Just like its Charger mascot, Chantilly High is charging into the future. Refusing to remain static, it's taking a fresh look at education and seeing how it can improve on what students retain.
"Our overall theme for this school year is 'No Charger left behind,'" said Principal Tammy Turner. "We're focusing on actual student learning. A lot of time, a kid gets a B or a C in class and did OK. This tells you what they did, but it doesn't tell you what they learned. So we're really looking at proficiency and mastery of concepts. We'll focus on authentic assessment — a true measure of learning."
Teachers will receive special training in this area and will concentrate on the obstacles that get in the way of student learning. These hurdles include a wide variety of causes, including poor attendance, lack of a good background in the subject, emotional problems, personal issues, substance abuse, etc.
"BUT WE CAN'T let teachers use these as excuses for kids not being successful," said Turner. "We have to make sure we're devising plans to address these issues." She said every department is doing just that. And, she added, the school also intends to work "in partnership with parents to keep them informed and make sure we provide help if their student needs it."
Chantilly will examine many different forms of assessment to insure that it's measuring true learning. "Our goal is for a teacher to be able to sit down with a parent and say, 'Here are the specific concepts your child is having problems with, and here's what we can do about it,'" explained Turner. "Instead of focusing on just the numbers in the gradebook, we'll focus on the learning."
Enrollment was 2,500 students in June and was projected at 2,580 for this September. It turned out to be closer to 2,628, but Chantilly planned for that, too. "Luckily, we put in a new, quad trailer — four more classrooms," said Turner. "We thought we'd need it next year, but we ended up needing it this year." It's being used for language, social studies, English and the learning disabled.
The school now has 16 trailers (including two quads), and Turner says quads are the most practical: "We get the greatest number of classrooms and lose the least number of parking spaces." Although last year's graduating class was relatively small — about 576 students, because of Westfield's 2000 opening — the student population is again increasing.
"WE HAVE ALMOST 600 seniors and 710 incoming freshmen," said Turner. "But we're in good shape. With the additional quad trailer, there's a room for everybody."
Chantilly's band has also grown, by at least 30 members, and is now 150 students strong. Said Turner: "It's an excellent program with excellent instruction — band director Keith Taylor and assistant Alan Johnson — and we're very competitive."
The school boasts 35 new staff members, this year — new teachers plus four new counselors. There were several retirements and a few transfers, but most of the additions were growth positions. New faces include Rusty Hodges, assistant director of student activities. (He replaced Melody Modell, who was promoted to director of student activities at Jefferson High. Hodges hails from Falls Church High).
Also joining the staff, from out of state, was Brett Zinger. He teaches journalism and is the advisor for the school newspaper, The Purple Tide. (He replaced Melissa Karlberg who went to Edison High).
Building improvements include new bleachers (complete with handrails in the aisles) in the gym. And the whole, gym floor was repaired and refinished because of water damage from last winter's blizzard. Chantilly also has new, replacement light poles on its baseball field, plus a brand new scoreboard for field hockey.
Beginning her fifth year as principal and her 22nd year total at Chantilly, Turner is just as enthusiastic as ever. "We're looking forward to a great year," she said. "There'll be a lot more Chargers, but that's cool — bring 'em on."