Wednesday, September 22, 2010
English 11 September 22 discussion on Pender's future
After our introductory discussion on some of the challenges that face our school in the future, please add a comment to this post in response. You may wish to view some of the comments that the grad class made on the English 12 post of September 17. Thanks.
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I like that our school is small so everybody know everyone but that means that there aren't very many coarses to choose from. And the few coarses sometimes get full like the chem class since it only happens every other year. It seems like thats the only thing chat or elphy has that pender doesnt.
ReplyDeletePender has a lot of little things, that people don't think much of. such as when you walk down the hall way's you know all the faces. No one puts locks on their lockers because at Pender one can trust another here. what Pender does need is a better field, and more courses, but i guess there isn't anough kids for that. For such a small school we are lucky to have a pool and weight room though...
ReplyDeletei like how the school is small, it makes it easyer to learn compared to a big school, i went to kits before here n it was harder to get attention for help with the teacher when there r many other students wanting help, i think that we should have benches n a cover in the smoking pit, the teachers r always mad ow we smoke on property but there is no where to sit n wen it rains we will be soaked, i believe that the school also needs new cameras fo media arts, more courses n new lockers with dorrs that cually shut :)
ReplyDeleteya first comment. win :P
ReplyDeleteI think our school is alright but it could be made better, there are a few improvements iv'e been thinking about such as, a subway resturant in the school, a re done field, better food choices and hot lunch programs, also for the smokers could use benches and a rain cover, for the media arts class i hate to say it but the cameras succcckkk so we need new ones. KK dats it.
ReplyDeletegood need
ReplyDelete-football team
-coffee lounge -pool
-weight room
-cameras
-laptops
Interesting views of what may happen to Pender in the future. I'd definately be sorry to see/hear of this school closing down. I'd heard of my mom saying something about having to do a "cross transfer" to bring Caleb (my little bother) here, don't know what it is but w/e. Having had only two people from Halfmoon come to Pender this year I think was partly because of the fact they were younger siblings. I remember my grade seven year at Halfmoon when there was a chatelech presentation with one of the grads from the year previous, maybe Pender should get into doing some presentations more, because people don't seem to know a lot about Pender, and that could be slightly turning parents heads the other way. But yeah, good discussion. Specialty courses.
ReplyDeleteI think that we should have a foot ball team, bigger lockers and a skate park
ReplyDeletePender Harbour Secondary has some good points. The energy is fairly positive, the kids and teachers are nice. Staff care about the safety of students and everyone knows each other in the school, which is great. Though, there still could be some changes such as, more courses offered. I think it's important that every student that needs to take a certain course, gets into the class too.
ReplyDeleteI think that this school has changed dramatically since i first came here in grade 7. When i first arrived here, everyone was here with welcoming arms, and wanting to know who i was. It definately wasn't the reaction i was expecting. And everyone i the older grades weren't mean, (well, as mean as i would think) and we were able to joke around without someone saying "why are we talking to a grade 7?" And the whole security thing. There was next to no locks on the lockers when i first came here, because everyone trusted one another. Maybe because the school was so small? Not to sure what went wrong there... But now looking back. I'm trying to figure that out. What happened in the last 4 years?... Ask yourself that.
ReplyDeleteAfter talking about our school and how it's not looking so good. I realized something needs to be done. It's a great school but it's slowly falling apart. We need to make some changes. Some of the comments from the grad class make a good point. Going down to different elementary schools would be a good idea. It would show the younger kids that we care about our school and want them to be apart to be a part of it too.
ReplyDeleteI agree....
ReplyDeletei agree with jake and we need a skateboard park then people would stop longboarding in the back parking lot....mabey and one more thing about are school is we need more rooms for more classes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Parker. Our school is small, and that means that everyone knows each other and trusts each other. I understand there isn't enough money to add more courses and to fix the field. There are always pros and cons to everything. Just do what you can with what the school has.
ReplyDeleteOur school doesnt have the money it used to for some of the stuff some people need to do what they want to do . . . . it doesnt really affect me because i just want to have enough credits to graduate i could get by with communications instead of english and math essentials rather than principals and three shop classes and two phys ed. classes so the fact that we dont have the money to offer good courses doesnt really affect me
ReplyDeleteschools aren't ever too small people still don't know other people here
ReplyDeleteI personally think that Pender is a great school. I've been to chat and the relationship between teacher and student is not the same. I like having the teachers know exactly who there talking to and what about. Yes our school doesn't have very many choices for courses but everyone makes due with what were offered. One thing that bothers me about the school is that the bathrooms now have air driers for our hands and it takes forever because it stops every two minutes. Nobody wants to stand there and wait for it. Besides that everything for me seems to be working great im happy to be at pender another year and hope to graduate here.
