Focus on Shafter High School - Nov. 23, 2019

Produced by SHS and coordinated by English teacher Larissa Davis

Shafter High School has implemented a new Academic Supports program on campus. The high school recognizes that academics do not come naturally to every student and may need extra support to be successful in the classroom.

The program is designed for freshman and sophomore students who have been observed as students who may need extra academic support. The students are placed in a specific class that teachers them organizational skills, communication skills with teachers and peers, and skills on how to address assignments that may seem too difficult.

Lyndsy Weikel, the teacher of this course, is very passionate about helping these students. She knows that every student has the ability to be successful in the classroom but may lack the skills to be successful.

She designs her weeks for students’ success with a specific focus on each day. The course work spends time teaching students about growth mindset, how to persevere through failures, and how to monitor their behavior and academics in and out of the classroom.

Often these are the students that fall through the cracks as they reach high school. But it is the mission of SHS to ensure that all students learn the skills necessary to achieve success. Although the class keeps Mrs. Weikel on her toes, she says “the reward of seeing these students improve daily is worth it.”

As the first quarter of the school year comes to a close, there are many celebrations coming from these students; such as, many have been awarded student of the month, a few students have all As and Bs in their classes, the majority of students are passing 85% of their classes with a C or higher, they are becoming better at self-evaluation and reflection, and they are achieving the goals they set.