- Sedalia School District 200
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PROJECT: Different route to success
Like many students, Carli Ashford dreaded waking up for school, but that changed when she transferred to Whittier High School.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I actually want to go to school,” she said.
Whittier, the Sedalia 200 district’s alternative high school, consists of five classes a day, six and a half hours of school, and smaller classrooms..
Ashford transferred from Smith-Cotton High School to Whittier in January. The reasoning for Ashford’s transfer was because she likes smaller learning environments and she feels it's better for her.
“Teachers can pay more attention to individuals with classes being only eight to 10 students big,” she said.
For students who would do better in a smaller learning environment and like more hands-on experiences, Ashford would recommend going to Whittier. She said, “I feel like (at S-C) I didn’t get any help or it’s just harder to ask for help.”
Whittier often is stereotyped as a school for trouble-making students who need to be disciplined, but that’s not the case at all.
“I thought it was for bad kids at first, but it’s the complete opposite,” Ashford said. “I feel like people talk down on it because they’ve never been there. You get help whenever and wherever you go.”
Ashford was a junior when she came to Smith-Cotton; after just two months at Whittier she had earned two more credits just by turning in her work hours, bumping her up to a senior on track to graduate in May.
Whittier and Smith-Cotton are two completely different schools, but have one thing in common which is helping students get on track to graduate. Both help students in different ways while still giving students opportunities to further their education and have a brighter future
“Smith-Cotton isn’t a bad school, Whittier is just a better fit for me,” Ashford said.
Andrew Lange transferred to Whittier from Smith-Cotton his freshman year. He has been going to Whittier for two and a half years now. He transferred, he said, because he got involved with a lot of issues and drama and he wanted a fresh start. He knew that if he transferred there it would be a smaller environment and a totally different situation.
“Whittier helps you graduate sooner and I recommend students to transfer there,” Lange said. “Whittier is a safe environment. Everyone knows each other. It is like another family and a home.”
Whittier also offers night school, allowing students with different home lives or different living situations to attend school. Night school is a better fit for students who are in the work force and there are about 15 students who attend.
Elizabeth Ackerman, a history teacher at S-C, has been teaching night school for five years.
“There are fewer students, little more quiet than day school,” Ackerman said. “It's all on computers, and I can keep up with a variety of curriculum.”
Although night school won’t be offered next year, Ackerman said, “It is a good option for kids with different issues.”
Whittier Assistant Director B.J. Curry said that students who switch to Whittier usually like a smaller learning environment. Students feel like they are part of a family. Students switch based on different situations and Whittier creates a better learning environment for them. They all feel as though they fit in and belong to a family.
Class sizes are small — about nine or 10 in every class — and the school as a whole has about 50 students, who must apply to be admitted. Both schools have the same goal of helping students be successful.
Cooking, service learning prepare students for what's next
By Faith Johnson
Whittier High School, the Sedalia 200 district’s alternative high school, not only gives students what they need to graduate but teaches them life skills as well.
Two of the most popular electives offered at Whittier are service learning, taught by Shawn Cairer, and a cooking class taught by Mark Johnson. These teachers want their students to be successful in school and successful after graduation, as well.
Both agree that their classes offer life skills, whether it be in the community or their own home. Johnson’s cooking class came around about two years ago when Whittier officials were looking for more electives to offer students.
“It offers many life skill opportunities for our students, like cooking for yourself or family, kitchen safety, budgeting, unit pricing, and nutrition,” Johnson said. The students focus on making healthy choices, so recently they have added cooking with an air fryer as opposed to deep frying.
Cairer believes that his service learning class also is benefiting students in many ways.
“I believe there is a lot of value in showing kids a variety of needs in our community and allowing them the opportunity to meet, or address these needs,” he said. “Instilling the value of helping others in young people will benefit them and everyone they encounter in their futures.”
Students can realize how much of a rewarding experience helping others can be.
Cairer’s and Johnson’s favorite part about working at Whittier is seeing kids grow and the fact that Whittier is like a little family.