ReplyDeleteNow knowing that our school is falling apart kills me:( People here are so welcoming and kind to one another! Yes this school is pretty ugly and the field is crap, But look at how everyone knows each other and doesn't judge you. It makes me sad cause i know next year its going to be worse and we aren't going to have many courses for next year. We should go to the younger schools and tell them that here at Pender people aren't going to judge you and bully you and that the older kids are willing to help them in anyway:D I would hate to see this school close. People need to see that our school isn't a redneck place and see that we're more then that! we need to money! I need to find away to fix this and have our school back to how it used to be:)
ReplyDeleteI think that we have an amazing school even though it looks unbelievably ghetto. Its great feeling knowing that i can leave anything in my locker and it will still be there after class.I am proud to tell people i'm from Pender. I love this school and i really hope we can find a solution!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard thinking about something so sad. I love Pender. I've idolized going here since I was in the first grade. I like the comments about promoting our school. With our outgoing personalities we could get some interest going for sure. But I think Rowan is right too. This is a big project that will take a long time to happen. Other than transfer students, we only get a certain amount of kids a year. And only one chance a year to gather more students per year. All I know is that I want this to change!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the comments of English 11-1 it seems like there are a lot of unrealistic changes that kids want to be made such as; a cover and bench for smoke pit, new cameras, etc. Its hard to spend money on things that aren't NEEDS because we don't have a whole lot of money to spend. I love the idea that the grad class and a few others touched on, sending grads to other schools to "enlighten" other students about Pender. There are less and less kids coming from Halfmoon Bay and Sechelt Elementary, perhaps that is because of the way HMB kids (and others) have be treated in the past and perhaps it is from lack of advertisement... i don't know but there are quite a few things that could be done about it and someone should promote the idea of grads going to the elementaries to the grad class? More to be said.
ReplyDeleteEveryone always has his or her own opinion of how this school is. Many people perceive Pender as being a terrible school with absolutely nothing to do. I played on the coast soccer rep team for a few years, and the kids on the team that I was friends with had the idea that pender is a complete joke. The truth is that Pender is a very community based school where one can always find help or support. I'm not too concerned as to where the school is headed financially because I'm leaving in 2 years and don't plan on returning too soon after.
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of years have been rough for PHSS, with bad attitudes of students and lack of support from principals and teachers. I feel like now we have moved past that and have more positive thoughts towards our school. Although we don't have a lot to offer to new students course-wise, we have a lot to offer emotionally. If we were to do presentations at elementary schools, I think a main thing to advertise would be the closeness of all the students, and teachers and students, as a lot of kids are frightened of highschool. I understand Emma's comment of "what went wrong?' but also I like to think that we have shed those years and are starting fresh now.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually not to sure what has happened to Pender. yes the budget has been reduced, yes, declining enrollment. but also the feel of the school has changed in the years weve been here.(my apostrophe key is malfunctioning...รจรจรจรจ-french style...)Perhaps certain kids graduating have changed the flavour of the school atmosphere...
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with madi about the HMB and other students that have left because of the way theyve been treated, which may have spread and influenced other kids choices. that and the lack of advertising.
I definetly think that getting the word out would be a great idea to helping the enrollment increase. I really hope we can help the school, so we can leave it for other kids to have the same expieriences weve had.
cuz it has been priiity good, yahh. ;D
Reading through the comments it shows that as much as money is a problem everybody seems to be willing to do something about it. Having come from Pender my entire life I love how close everyone is, especially to teachers. Most students should feel comfortable talking to kids from other grades or any teachers. I hope that the school can find a way to get past this because there are tons of student ready and willing. I don't think you should be thinking I only have X amount of time and I'm out of here. We have TWO years left to not just bring our school back to life but even make it better. Our class may have a weary past but we can always be the change we want to see. I know that if I was still in elementary I would appreciate the people of the school I was going into looking out for my future.
ReplyDeleteI remember the assembly on the first day of school when Mrs. Brindley spoke. She said something along the lines of .. Be the school you wanna be. Yes, maybe things haven't been the way they used to be but it takes nothing to bring back the super-friendly, trustworthy school we've all seen before. From the responses i've read there happens to be a lot of enthuasiasm amongst us. The minority of us can do ANYTHING to change the majority.
ReplyDeleteIt's rather unfortunate to know the funding is going downhill.. but I would never like to see Pender shutdown! We have the most amazing school there is. You couldn't come across such bonds between fellow students and teachers. The atmosphere is something unbelievable and unique. I would love to be involved in somewhow trying to promote ourselves, I may be out of here in a few years but I want the best for future students. However, for now we just need to focus on our biggest priorities of what is best for us and our school.
Thank you for your comments. It warms my heart to know you care as much as I care. It really is our school - our school family. Just by being friendly, you make a difference. How I wish that when I entered high school some "big" kid from grade 11 or 12 came up to me and said hello and asked how I was doing. I value Kari's observation that coming to high school is scary. Newcomers ask: will I be bullied; will I have friends; will I fit in; will it be difficult; will, will, will...? We all forget what it was like coming here in grade 7 or 8, but to an 11 or 12 year old, grade 11 and 12 kids seem like grown ups. Be the Kenny Daniels I saw in my first week at Pender, nine years ago, and treat a junior student with respect and kindness. When athletic Kenny, who was in grade 12, let some grade 7s step in front of him in the hot lunch line, I knew I was in a different place - a place where might is not the rule of law. I'm glad so many of you have already accepted leadership roles this year and moved our school back in line with what it really is. Yes, lead by your example and, as Gandhi said, "Be the change..."
ReplyDelete