Sheepherding. Film criticism. Snowboarding. Graphic design. For
nine days, Anzar High School students participated in these types
of studies as part of the school’s unique two-week intersession
education program.
Sheepherding. Film criticism. Snowboarding. Graphic design.
For nine days, Anzar High School students participated in these types of studies as part of the school’s unique two-week intersession education program.
The high school offered 16 alternative courses to give students an opportunity to take electives that would not, and could not, be offered during the regular school year.
“It’s a way of being able to offer a score of electives that are completely different,” said Anzar Principal Charlene McKowen. “It’s a way of letting teachers vary their routine as well. Everyone (participating) is teaching a passion of theirs.”
There were 21 teachers, along with the site manager and librarian teaching the sections that began Jan. 21. Because the school is small and there is a small number of teachers, Anzar can not offer a wide variety of electives.
“We’re small. … We can’t be everything to everyone,” McKowen said.
The idea for an intersession was developed last year to solve the problem of unbalanced semesters. The fall semester ends before winter break in December. Other schools end their semesters in late January. When the spring semester starts after winter break, it’s longer than the fall semester. Usually, this situation isn’t a problem because of days lost to mandated testing in the spring, but the difference this year was five weeks.
Because the classes are varied and activity based, there’s no room for students to get bored, said Wayne Norton, site manager.
“(The students don’t get bored) because they’re doing fun, hands-on things,” Norton said. “It’s not all lecture for the six hours.”
Students were enthused about the intersession, in its first year.
“It’s a change. I think it’s good for students to do something different,” said sophomore Kadan Sharpe, who took the computer animation section. “With (computer animation), we got to take our ideas and actually make them.”
Sharpe worked with other students to create a Web site using Macromedia Flash 5.
The course sizes ranged from four (magazine and newspaper writing) to 35 (fitness without competition), McKowen said.
Sections offered include movement in music, dance and culture, in-studio art, gourmet cooking, basic Italian conversation, survey of agriculture, film studies and marine biology. A student from Idaho enrolled at Anzar for the two weeks to take part in the marine biology section, McKowen said.
Film Studies 2 focused on women in independent international film. Students watched two movies a day with discussion and criticism. Students in movement and music, dance and culture acquired an understanding of music through choir singing, dancing, marching, conducting and the basics of reading music.
Most sections involved field trips. The fitness without competition group went snowboarding, ice skating and bowling. Film studies 1 traveled to Santa Cruz to watch “Talk to Her.”
Most of the intersession’s field trips were provided by parents, Anzar’s librarian Paul Stampleman said.
“Parent participation, like anything else, is half the struggle,” Stampleman said. “If you can get the parents involved, the kids will do all right.”
Others brought in guest speakers. The animal training class showcased a sheepherder from Aromas.
Many sections were taught by more than one teacher. Gourmet cooking had three teachers which allowed students to rotate between the three everyday.
Students signed up for the courses in October and students from various advisories helped determine which courses other students would be interested in, McKowen said.
The intersession was so successful that McKowen said the school is planning on offering it again next year.
“It was beyond my wildest dreams and hopes,” she said. “The teachers had no prep period the entire time. … Student engagement was really high.”
