SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Outdoor Education/School Trips
Off-campus learning is a vital part of the school curriculum. Fall, winter and spring trips vary in length from two nights in the mountains to a week in a neighboring state. The purpose for each trip varies with changing needs: community building may be the focus of one trip, while another may emphasize individual and small group challenges.
Traditional end-of-the-year trips are one week in length and may include travel to Canyonlands, Zion National Monument, the Grand Canyon, and areas in New Mexico. Students participate in Vision Quests, camping, hiking, mountain biking and river rafting. Students and teachers also take educational day trips to local places of interest, including museums, exhibits, lectures, and mountain sites.
International Travel
In addition to the traditional trips within a four-state area, students have the opportunity to travel to foreign countries. Over the past several years, students and teachers have toured France, Spain, and Italy, with EF Tours; trekked and river-rafted in Costa Rica with Outward Bound International; and studied language and culture and provided supplies to schools and clinics in Thailand through Distant Destinations, Inc.
Community Class
Community is an important concept at September High School. Our community includes students, parents, and teachers of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
As community members, students participate in decision making in each class, at larger community meetings, and through representation on a student steering committee. This involvement allows for open, honest relationships based on mutual respect and trust between students and teachers.
Community Class is a daily gathering of the group for exercise, partnered activities, group discussions and more. Gathering as a group each day is important for our community. It gives us a chance to check in with students and get a pulse on the peer culture.
College Prep
One way students demonstrate readiness for the personal responsibility that college demands is by how well they prepare themselves for the college application process. September High School has supported hundreds of students through this challenging transition. Beginning in the junior year, students are guided through a two-year process of thinking about and preparing for college. During this time, the college prep advisor will periodically meet with groups of students or parents to check-in about target goals during the junior and senior year. When needed, parents may set up an appointment with the college prep advisor for more support. Lastly, throughout the year, several colleges visit us to talk specifically about their school. Interested students can sign up to attend any of these school information sessions.
We not only help our students to get back on track in high school, but over 80% of our graduates go on to college, a higher percentage than the public schools!
Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention and Education Program
At September High School, we believe that guiding our students through the obstacles of adolescence is an important part of our work. For some students, substance abuse is a critical obstacle. We view this as an opportunity to lend further support and education to both the adolescent as well as her/his family. We do not see our students as disposable. We view the traditional suspension and expulsion route as the last steps in a series of interventions.
We have developed a comprehensive program to address the full spectrum of issues surrounding drug, alcohol and tobacco use/abuse. This effort provides innovative, proactive programming and strong, effective interventions to support a substance free campus at September High School and encourage healthy choices for our students beyond the school day. We have a multifaceted program emphasizing prevention, intervention, education and support, a combination that has been very effective in making a true difference in the lives of our students
Senior Mysteries
This is a human development curriculum for students in their senior year. Seniors are provided a "rite of passage" from adolescence to adulthood; a safe and challenging opportunity to seek a new perspective, learn to say good-bye, and experience acknowledgment from their community for their accomplishments. Mysteries meets periodically with teachers and counselors trained in adolescent development, active listening, group building, and the use of a variety of theatre and art exercises for personal expression and growth.