International Polytechnic High School

International Polytechnic High School
File:I-Poly logo.png
Address
3801 West Temple Avenue Bldg. 128-16, Pomona, CA 91768 Pomona, California, USA
Information
Type	Public secondary
Motto	"It takes a village to raise a child" - African proverb
Established	1993
Principal	Elsa Martinez
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	max. 500
Campus	on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona
Color(s)	Green and Gold
Website	International Polytechnic High School

International Polytechnic High School, commonly abbreviated as I-Poly High School, is a public college preparatory high school (9-12) located on the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) campus and operated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education in conjunction with the College of Education and Integrative Studies at the university. I-Poly's curriculum is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is approved by the University of California and California State University. It maintains a unique affiliation with the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, which is also run by LACOE. Since I-Poly does not lie in a fixed school district, it draws students from throughout Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties. The majority of students come from the Pomona and San Gabriel valleys. In 2009, I-Poly was honored as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education.

The high school is famous for its:

1. Project and problem-based curriculum
2. Emphasis on collaboration
3. Ability to take college courses at Cal Poly Pomona
4. Small school experience
5. Family like atmosphere

History

Early in 1991, Cal Poly Pomona made a decision to accept the invitation of LACOE to enter into a collaborative relationship for the purpose of joining the K-12 education reform movement initiated by A Nation at Risk.

The goal of the partnership was to:

(1) create a model of curriculum reform by designing and implementing an entire high school course of study using an interdisciplinary and international curriculum approach and

(2) better prepare students to enter either higher education or the world of work. The planning team consisted of forty-seven professionals representing LACOE, Cal Poly Pomona, and the local business community.

The original concept was described in the following manner: The model is project-based and experiential in nature. It is essentially student-centered and driven, and incorporates new technologies, as well as a new understanding of the kind of journey students and educators will take through a dynamic, global, 21st century landscape. The basic components consists of progressive educational principles, global perspectives and analysis, and interdisciplinary study.

The school first accepted students in 1993, with a class of twelve freshmen, and graduated its first class of approximately 20 students in 1997, with a full graduating class in 1998. Originally, the campus was located in portables adjacent to the buildings of the College of Arts on the Cal Poly campus, but was later moved to the edge of the Cal Poly campus on Parking Lot K, also in portable structures.

In its early years, I-Poly was a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, but its membership later lapsed. The original model divided the world into different projects concentrating on each project, but that was later dropped as transferring students' curriculum became too difficult. Originally, I-Poly also participated in the California Interscholastic Federation with a basketball team, but that was later dropped and I-Poly students have the opportunity to play high school athletics at their home schools or on club teams. I-poly does not offer any sports.

In addition, the original model was to have teachers from their home districts "rotate in" for a few years and then use the lessons learned from their teaching at their other schools. Due to the constant turnover, that was later de-emphasized and a smaller number of rotating teachers intermingle with teachers on long-term contract. Today, under the guidance of CEIS, I-Poly is evolving into a teacher training and demonstration site. It is envisioned that I-Poly will serve as a staff development hub for the surrounding school districts. However, it is not a charter school or a magnet school, nor does it have any formal relationship with the other districts.

I-Poly First's

"The Globe, 1996-1997, Volume 2" is one of I-Poly's first yearbooks which highlights some of the "firsts" in I-Poly History. For instance, the first student accepted to I-Poly ever was Tamara Hunter. The first I-Poly teacher was Mike Dacker. The first new teacher was Jere Mendelsohn. The first day of school was September 13, 1993.

Also, I-Poly's first graduating class only consisted of (34) students who were the "Class of 1997" . This first graduating class consisted of: Raquel Basulto, Joshua Carr, Marisa Carter, Tawny Cockrum, Chester de Guzman, Ian Delagado, Patricia Doronila, Yusuf El-Sahrgty, Karen Fan, Christina Fimbres, Faith Greene, Rashid Heshmati, Joshua Hicks, Ivan Hunter, Heidi Lopez, Andrea Moreno, Richard Morgan, James Moser, Huy "Henry" Nguyen, Arsalan Rahmanian, Erika Rodriguez, Hiram Rodriguez, Oscar Rodriquez, Erin Rudd, Alan Sheehy, Gideon Shuster, Jason Signey, Aimee Sones, Colin Sones, Antoinette Sue, Francisco Vasquez, Andrew "Drew" Williams, Darnell Wilson, and Alysssa Wright.

