ARISE High School took a team of 15 (1 principal, 1 Design Team Member, 5 teachers, 1 parent, 2 Community Members, and 5 students) to Miami Beach for the CES (Coalition of Essential Schools) Summer Institute. The trip was an opportunity for the team to receive intruction on effective methods to use in and out of the classroom. Each team member visited a number of workshops (inlcuding students!) with the goal of getting ideas that would support the Mission and Vision of ARISE High School. The ARISE team came away from the conference with a number of wonderful and innovative ideas from other schools as well as each other, a clear focus for our Team Time before school starts, wonderful student leaders, and the hope and energy needed to make the upcoming year a successful one. Below is the reflection of one of our student leaders that attended the conference.
"My trip to Miami was great. While there we took classes on 'How To Make Advisory Better' and classes on 'Leadership'. In the Leadership class we learned how you can have, leadership in your school, what makes a leader a leader and how the same people are leaders. In the classes the students broke off into groups and we had lots of discussion on leadership. After, group discussion we went outside and chose the leaders and rules for school counsel. While I was there I got to meet a lot of new people and got to know my teachers a little better. The scenery was amazing. Palms trees were blowing in the hot wind and the water was nice and clean. This experience has changed me for the better in knowing that I too have a voice in things that happen at school instead of being quiet. I will enjoy the things to come as one of the first, new leaders of ARISE. Thank you for this life changing experience."
- Demetri Green, Incoming 9th Grader.
"My name is Dawanna Butler and I'm an upcoming freshman at Arise High School who also was one of the fortunate few to accompany my principal and teachers to Miami Florida.
We spent the week at workshops that helped us with planning, forming and structuring our new school. My time in Miami was well spent. The biggest highlight of the trip was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean with my teacher & principal. I participated in activities and experienced things i never dreamed of. I can only imagine what else our wonderful school to be, has to offer. Another great thing about this trip were the people there to help us on our journey to create an incredible school that everyone would like. People from small schools across the country gave us feedback and ideas on how to make the best school possible that works for everyone in our community.
I plan to bring back all the wonderful ideas i got from other schools to Arise with hopes that everything will turn out well & remembering what someone said at the opening of the conference, 'The best things start small and grow big and great.'"
- Dawana Butler, Incoming 9th Grader
