and dual-credit courses that smaller high schools can't afford to offer in a classroom setting.

For those students that, for whatever reason, can't complete their diploma with their four-year cohort, the flexibility of online instruction will allow them to finish their diploma, for free, at their own high school while avoiding coming back into the high school setting.

For more information call Sisters High School at 541-549-4045 and ask for Dan Saraceno or Gary Hedin. Information and flyers should also be available at the school's website soon, www.sisters.k12.or.us.