Alma Mater

I-Poly's Alma Mater was written by Andrew Williams (aka "Drew Williams") , Class of 1997, which was the first graduating class in I-Poly history. The Alma Mater was decided by a school-wide competition which asked all students to submit their best school song. Andrew Williams' submission was later awarded the best alma mater written and has been in effect since. The melody of the Alma Mater is simple: The commas were written intentionally to suggest a brief pause and then continue. The last line is said very slowly, "I miss those I-Poly days!"

I-Poly's Alma Mater:

Here at International Polytechnic High, we've set our goals reachable yet higher than the sky. As we all know the future is, in our very hands. The most succesful people are, the ones in these stands.

Proud to be a BRONCO, let the truth be told, the colors that we bleed are that great GREEN and GOLD! I-Poly is the school that we all love so dear, won't forget the times we shared, each passing year.

Faced with diversity, we created unity, helping us make, the I-Poly family. And when it's time for all of us to go our separate ways, we will all look back and say..."I miss those I-Poly days!"'

(Link to audio file of the Alma Mater recorded by the creator, Andrew Williams: http://www.facebook.com/v/104163902936449)

Curriculum

There is no one accepted definition of project-based learning. I-Poly defines project-based learning as a teaching strategy that organizes learning around projects. Projects consist of complex tasks or components, based on challenging questions or problems. These questions or problems drive the project and standard based class curriculum in order to encourage real world application. International Polytechnic places an emphasis on student development beginning with personal responsibility, self-management, effective communication, lifelong learning skills and effective use of technology.

Other unique aspects of the school include its use of narrative evaluation in addition to traditional grading (grading occurs on a modified E-S-N-U system, which is then mapped to the A-F system for college admissions purposes); integration with Cal Poly Pomona, including permitting students to take up to eight units of classes at Cal Poly; and an emphasis on service learning, including mandatory hours of community service.

The Big Idea & Essential Questions

During the first three years of the students I-Poly experience, the teachers plant the seeds by presenting the big ideas and writing the primary essential questions in order to stimulate student interest.

These big ideas, which address real-world issues, establish the general picture of what a student will study. From these big ideas, teachers write essential questions that drive students to encounter (and struggle with) the central concepts and principles of a discipline.

In their senior year, students take their three years of experience and with a teacher advisor write their own projects to help them with their future choices.

Components

Projects consist of complex tasks or components that they must complete in order to answer the essential questions. The complex tasks or components integrate the subject matter, resulting in an applicable and real-world strategy to teach a standard-based curriculum in each course.

Teaming

The projects encourage the teamwork approach to solve problems in a creative and challenging manner. Thus, students learn cooperative and conflict resolution skills throughout their I-Poly experience, which prepares them for the future workforce. Team meetings occur after-school sometimes, either at I-Poly or at a students house. Therefore, parental assistance with hosting and transportation is encouraged.

Culminating Events

Students participate in a culminating experience at the conclusion of each project. During this event, students display accomplishments and present understanding of knowledge and skills, using a variety of methods.

Matriculation

Approximately 94% of I-Poly graduates go on to pursue higher education. I-Poly alums are represented at such prestigious and renowned colleges and universities. Given the school's location, many graduates choose to attend Cal Poly Pomona. In the past, admittance to Cal Poly was guaranteed upon graduation, but that is no longer the case and I-Poly students are admitted using normal CSU standards. All I-Poly courses meet California State University and University of California requirements.

Awards

I-Poly was awarded the California School Boards Association's 2006 Golden Bell Award in the category of "Innovative High Schools".

I-Poly has also won one of the "Top Ten Concept Theme Awards" at Yearbooks @ the Beach which took place in Long Beach, CA in 2008.

In March 2009, I-Poly was recognized as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education.

I-Poly won another one of the "Top Ten Concept Theme Awards" at Yearbooks @ the Beach in 2009.

External links

• http://www.lacoe.edu/orgs/1021/index.cfm