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Early Bird Registration Register early and save! Return your completed Registration and Ticketed Events Payment form to NASSP by Friday, November 1, 2002 and save $115. |
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School Visits Explore Effective SchoolsFriday, February 21 
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn what effective schools are "doing right" by seeing them firsthand. Tour these outstanding schools, selected because they offer sound educational programs and innovative practices that work. Sign up today! Tickets are limited to 50 per school and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost of each school visit is $20.00. Buses will depart from the San Diego Convention Center at 8:00 a.m. Friday, February 21, and will return to the Convention Center at approximately 12:30 p.m. To preregister for a school visit, complete the appropriate information included on the Convention Registration and Ticketed Events Payment Form. Mar Vista High School 
Given their low socioeconomic backgrounds, the students at Mar Vista High School are not supposed to perform at top levels but the students don't know that and the staff members don't tell them. Located in a community characterized by some of the most negative demographic measures in San Diego County, Mar Vista students consistently match or out-perform state averages on a wide array of assessments. Mar Vista is ranked #1 in Sweetwater Union High School District and is among the top schools in San Diego County for achievement on Advanced Placement testing. The school, a National Title I Achieving School, received the California School Board Association's Golden Bell Award for its Poseidon Academy of Marine Science and Technology and has been an AVID National Demonstration Model site for more than eight years. Kati Haycock of The Education Trust has identified Mar Vista as a high-poverty, high-success school that is "doing for their kids exactly what you would want done for your kids." The Mar Vista staff members are committed to staying on the cutting edge of educational change, and attend a variety of staff development programs each year, including courses in integrated math, technology and Internet use, conflict resolution, and health sciences. To complement the academic program, students are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of cocurricular activities. The campus boasts more than 30 student clubs and organizations. Coronado Middle School 
Located across the bay from San Diego on beautiful Coronado Island, Coronado Middle School opened in August 2001 as the community's first middle school in its own facility separate from the high school. With a longstanding focus on academic rigor, the middle school's vision is to "provide a caring, compassionate learning community that nurtures and supports exemplary education for every student." Coronado Middle School students and their families bring a diverse perspective to the school. More than one-third of the students are military dependents whose family members serve on one of the three U.S. Navy bases in Coronado. Others represent the second or third generations of long-time Coronado residents. In addition, a number of the students come to Coronado from other countries. All participate in the school's integrated character education program, The Pelican Way, which is the foundation for the positive learning environment and schoolwide discipline system. The parents' and community members' active involvement as volunteers, business partners, and financial donors also is a strength of the school's program. Another trademark of the school is the rich technology environment, which includes wireless access to the Internet throughout the school. Approximately 50% of the students participate in the voluntary laptop computer program by bringing their own laptops to school each day. The library media center, six mini computer labs, two full-size computer labs, digital cameras, and portable teacher data projection systems are also available. Mt. Carmel High School 
Mt. Carmel High School, a four-year comprehensive high school, is located in the community of Rancho Penasquitos a primarily middle-income residential area 15 miles northeast of San Diego. The student population reflects the socioeconomic and ethnic make-up of the community with 38% representing students of color. The staff members at Mt. Carmel are committed to the core value of "All Students Learning, Whatever It Takes," and share a common vision of academic excellence and preparation for lifelong learning. This vision includes dedication to shared participation in decision making; competent and caring staff, students, and school system; effective communication; effective resource management; and a safe, orderly, and attractive learning environment. Mt. Carmel also offers several online classes, including American literature, drawing and painting, U.S. history, Web design, Spanish, and virtual auto. Mt. Carmel received the National Blue Ribbon School Award in 1998 and 2000; earned the California Distinguished School recognition in 1986, 1988, and 1999; and was recognized in 2000 as one of the "Top 100 Technology Schools in the Nation" by the Princeton Review. Sixty-three athletic teams and more than 50 clubs, organizations, and enrichment classes are available on campus. The marching band is the largest organization, with more than 380 members. Emerald Middle School 
Emerald Middle School, located in El Cajon, is committed to educating students to become responsible, self-disciplined, productive citizens at school, at home, and in the community. The character education program, The Emerald Way, teaches students 10 essential character traits throughout the year with a focus on one trait each month. Through classroom lessons, group discussions, K-Night television broadcasts, and art and writing activities, students learn skills in the areas of interpersonal relationships, problem solving, listening, teamwork, leadership, and citizenship. By teaching and modeling the 10 character traits included in The Emerald Way, the staff members ensure a pleasant, safe, and positive learning environment where everyone is encouraged to do his or her best. Students learn to make good decisions and positive contributions to themselves and others. The school offers a variety of student activities, including Emerald Career Opportunities, the German Club, the Homework Club, and the Science Fair Club. Eighth graders with excellent citizenship grades have the opportunity to visit Washington, DC, and New York City during spring break. Southwest High School 
Southwest High School, located only two miles from the Mexican Border, has every demographical reason to accept low expectations and poor student results. However, the school has fundamentally embraced the belief that all students can learn and be successful at high, rigorous academic levels. Toward that end, the staff members have purposefully designed academic programs to prepare all students to meet college entrance requirements. In the lower division classes (grades 9 and 10), academics are structured to provide students a strong foundation of academic skills in reading, writing, and math around content standards in core areas. Blocks of time have been created to help students who might need additional time to meet grade-level standards. In the upper division (grades 11 and 12), students have open access to the Advanced Placement courses as well as the National Demonstration AVID program, which supports students in the college prep courses. In the master schedule, Southwest offers 16 different courses and more than 30 sections of AP classes. Southwest is a Title I school with 300 students in a full bilingual program. In spite of the academic barriers, Southwest is rapidly improving student outcomes in daily attendance, AP student placement and pass rates, and steady achievement growth. A reciprocal teaching reading strategy is implemented in all classrooms, as is a program that emphasizes writing across the curriculum. Southwest has been recognized as a National AVID Demonstration School, as a Charger Champion site for making a difference in the education of students, and as a model school program for their "open access" and growth in the placement of students in AP courses. Greenfield Middle School 
Greenfield Middle School's mission is to provide quality education, enabling students to master the basic skills and acquire the subject material of their classes while realizing their own maximum potential. The school, located in El Cajon, provides a safe and orderly environment that inspires self-discipline, respect, good attendance, and responsible citizenship. Open communication with parents helps them to become informed and involved in their children's education. All students at Greenfield belong to an interdisciplinary team consisting of a common math, history, science, and English teacher. The teams help create a sense of camaraderie and offer consistency in classroom guidelines and expectations. In addition, teams compete for spirit points in campus-wide activities. A wide variety of clubs and activities promote teamwork, community service, academic achievement, and personal improvement. Don't miss the bus school visits sell out quickly. Register today! |