Geroche 1

Taryn Geroche
Prof. Tricia Engelhardt
EDUC 450
Teacher Work Sample
24 September 2015

The School Community

Rocky Mountain High School, home of the Lobos and affectionately known as Rocky
to its students and staff, is one of ten high schools in the Poudre School District in Northern
Colorado. Rocky is home to approximately 2,000 students, ranging from 9th-12th grade. From
the first day students enter the school, it is impressed upon them that as a Lobo, they are an
integral member of Rockys pack, and they must learn to live out the Lobo Way.
Choosing to live the Lobo Way means choosing to respect people of all backgrounds, to
challenge yourself to succeed in meeting your goals, and to serve those around you in the
community. The Lobo Way means something different to each member of the pack, but its
purpose is to help students learn invaluable life lessons and social skills, and in that it is
successful. In encouraging constructive everyday behaviors, the Lobo Way not only works
preventatively against behavioral issues, but it lays the foundation for teachers to be able to
create an open and supportive classroom learning climate. It is no surprise, then, to read Rockys
mission statement on their website: Rocky Mountain High School inspires, guides, and supports
our students, faculty and staff to reach their maximum potential in a caring, challenging and safe
environment. This environment is created in noticeably student-centered classrooms, through
the extensive number of clubs and activities open to students involvement, and in the numerous
resources available for students benefit.

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The activities and clubs at Rocky range from 5A football, to sci-fi club, to STUCO, to
math honor society, to FCA, to drama club, to yo-yo club! Students are highly encouraged to get
involved in their school community by participating in school-sponsored and student initiated
clubs and activities, in order to build community around similar interests. With an incredible 23
interscholastic sports and 60+ organized clubs to choose fromand the chance to sponsor your
own if there is not yet a club for your passionRockys extracurricular activities are a way for
students, staff, and parents to get involved. Parents are particularly active in the Forensics and
Music Booster Clubs, the Parents Athletics Club, and the School Improvement Team (SIT)on
top of getting involved in their students academics by attending parent teacher conferences and
volunteering in the classroom. Extracurriculars create a stimulating, exciting opportunity for
students to pursue their interests and live the Lobo Way.
Rocky is home to students from numerous family, cultural, educational, and economic
backgrounds. Though the majority of Rockys students are white, about 22% of the school
population is of a minority ethnicity or race, particularly Hispanic students (14%). The student
body is nearly half male and half female, with a relatively even number of students per
graduating class. It is worth noting that even though Poudre is considered a relatively well-off
school district (laptops are checked out to every freshman when they enter high school, to be
used throughout their high school career!) there is still 27% of Rockys school population that is
receiving either a free or reduced-price school lunch. With such diversity in students
backgrounds and home lives, it is necessary for the school to provide many tracks of study to
meet its students needs. Consequently, students have the opportunity to enroll in Advanced
Placement classes, Voyager and Read 180 remedial classes, and Integrated Services classes for
students with special needs. Classes at Rocky fall into 11 different departments, including

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electives like performing arts, business, physical education, and technology. Resources for
students outside the classroom include a high-tech media center, a well-equipped school website,
and a highly involved career center, all of which inspire students to learn to function as educated
members of our technology-driven society. By providing for all students needs through
specialized class and school resources, Rocky serves as an example to its students of how to
follow the Lobo Way.
In conclusion, Rocky Mountain High School is made up of a family of students, staff,
volunteers, parents, and faculty, all striving to reach their full potential by living out the Lobo
Way. The schools culture insists that students respect and support one another academically,
socially, and personally, which creates a nearly ideal school community in which student learning
can be the center.