Link to SMART Club Referral Form for staff
| Graduation is quickly approaching for 280 seniors. The class of 1995 was the first graduating class at the new high school campus. Its class included five Latino graduates. According to Principal Rob Anderson the districts goal is to obtain a 100% graduation rate for all students. "Its tough because the rate is based on the number of kids we enroll in the fall," explains High School Principal Rob Anderson. "With Willmar having a large migrant population, students commonly enter and leave throughout the school year. Even with this, we are proud to say our graduation rate continues to rise, especially among Latino and Somali students." The district’s graduation rate among Latinos has reached 76% which is a "far cry" from 15% in 1995.
Anderson attributes the rise to the S.M.A.R.T. club, which is an after school program through the West Central Integration Collaborative. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Study More Achieve Results Tomorrow. At the high school, it is coordinated by Jeanette Oehlers, a Willmar graduate. "I was an at-risk kid that did not make school a priority," says Jeanette Oehlers, School Success coordinator ad tutor. "I quickly fell behind. When I realized I was not going to graduate with my classmates, I worked extra hard to make up my studies. I ended up graduating earlier than everyone thought possible. She recalls learning how to advocate for herself and her education as the most difficult. "I can relate to my students and their families." She says her first goal for students is for them to realize how they can take control of their school work and understand they too can graduate. Working with five high school seniors as paid tutors and School Success Coordinator Mohamed Hassan, Oehlers sees that students receive the support they need. "It doesn’t matter which class, I will find them help." The S.M.A.R.T. Club is open to all students. It meets after school four days a week in room 117 at the high school. Students enrolling must complete an application and agree to be a dedicated participant. For students needing help with reading, Mariana Thurston and Mary Nichols, English Language Learner (ELL) paras are available. To learn more about the S.M.A.R.T. Club, contact the high school office at 231-8300. A S.M.A.R.T. Club is also offered at the Middle School. Middle School parents should call 214-6000. |