Highpoint School is sparking curiosity by creating new ways for students to get excited about academics and life beyond the classroom. This week, campus leaders hosted two events to encourage students to take the world by storm, whether inventing original solutions to real-world problems or leading the charge at their dream company.
The DAEP campus offers troubled youth in grades 6-12 a safe and structured learning environment with a low student-to-teacher ratio. Students come to Highpoint on a contract basis through their home school district with the goal of returning to and graduating from their home district high school.
On March 26, students showcased their inventions and problem-solving skills through hands-on projects at the school’s inaugural Science Extravaganza. Young researchers displayed their projects with decorated tri-folds and supplemental visuals, including seed germination, marble ball runs and solar ovens. Administrators invited members of the community to visit and judge each station while asking students to share what they learned and answer thought-provoking questions.
“At first, I wanted to create something that pushed a toy car, but I couldn’t generate enough force with my dominoes,” said Gustavo Serrano, a seventh grader who created a ball drop system. “I had to think about it for a while and switched my purpose to getting a marble in a cup. It was fun to figure out how to fix my project, and getting a chance to design it was a stress reliever.”
Students rounded out the week with the campus’ annual Teen Summit featuring presentations and speakers from local universities, organizations and businesses. The all-day event demonstrates a wide range of career opportunities for students seeking higher education or those interested in developing a trade.
More than 100 students listened to a keynote address from Dondre Williams, a local resident who was incarcerated for seven years before starting a family and maintaining employment at a warehouse. His story of overcoming life’s challenges resonated with many Highpoint students and showed that it’s never too late to choose the straight and narrow.
“Our students need to know that Highpoint is not their final destination,” counselor Andrea Wolf said. “They can learn from their experiences, grow from it and move forward with their lives. I hope these kids take everything our speakers said and realize they have great potential.”
The Summit welcomed scholars to rotate through seven stations, where they met with representatives who answered questions about the military, medical field, trade schools and higher education.
By exposing students to new ideas and career pathways, Highpoint School empowers them with the knowledge and confidence to explore their passions, expand their horizons and take bold steps toward a successful future.