Lighthouse High plans online classes, expanded course schedule

By CARBON SCHOOL DISTRICT

   Lighthouse High School is a good place for many students to come to school because it offers a smaller setting.
    In many ways the school parrots Carbon High, but plans are in the works to possibly expand the school’s mission and become a true alternative for students who struggle in a traditional high school setting.
    The overall idea would be to serve a broader base of students.
    “We want to change our class schedule to match Carbon’s so that students who are taking classes at Carbon as well as here will have an easier transition,” said Karen Bedont, Lighthouse principal.
    Next year the school plans to have an online classroom. Some computers have been secured by a grant the school received and that will provide another alternative for students’ education.
    “We are looking at how other schools like ours operate by visiting various schools around the state. We have found that many of these schools have more than one option (alternative) for students,” Bedont said. “I think that is a good idea because then we can help the students who really need the help.”
    This past few months the school has held a number of activities for students.
    The school took honor students to the Escape from Alcatraz experience in Salt Lake City recently.
    In that scenario people are locked in a room and must use clues to escape it.
    “It was about collaboration and problem solving,” said Bedont. “One group of students were able to get out in time, the other did not. There is an hour time limit and during that time there are people that come in and out who are distractions to those trying to emerge from the room. The students loved it because they were working together.”
    Twenty students went to that activity with three teachers.
    Another honors activity took place on April 11. The students participated in a movie and a dinner activity. Students watched “Ready Player One” and then went to lunch at JB’s.
    The school’s juniors took their ACT in February with the rest of the district and in March the school had a number of students participate in college day at Carbon High.
    The biology class took a trip to the Living Planet Aquarium recently, and in May the Botany and Plant & Soil science classes are scheduled for a trip to classify native Utah plants. Groups from the school have also toured the state capitol as part of their classwork and study about government.
    The school held its prom on April 6. The theme was The Great Gatsby. There were a lot of students who attended, with some people going dressed in period clothes.
    This year two of the students at the school are on the Carbon High track team and one on the high school tennis team as well. Bedont said the collaboration between the two schools with athletic programs is fabulous.
    SAGE testing on math and biology will begin the first week of May along with language arts.
    There is a waiting list for students who want to attend Lighthouse next year. Parents who are interested should contact the school. Carbon High students who are credit deficient will be referred to Lighthouse High.
    Finally, Lighthouse has had two state reviews, one on special education and the other on counseling. The school did well on both those, Bedont said.