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Academy of the Canyons Provides a Jump-Start on College
April, 2006 - Issue #18
There are only juniors and seniors on this campus. Class sizes are smaller and students get personal attention from their teachers and counselors. They also have full use of a college library, computer lab, career center and gymnasium. Half of the classes are taken for high school credit. The other half... college credit, tuition free. These are the students from Academy of the Canyons and upon graduation, many will be able to enter the California University system as a sophomore or junior.

One of seven high schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District, Academy of the Canyons is gearing up to recruit students for the 2006/07 school year.

Considered a middle college high school, Academy of the Canyons opened in 2000 with a student body of 137. Two hundred students now take classes in portable classrooms located in a corner section of the College of the Canyons campus. While small in stature, AOC has a diverse population and several clubs and extracurricular activities including an active Associated Student Body, yearbook, National Honor Society, Amnesty International, Bible Club and Knitting and Crocheting Club.

Principal Jill Shenberger said it's the diversity and learning environment that draws students to her campus. "AOC is a good fit for students who are goal orientated and focused," she said. "College of the Canyons is a wonderful place for AOC. It has a lot to offer and our students can get anything they need from the college."

Junior Daniel Williams is a former Canyon High School student. He said he enjoys his classes at AOC because it offers him a chance to progress past other students in traditional high school and gives him a leg up on college. As he prepares for a career in the film industry, Williams said it's the individual attention he receives from his teachers that is helping him along.

The AOC program is not limited to the high-achieving student. Potential AOC applicants are only required to carry a 2.0 GPA, but must be on-track for high school graduation. Both the student and the parents are required to participate in an interview session and students will need to complete the College of the Canyons admission and placement assessment. College tuition is waived and AOC students are given priority registration at College of the Canyons.

Jenny Dermody, a Hart District teacher, said parents need to consider if AOC is the right fit for their child. A student who is engaged in the regular high school lifestyle, such as band or sports, would not be able to do those activities at AOC. Her son Kevin, a former Valencia High student, was struggling with his grades and Dermody thought the smaller learning environment at AOC would be good for him. She was right.

"Kevin is a great kid, capable of getting straight As," Dermody said. "Recently he stayed up late on a Saturday night to complete an English paper. It was one of those Sylvan moments you see on television. Kevin got three As on his last progress report."

An information night will be held at the traditional high school campuses throughout the month of March. Applications for admission to AOC are available online at www.academyofthecanyons.com and are due by April 7. During these recruitment nights, Shenberger is hoping to dispel the rumors that AOC students will not be able to participate in regular high school activities such as proms (they do). She will also list the many electives available to her students held both on the AOC and COC campuses. With so many students receiving individual support, Shenberger will also have an opportunity to brag about her students' achievements on SATs and state testing.

The motto at Academy of the Canyons is "Your Future Today." The administration and staff work hard to assure a successful high school and college experience for the students.

"We always find a way to say yes here," Shenberger said with a smile.
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