The town of Mountain House is becoming an academic powerhouse—intuitive of anyone who walks through the halls of Mountain House High School. The brand new, state-of-the-art high school is possibly one of the most visionary 21st Century educational institutions around. Its staff and administrators are preparing students for college and careers, while forming a community deep-rooted with Mustang pride.
In the midst of one of the biggest financial crisis in history, the community supported building the first high school in Lammersville Unified School District. It opened its doors to more than 500 freshmen and sophomore students in August.
“We ultimately want students to be well rounded – have the social, emotional, and small town experience – yet compete in a global information economy,” stated Kirk Nicholas, Superintendent of Lammersville Unified School District.
The school developed curriculum that took a different slant. By designing a professional pathway program that is very open, students decide what type of career pathway they would like to be part of and start taking courses focusing on that career. Project Lead The Way (PLTW) came to be part of the school based on a poll that showed a large percentage of the student body is interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. “PLTW is the nation's leading provider of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education programs,” stated Principal, Ben Fobert. “We knew based from our community needs that PLTW's Engineering and Biomedical Sciences pathways is a key pathway for our students.”
As with PLTW and other programs, the typical lesson uses the module method. Students learn concepts through lectures coupled with using a website that is interactive, watching a lecture via video, and then having an opportunity to reflect by answering questions or writing their thoughts of what they learned on a discussion board. “We do something different every day,” said Brian Gervase, a teacher who moved from Chicago to fulfill his dream of teaching students using this 21st Century model. “Chrome books are the norm for students and they are encouraged to use social media and the Internet to learn and communicate.”
In August, Mountain House High School kicked off the school year with its first football game in history. With more than 1,500 people cheering on the Mustangs, it goes without saying that the students and community are proud of the new high school.
“We are a school that has a completely different learning style. We use chrome books instead of textbooks and do everything on the Internet,” said Mountain House High School Associated Student Body President, Justin Bustos. “I chose to come here for the experience and opportunities that are different than any other high school.”
Click here to learn about Mountain House High School. Click here to read this article and others featured in October's Outlook.