New Vista High School
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (December 2007) |
| New Vista High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Established | 1993 |
| Principal | Kirk Quitter |
| Assistant Principal | Ivette Visbal |
| Faculty | 48 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Number of students | 350 |
| Color(s) | Black and Teal |
| Athletics | Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Volleyball, Dodgeball Vs. Boulder Police. |
| Mascot | Phoenix, Australian Shepard |
| Founded by | Rona Wilensky |
| Website | New Vista High School |
New Vista is a small, innovative high school located on the corner of 20th and Baseline in Boulder, Colorado. Founded by Rona Wilensky in the fall of 1993, the school's one intention was to break away from the practice of a conventional secondary school. To do this they set out with three goals: 1.)To educate students in the conventional academic subjects 2.) To help each and every student identify and pursue interests at which he or she is genuinely motivated to achieve in and 3.) To prepare students for the demands of citizenship in a community. New Vista high School has many high expectations, including seeing students live up to their own potential. The Colorado Department of Education's School Accountability report has consistently rated New Vista high school has a "high" performing school.
Academics
NVHS runs on a quarter system; every nine weeks the schedule changes. There are no Advanced Placement classes, IB Program, or weighted grades. Anything below a B- (80%) is a failing grade. Students cannot count a "C" for a Common Learning credits, although it can be counted toward college if the student is a stage one (pre-Culminating Project proposal student). Class subjects are varied, allowing students to learn about things that interest them. New Vista is within close proximity to the University of Colorado and both of the major high schools so students have the option to take classes that NVHS doesn't offer. New Vista is a diverse school; classes are formatted differently than conventional high schools, approximately 15-30 students per class, and consist of mixed grades. New Vista has its own graduation requirements, separate from those required by post-secondary schools, although New Vista fully supports the earning of those credits, many of them overlapping with New Vista's own graduation requirements. Again, this is to ensure that a student has his/or her own individual path, and is able to complete that path to the full extent, whether that student wishes to attend a two-year institution or vocational school, traditional four-year institution, or anything else the student wishes, New Vista provides the planning, support and academics that the student will need. The post-secondary attendance of Universities are highly encouraged and supported by the community as a whole.
New Vista Works on a different credit system, but transfer students are still accepted and encouraged to join the community. New Vista Credits work differently in the way that two NV Credits are equal to one year, or one MAPS (minimum academic preparation standards) Credit that are required to attend most four year universities. An example of MAPS requirements can be found on the CU-Boulder Admissions Site.
Despite many rumors, New Vista High School is geared for students on a college path, offering some of the most comprehensive support, leading students to success.
Culminating projects
Each New Vista student must complete a Culminating Project to graduate. Students must spend at least 120 hours on a self-created project, pursuing a passion, or exploring a new interest. Every student forms a committee of a younger student, a peer also working on a culminating project, their adviser, a mentor, and an adult who knows them well. The committee meets during the final year to evaluate the progress a project is making.
Block schedule
Most students take a total of three to five classes a quarter: First Period, AM block, Seminar, and PM block or two one hour long PM blocks—along with advisory. AM and PM blocks are worth one credit; Seminar classes and PM One-Hour classes are worth half a credit. First periods are optional and offer a chance to catch up or get ahead on credit and are also worth half a credit. By allowing students to choose their classes, they determine the difficulty of their schedule.
Advisory
Every student at New Vista is assigned to a mixed-grade advisory class; which they attend all four years of their career at New Vista, supporting each student from enrollment through graduation. Advisors help students stay on track with academics, scheduling and general support. Advisors are also the main support for the student's graduating path, helping the student to stay on track with the right classes for that student's individual path and graduation, as well as create his/her own culminating project, maintain it, and stay generally organized to insure graduation. One could say that an advisors job is to make sure his/her student graduates.
Community Gatherings
Community Gatherings are a weekly, mandatory opportunity for students and teachers to gather as a whole and announce recent/upcoming events such as problems that have recently occurred, programs that are being offered in or around New Vista. Community Gathering also allows students to share whatever they wish, from program/group/club announcements, to live performances of music, poetry, and art, or whatever the student(s) feels like sharing, Community Gathering is a supportive place for them to do so. Because all 350 students must attend community Gathering, it is held in the theater, where entertaining things are often showcased, and it is easy for students to come up and share.
Exhibition Day
At the end of each quarter a day is set aside for the community to come together and present what they have accomplished. This is an Exhibition Day. The entire school and even parents come in and see students present various projects based around what they did during the quarter. During Exhibition Days those who are going to present set up in one room for three rounds. They will give the same presentation all three times as new audiences cycle through. After the initial three rounds there is a short break followed by a large gathering in the auditorium. During this final round of the day people present larger and more complex projects. Anything from a live musical performance to a short film may be shown to the entire community at once.
