LAUREL — West Jones High School is not resting on its laurels of being one of the first schools in the Jones County School District to receive a “High Performance” rating.

Administrators and faculty continue to seek ways of enhancing or improving the quality of education received by students. This year, the school decided to initiate a ninth grade academy to help freshmen make an easier transition to high school.

“What we are doing is moving our ninth graders into one building,” explained David Valentine, the school’s ninth grade principal. “We wanted to do something to make them feel special and that would give them a more personal learning environment.”

Teachers, administrators and counselors came up with the academy concept after “bouncing off ideas to see what would be feasible.”  Valentine noticed that academies seem to be a trend that had proven effective in other places, so he decided to introduce it to West Jones.

“A number of teachers volunteered to do it,” he said. “It’s working out well for us so far.”

At West Jones, ninth graders are housed in what is dubbed “Building 3.” All of the student’s core classes convene in this building, making it easy for students to move from class-to-class, eliminating tardiness.

“That was one of the major problems we were having with students,” explained Valentine. “Since students don’t have go as far to class, we have cut down on tardies. It disturbs the class when students come in late.”

Coach Mario Genna, who teaches transitional algebra, said teachers are now able to start their classes on time. “They are here in one building and the classes are close together,” said Genna. “Another benefit is that they get out of being around the other high school students who are older than they are.

“When ninth graders come out of middle school, its kind of like they fall on the low end of the totem pole. In middle school, they were leaders, top dogs.  

“It’s not the same in high school,” said Genna. “It’s the juniors and seniors who are in leadership now.”

Fourteen-year-old Taylor Clark, who has attended West Jones from kindergarten through middle school, said she is excited about the change the school has made in its high school program.

“I think it’s great that we are here together,” said Clark. “I am not intimidated by the high school students who are older and bigger.

“It’s like we know everybody here and we basically get around and talk a lot and have fun. I like it better.”

Clark added that being a freshman in high school is similar to being a seventh grader in middle school. “You kind of feel out of place,” she said. “It’s different here. I like it and it’s really good to be here.”

English teacher Deana Holifield believes the academy gives ninth graders a great opportunity to grow up and become more independent.

“They are at a point in their lives where they have to make choices and decisions,” she said. “Here they are asked to be grown-ups and basically live in their own little world.”

Counselor Felicia James said making ninth graders feel special and giving them a pleasant and comfortable learning environment is one of the major objectives of the academy.

In the staff’s efforts to make “Building 3” more conducive to learning, two large ferns sit at the entrance of the building to give students a more “homey feeling.” James noted that Valentine also placed a lot of motivational signs throughout the hallway.

Signs include such sayings as: “Give Someone a Hand and You Both Climb Together,” “One Thing I Can Give and Still Keep - My Word,” and “Take the Ordinary, Create the Extraordinary.”

“I purchased the signs and place them here to give students something positive to think about,” said Valentine. “They are special people, at a special place.”

Supervising Principal Lynn Lyon agreed, adding that West Jones’ students, teachers, volunteers and community supporters all work together to make the school special.

“It’s certainly an honor to be the school district’s first high performing school, but we realize we couldn’t have achieved it without our faculty, students and parents,” said Lyon. “We have a lot of people who are supportive and interested in the school.

“It’s important for us to stress the school’s heritage and the things that have helped to make it the great school that it is today,” added Lyon.

Lyon admits that athletics is a great part of the school’s heritage, but academics supersedes athletics. “We know that students won’t be able to succeed in life if they don’t receive a good education.”

James added that while teachers stress academic success in all grade levels, academics are stressed even more once the student reaches ninth grade. “Ninth grade is their foundation,” said James. “Although they get two credits in eighth grade, credits begin in ninth grade. It’s in ninth grade that they begin preparing for their future.”

According to James, ninth graders get a great start on their future because they are able to flourish in the unique environment of the academy. These small learning communities improve freshman transitions with a supportive environment, dedicated faculty, counselor and administrators.

“We are not saying anything was wrong with what we were doing before,” said James. “We are not saying anything was broken.

“It’s just that we are never satisfied with where we are. We believe we can do better and are always looking for ways to improve, ways to take the school to the top.”

Valentine added: “We are always going to be busy doing what is best for our kids. That’s what it’s all about.”