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KHS adds new courses, aligns social studies with literature
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
Keokuk High School will offer some new courses next year, is dropping a few others, and aligning literature and social studies classes to correspond better with the subject matter taught.
KHS Principal Dave Keane outlined some of the changes to the school board at the last meeting on Feb. 11.
“Next year, social studies and literature will be blocked as co-requisites,” he said.
Freshmen will take civics and Literature Composition I which covers concepts such as tolerance and age appropriate stories such as Romeo and Juliet; sophomores will study American history and Literature/Composition II; students will have world literature the same year as world geography.
“We ask students to do research projects in both literature class and social studies,” Keane said. “Sometimes, students do two mediocre projects. Now, we'll require one research project spanning the two classes and graded by both teachers. We will demand a higher level of performance.”
KHS will drop special ed classes, MDT, MDE, BD, LD and the Multi-Categorical Resource Program.
“Those will be replaced with Special Education Services designed to meet the unique individual needs of students with disabilities,” said Keane.
“We want to provide the least restrictive environment for students.”
New classes being added to the high school curriculum include an introduction to health occupations, a sports officiating course and automated accounting to replace ledger accounting.
Marketing classes are being dropped because students don't sign up for those classes. Consumer automotive class will be dropped because KHS does not have the diagnostic tools, Keane said.
“We still offer a small engines class,” he said. “I hope to have student access Fort Madison or SCC automotive classes.
“We piloted a class in bio technology this year.”
Keane is negotiating with Southeastern Community College to offer dual credit college level classes in American national government, oxyacetylene welding and a course studying social problems.
Work Start in all areas has been restructured and is now listed as Supervised Work Experience.
“We continue to work with Central Lee High School,” he said. “We have six Central Lee students taking three different classes with Keokuk students either by traveling to Keokuk or over a video conferencing system.
Central Lee also offers several SCC classes for their students.”
Elementary
principals' goals
Goals for each school building have been written by the respective administrators in response to the superintendent's targets.
Principal Tim Patterson's goals for George Washington Elementary were published in the Feb. 12 Daily Gate City.
At Hawthorne, Principal Sharon Kokemuller said this year's Jolly Phonics pilot program in two kindergarten classes has been successful and the program will expand to all kindergarten classes next year.
The new preschool has a waiting list of students and Hawthorne had close to 100 percent attendance at its parent/teacher conferences.
Student achievement
Hawthorne is trying for 79.8 percent reading and 80 percent math proficiencies for fourth grade students, the standard set by the Department of Education.
The school will strive to meet or exceed the state goal of 96.1 percent student attendance.
“Our dean of students will go to any lengths to get students to school,” said
KHS Principal Dave Keane outlined some of the changes to the school board at the last meeting on Feb. 11.
“Next year, social studies and literature will be blocked as co-requisites,” he said.
Freshmen will take civics and Literature Composition I which covers concepts such as tolerance and age appropriate stories such as Romeo and Juliet; sophomores will study American history and Literature/Composition II; students will have world literature the same year as world geography.
“We ask students to do research projects in both literature class and social studies,” Keane said. “Sometimes, students do two mediocre projects. Now, we'll require one research project spanning the two classes and graded by both teachers. We will demand a higher level of performance.”
KHS will drop special ed classes, MDT, MDE, BD, LD and the Multi-Categorical Resource Program.
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“We want to provide the least restrictive environment for students.”
New classes being added to the high school curriculum include an introduction to health occupations, a sports officiating course and automated accounting to replace ledger accounting.
Marketing classes are being dropped because students don't sign up for those classes. Consumer automotive class will be dropped because KHS does not have the diagnostic tools, Keane said.
“We still offer a small engines class,” he said. “I hope to have student access Fort Madison or SCC automotive classes.
“We piloted a class in bio technology this year.”
Keane is negotiating with Southeastern Community College to offer dual credit college level classes in American national government, oxyacetylene welding and a course studying social problems.
Work Start in all areas has been restructured and is now listed as Supervised Work Experience.
“We continue to work with Central Lee High School,” he said. “We have six Central Lee students taking three different classes with Keokuk students either by traveling to Keokuk or over a video conferencing system.
Central Lee also offers several SCC classes for their students.”
Elementary
principals' goals
Goals for each school building have been written by the respective administrators in response to the superintendent's targets.
Principal Tim Patterson's goals for George Washington Elementary were published in the Feb. 12 Daily Gate City.
At Hawthorne, Principal Sharon Kokemuller said this year's Jolly Phonics pilot program in two kindergarten classes has been successful and the program will expand to all kindergarten classes next year.
The new preschool has a waiting list of students and Hawthorne had close to 100 percent attendance at its parent/teacher conferences.
Student achievement
Hawthorne is trying for 79.8 percent reading and 80 percent math proficiencies for fourth grade students, the standard set by the Department of Education.
The school will strive to meet or exceed the state goal of 96.1 percent student attendance.
“Our dean of students will go to any lengths to get students to school,” said
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