CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS TO WATCH

Career pathway classes dominate the exploratory program at Castaic including: Culinary Arts, beginning and advanced Video Production, Drone technology and Sports Medicine.

Students at Castaic regularly work with technology for both individual and group assignments often collaborating online using Google Apps. Eighth grade students create a digital portfolio that demonstrates their 21st Century learning skills, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Using the iReady diagnostic tool and teacher assessment students receive intervention support through Advisory, and “Academic Advisory Support Time”, in addition to each teacher committing to provide 15 to 20 minutes of academic support during blocked periods.

Instructional units are designed around “essential questions” based on relevant topics in order to engage students in meaningful inquiry and collaboration on a wide variety of topics.

Physical Education classes have incorporated Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success Character Education” program into the department’s philosophy making character development part of the student’s grade.

English Learner students are clustered by CELDT level in their history, science and math classes to facilitate the designated EL instruction blended into the regular education English classes.

For six years Castaic has supported a “Safe School Ambassadors” program on campus. Students are given training in how to help prevent bullying and violence on campus. Skills taught include the ability to resolve conflicts, diffuse incidents, and support isolated and excluded students.

Castaic supports an award winning student television network class which successfully completes nationally and offers students a weekly news broadcast on campus.

Students benefit from “Career Seminars” held throughout the year to highlight career pathways. Students select which seminars they participate in and include the career path that they are considering in their eighth grade digital portfolio presentation.