Howard Street Charter School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Howard Street Charter School | |
| Address | |
| 710 Howard Street SE Salem, Oregon, 97302, United States |
|
| Website | |
| http://www.howardstreet.org | |
| Information | |
| Principal | Alan Ball |
| Vice principal | Nancy Fisher |
| School type | Middle |
| Grades | 6-8 |
| Area | South Salem |
| Mascot | Hawk |
| Colors | Silver, Black, and Burgundy |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Enrollment | 156 |
Howard Street Charter School (HSCS) is a small alternative middle school inside South Salem High School, in Salem, Oregon and is really considered to be a separate school.
If more students apply for 6th grade admission than can be accommodated, admission are decided through a lottery system after waivers are granted.
Contents |
[edit] Curriculum
HSCS focuses on the three E's: Einstein (math and science), Ellington (visual and performing arts), and Esperanto (languages). All students must take a foreign language, science, math, humanities, art, and be involved in the performing arts such as drama and dance. Consequentially, because there are so many required classes, there is no physical education class at Howard Street. Students are expected to make use of the open gym during lunch and break for sports and exercise.
[edit] Sludge Test
The eighth grade science class is expected to do a "sludge test." Students pair up and each pair is given a jar with various liquids and metals in it. The liquids and metals must be separated out and students must show which liquids and metals they are. Students must spend all year preparing for this big test, which is due the day before spring break.
[edit] Civil War
In humanities, the eighth grade year is devoted to American history. Towards the end of the year, a simulation of the Civil War is held. Each humanities class is split up into two groups, the Union and the Confederacy. Each group chooses a "general" and complete various assignments to earn points. At the end of the unit, the points are tallied up and a winner is declared. Of course, the winner cannot always be the Union, as it has been the Confederacy the past two years.
A highlight of the Civil War unit is a reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg using water balloons. On a set date, the entire eighth and seventh grades walk to nearby Bush Park and prepare for battle on a hill similar to the one at Gettysburg. The eighth grade is the Union and the seventh grade is the Confederacy. When the battle is over, the head humanities teacher takes the role of president Abraham Lincoln and presents his famous Gettysburg Address.
[edit] Electives
Howard Street Charter School has a wide variety of electives. These include theatre tech, orchestra, band, study hall, and dance. These electives are at the end of the day during eighth period for seventh and eighth grade students, and seventh period for sixth grade students.
[edit] After-school programs
HSCS currently participates in the POWER program that promotes student after-school activities. Any aged student or alumni from HSCS are able to participate in most activities. Chess club is available as is an art club.
Cards is an activity where students learn to play card games like Pokémon and Magic. Dungeons and Dragons is another activity; it is a role playing game that stimulates students imaginations. Groups are divided up by age and skill level.
[edit] Enrichment Fridays
HSCS has a special schedule on Fridays that allows students to participate in various enrichment classes that they would not do during a regular school day. This helps students explore what they would like to pursue when they graduate. Enrichment classes in the afternoon include dance, guitar, football, pottery, face paint, hackeysack, improvisation, and film analysis. If students are behind on work, they must take a study hall period instead of their scheduled enrichment class. The enrichment classes are chosen according to student preferences and teacher availability.
The morning is divided up into two periods which are used for various projects according to grade, such as the sludge test and other science projects. Between those two periods, there is a fifteen minute break in which a "gathering" is held. The whole school meets in the gym to hear announcements and participate in all-school activities, such as relay races. The purpose of this is to bring students usually seperated into different grades together and to build trust and teamwork.