Senior Exhibition Day
Senior Exhibition day follows the same pattern and schedule as a regular exhibition day, but instead of taking place after each quarter it takes place once near the end of the school year. Also unlike a regular Exhibition Day, Senior Exhibition Day is meant solely for the senior class to present their culminating projects. It gives them a chance to reflect on and share their experience as well as giving younger students an idea of what is to come. Senior Exhibition Day is the final stage in the Culminating Project process and, once completed, allows a student to graduate.
Other Learning Opportunities
New Vista gives students the chance to explore the community and get credit for their work in out-of-school activities.
Community Experience
Every Wednesday, students finish classes at mid-day to serve the community. Students leave school to go volunteer or help with something they are interested in. CEs vary from an internship with a local architect or artist, to working at a local restaurant, skate shop, or hotel, to helping in a classroom at another school. It is up to the student how long he/she would like to continue volunteering.
Workshops
Some students choose not to participate in Community Experiences but workshops instead. Workshops are classes taught at New Vista by people who are not necessarily teachers. Workshops can most readily be defined as "Electives" that take place both on and off campus. Workshops take place every Wednesday for two hours after lunch.
Examples of Past Workshops
- Cooking
- Trapeze
- Theater Improvisation
- "Natural Highs"
- Radio Production
- Film
- Embroidery
This is by no means a comprehensive list as new workshops are introduced every year.
Workshops or CEs are necessary to achieve enough credit for graduation, and students must participate in either, unless very special circumstances are presented. Workshops and CEs are considered classes, and students are given time on Wednesdays to participate in them. They cannot be taken at the same time, and are an "either or" choice that a student must make.
Learning Unit Contract (LUC)
New Vista students can earn extra credit for off-campus learning experiences outside the school day and year that are supervised and evaluated by qualified community experts. Examples include: team sports, fitness programs, language study, music, or other private lessons.
Service Learning
Every year, (the exact time of year changes based on BVSD school schedule, in past years it has taken place in September or May) students take a break from the regular school curriculum to go out in the community and give back through service learning. Service learning, although somewhat similar, are separate from quarterly offered workshop classes that students my take in place of a C.E. to fulfill path credit. Workshops are weekly classes, while service learning are all day events that occurs for a short time. Students sign-up for a program of interest, from a list organized by staff and faculty. The offered programs are similar to hands-on workshops, and include community volunteering, as well as self-learning experienced. These workshops last approximately 3–4 days (depending on the time of year offered) and are led by one or more teachers/staff members. These workshops teach students leadership skills as well as providing different ways to get involved in the community. The service learning gives students necessary path credit, and is by no-means taken lightly. "Ditching" is severely frowned upon, and can result in necessary disciplinary actions, not to mention the loss of important credit that goes toward graduation.
Past Projects Include:
- Videos for non-profits
- Maintenance help for seniors
- Building trails
- GLBTQ oriented service
- Yoga and Gardening
- Reading to End Racism
These are just a few examples of past projects, with new ones being added every year.
CAP
The Community Adventure Program is the core educational program of the Cottonwood Institute and is offered through public schools in the Colorado Front Range. CAP is an outdoor adventure class geared toward environment education and understanding. CAP is offered as a class, and at the end of each quarter, students are taken on an outdoor trip. More information on CAP
Extracurricular activities
Students are given the chance to go to other schools, such as The September School to participate in after school activities that they provide. If students are struggling with credit they may take an online class that can count towards common learning credit. Online classes can be set up through the school, but usually cost money.
These are also activities that New Vista Offers:
- Theater
- Restorative Justice
- Yearbook
- Equity
- Pepquity
- After School Band
Ultimate Frisbee
New Vista's Ultimate Frisbee is open to all students. Although competitive, the sport teaches team work, the spirit of the game, and honesty. New Vista's team has won many awards and commendations in the past, and each year, the team works to build a strong community of honest, hard working, committed students.
Volleyball
New Vista has the only co-ed volleyball team in the state. NVHS plays in the 3A and 5A boys league. The team was resurrected in 2001, after a two year hiatus.
New Vista was the 2007 state champion in 3A.
Other Athletics
Athletics at New Vista are limited, so many students participate in other school's sports teams such as: wrestling, tennis, cross country, track, football, soccer, and swimming teams. If you participate in a Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) sport (which is a sport played at another High School) then you are able to receive 0.4 credits for every season completed. Students may also start a club directed towards a specific sport they are interested in.
Clubs
All clubs at New Vista are formed and organized by students. Students are able to apply for clubs and if enough people are interested in joining, a club will be formed.
Renovations
New Vista was recently granted a budget to make new changes to both programs and the facility. Some changes have already been made, but most are in the processed of being planned. This new budget is a part of the BVSD Bond Program. The project has already renovated parts of the theatre, providing new lighting and sound systems.
External links