What's new at Burchell?

Welcome back to the school year! My favorite day of the entire year is the first day of school.

Students are excited to be back, full of hope, the whole year is ahead of them with possibilities and promise. The staff is rested and refreshed, eager to develop young minds and help students reach their goals. Burchell High School is buzzing like a hive of positive energy, with new students mixing and mingling and returning students taking the lead to welcome them. As always, Burchell is a small, flexible and supportive alternative learning environment. However, we continue to evolve and improve, as best evidenced by the gains in student achievement this year.

Unprecedented academic growth was made at Burchell High School in 2011-12. Language Arts scores exploded, going from 59 percent to 76 percent proficient. Math scores rose as well, from 39 percent to 44 percent. Quite simply, the school posted some of the best test scores in school history and by far the best scores in the last five years. With their outstanding efforts, BHS staff and students proved that we can focus on academics and still provide a safe, flexible alternative learning environment.

We improved greatly, but we will not rest until we provide the very best possible education for all of our students. Burchell is striving in many ways to offer more support, options and exciting opportunities. This year, with the addition of APEX courses, Burchell offers a variety of online learning options. If students are behind pace to graduate, online credit recovery courses can get them back on track for graduation. We are moving toward a “blended” learning model, where students can participate in learning in a variety of ways, including in-person and online. Edmodo, a Facebook-like but school-safe social network site, allows teachers to communicate with their students and post class notes and assignments online. This year, every teacher has an iPad and we are working to introduce iPads in the classroom, opening up learning options including digital textbooks, tutorials, educational apps and more. Technology is always on the forefront at BHS.

With the highest percentage of Alaska Native and American Indian students of any high school in the Valley, Burchell is a culturally diverse and responsive learning environment. Our family atmosphere, small size and flexible style are a good match with many Alaska Native students. The Enanuaq grant provides a high school teacher and a pre-school program for Alaska Native students, increasing the support and resources to help them find academic success. Always, the goal is to facilitate a positive learning environment and a supportive place to learn and grow.

Every student at Burchell has an adviser, providing the personal touch many students need to make it in school. We have continued to add STEM initiative courses, focusing on science, technology and math. This year offerings including Robotics, a course on video game design, and high-level math classes, including trigonometry. Our vibrant arts program continues to flourish; the Burchell Dancers performed on stage at the Alaska State Fair Aug. 31 and Sept. 3.

Great things are happening at Burchell High School. With our creative, diverse population of students and brilliant, hard-working staff, anything is possible. We look to continue to improve this year, showing more academic growth, graduating our seniors ready for the workforce or higher education, and maintaining the original mission established by Peter Burchell. Enrollment is still open.

Adam Mokelke is Principal at Burchell High School.