We want your input as to our direction.  Please come to a community meeting on March 18th from 5:30-7:30 PM!

As a district, we have set high standards for student achievement.  We believe that all our students have unlimited possibilities for greatness and we will help them achieve it.  State and federal law require that all students achieve at a high level.  The district must take action to see that happens in all parts of the district as required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB).  Declining enrollment is a reality for Saint Paul Public Schools.  It is one of the most difficult situations that any school and district must deal with.  Because of NCLB and declining enrollment Humboldt Junior High will be working to revitalize their programming to attract new students and better meet the needs of our students.

Humboldt Junior and Senior High Schools share space, students and teachers; therefore Humboldt Senior High School is moving forward with Humboldt Junior High to revitalize our programming.  In November, our staff and students were surveyed as to possible programming options.  In December, we invited our families and communities in to discuss two distinct programs, one following an environmental studies model and the other following a college and career preparatory model.  From the input we received at this meeting we decided to combine to these focuses into a single programming.

We are recruited a steering committee with representatives from Humboldt Junior and Senior High, parents, community agencies, business partners, and universities to assist in planning our new focus. As a committee, we acknowledge that we are not fully versed in all aspects of environmental studies.  We therefore reached out professionals in the field, meeting with representatives from Hamline graduate school of environmental studies, Eco Education, the Will Steger Foundation, the College of St. Catherine’s, Valley Branch Environmental Learning Center, and Dodge Nature Center to assist in developing our focus.  As a result of these meetings we are began the process of determining grade level themes with our science and social studies teachers which link to existing state standards.  On March 21, all Humboldt Junior High teachers and Humboldt Senior High social studies and science teachers will be visiting Valley Branch to begin  their of environmental studies professional development activities. 

All Humboldt Senior staff will receive training in Disciplinary Literacy (DL).  Disciplinary Literacy develops ways of teaching that challenge students to learn both the concepts of a discipline and its habits of thinking. For example, a student learning history will learn not only facts and dates but also the basics of historical inquiry, such as the sources a historian uses. It is a method used to expand both the knowledge and intellectual capacities of all levels of students.  We will be working with the district staff development team and universities to support this endeavor.

At Humboldt Senior High, in addition to environmental studies and DL staff development, we are increasing the number of staff trained in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and Advanced Placement.  We are expanding our internship opportunities for students and will be offering courses at St. Paul College next year.  We are working to provide the highest quality education for our students.

We want to hear your thoughts as we develop our direction.  Please come to a community meeting on March 18^th from 5:30-7:30 PM.  A light dinner will be provided from 5:30-6:00 PM and the meeting will begin at 6:00 PM.  Please attend, we want your input.