Principal's MessagePrincipal -- Russell Lee-SungAssistant Principal -- Bill Diskin Instructional Deans -- Barbie Cole, Joey Davis, Larry Holmes, Jeff Jordan Vision We envision Walnut High School as an integrated learning center involving the collaborative efforts of staff, students, and the community in the process of education. This safe and secure environment will promote life-long learning and critical thinking and decision making skills for our students. Respect for diversity in language and culture, an appreciation of the arts, and the use of technology will empower and prepare students for their futures.Our graduates will leave with an increased awareness of their own worth, as well as the value of others, and will be prepared to participate effectively in and contribute to the diverse society of the 21st century. Motto Excellence in Action - Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs) Students will: * Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively. * Work responsibly and productively as an individual and as a member of a team within a diverse population. * Understand concepts, make connections, and solve problems. * Demonstrate the ability to select and apply appropriate technology across the curricula * Develop a "road map" for high school and beyond that reflects an ongoing assessment of abilities, responsibilities, health and wellness, and career goals. What Makes WHS Unique? The Administrative Structure, Block Schedule & Extended Periods The Administrative Structure: Walnut High School has a unique administrative structure. Which includes one Principal, only one Assistant Principal, four Instructional Deans, eight Grade Level Coordinators, an Athletic Director, an Operations Manager, and the Associated Student Body Director. There are no department heads, but the four Instructional Deans each have an aspect of the curriculum they are responsible for supervising. For example Jeff Jordan is the Dean of Humanities and Health. His responsibilities include Testing, Physical Education, Social Science, Driver Education, Health, and Visual and Performing Arts. The duties of each dean include selection of textbooks, instructional media, supervision and evaluation of teachers, and planning the improvement of instruction. The structure has improved the quality of instruction by providing teachers with constant support and guidance from their instructional dean. The Grade Level Coordinator (GLC) program replaced the traditional counselor system at Walnut in 1984 with a holistic approach to counseling. The GLCs are supervised by the Assistant Principal and each has about 350 students they deal with on a regular basis. This includes 8th grade orientation, summer registration, college counseling, personal counseling, student discipline, and attendance. GLCs are also responsible for campus supervision and often act as community liaisons. This makes them the some of the best known people around. Walnut High credits the GLC program and each GLC with accomplishments such as a drop out rate of less than one percent, a graduation rate of over 98% and an average daily attendance rate over 95%. The Operations Manager, Dwight Bauman is responsible for the overall operation of the school facilities. His duties include supervision of custodial services, and classified staff. The position also includes coordination of all school events, as well as budgetary and payroll issues. Block Schedule & Extended Periods: were implemented in the Fall of the 1994-1995 school year. We use Block Scheduling two days per week with the other three being a more traditional model. This schedule has forced teachers to redesign lesson plans and teaching strategies because of the extended length of the periods. The schedule was adopted through the Site Based Management process then evaluated and changed slightly. |