Jensen Beach High School

Jensen Beach High School (JBHS), located in Jensen Beach, Florida, is a comprehensive public high school serving 1503 students (2006–2007 School Year). The school's mascot is the Falcon, and the school colors are teal, black, and silver.

Administration

*Principal: Mrs. Ginger Featherstone
*Assistant Principal for Curriculum: Mr. Al Fabrizio
*Assistant Principal for Discipline: Ms. Theresa Iuliucci
*Assistant Principal for Discipline: Mr. Michael Lindgren
*Athletic Director: Mr. R.J. Costello
*Dean of Students: Ms. Tiffany McDaniel [http://jbhs.sbmc.org/administration.html]

About Jensen Beach High School

Jensen Beach High School, located in Jensen Beach (Fla.) is a comprehensive high school serving over 1500 students. We have been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and we are an "A" school. Additionally, the Florida Department of Education named JBHS as one of the top-50 high schools in the state. We have also been named a Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Model School (2007). The school is "open choice"; however, students attending Jensen Beach High School live primarily in Jensen Beach, Palm City, and the eastern Stuart area of Martin County. Although academics are our Number 1 priority, we are proud to be the Girls' Volleyball State Champions (2007); Girls' Basketball State Champions (2007); Boys' Soccer State Champions (2006); and the Girls' 4 x 800 Relay State Champions (2006). We are also proud to announce, JBHS is home of Mrs. Conney Dahn, Florida's Teacher of the Year (2006).

Jensen Beach High School opened its doors in August, 2004, with an enrollment of 1100 students, in its freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes. A senior class was added in August, 2005. The 270,000 square feet building complex is spread over 100 acres, which includes 17 acres of mitigated wetlands. In addition to classrooms—most of which have five student-computers stations each—there are three computer labs; an auditorium; a gymnasium; media center; and a television production studio, as well as several sports fields that afford opportunities for community activities. Within the district student-classroom record keeping is uploaded onto Pinnacle®, an electronic grade book system. This allows parents to access their child’s attendance and grades via the Internet; thereby increasing the communication possibilities between home and school.

The media center houses a library collection that includes over 17,000 volumes of fiction, non-fiction, reference materials, and 35 periodical subscriptions. The media center's computer lab consists of 40 networked computers (32 sit-down workstations and 8 stand-up kiosk workstations) for individual student or class use. The center serves as the information hub of the school by providing both print and non-print materials to support the curriculum and student interests. The staff strives to provide access to materials in all formats, promote the use of technology to enhance learning, provide assistance with research and project development, and promote enjoyment of reading.

Jensen Beach High School employs a 4x4 block schedule with minor modifications to include “skinnies”—year-long mathematics, English/Reading, and Advanced Placement classes—to provide diversity in academic approaches as suggested by the faculty and analysis of test data.

In support of academics, Jensen Beach High School initiated a collaborative planning process within each department. The concept is a “Bottom up approach” in which common assessments are development across the curriculum, and reading and writing is developed across electives. Eventually, we envision expanding collaborative planning between departments. The process is accomplished on early release days as well as hiring substitutes for an entire department on a scheduled day so those teachers can work together.

Jensen Beach High School offers students a wide variety of academic options. The Advanced Placement program contributes substantially to academic excellence. The Pre-Advanced Placement program introduces students to the AP program while simultaneously preparing them for rigorous postsecondary academics. In 2004, 166 students participated in AP exams. Additionally, dual enrollment and honors level courses are offered. Currently 10 students are enrolled in at least one dual-enrollment course. Additionally, in the inaugural year, 24 students were inducted into the National Honor Society.

Career and technical education (CTE) course work is designed to reach all students’ academic abilities and aptitudes. Jensen Beach High School offers seven career and technical education programs: Academy of Entrepreneurship, Architectural Drafting, Environmental Science, Nursing Assisting, Pre-Engineering, Television Production, and Web Design. CTE students are afforded the opportunity to participate in various organizations, such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Skills USA. In addition to the Nursing Assisting partnership agreement with Palm Gardens Nursing Home, there are Business Involvement Boards (BIBs) for Digital Design and Pre-Engineering programs. Additionally, a partnership agreement with a local business affords students to earn Microsoft certification.

The Exceptional Student Education (ESE) team challenges each student to meet his/her highest expectation. It strives to meet the individual needs, from life-based activities to college-bound academics. Our work program is designed to give students career experience and to help them make the transition after high school with the support of local agencies. Behavior units, which provide a smaller environment for those who have a difficult time being in mainstream classes, are available. Support facilitators give ESE students assistance in the mainstream. Additionally, we have initiated the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program, which fosters making the right choices.

Jensen Beach High School has an outstanding Fine and Performing Arts program. Jubilate, the school's vocal ensemble, earned all superior ratings at District Festival and all excellent ratings at State Festival. They also traveled to Atlanta to compete in the Heritage Festival National Competition where they received a gold rating and first place in their division. The Concert Choir also received all superiors at District and all excellent ratings at State Festival. The theatre students have earned excellent ratings at the District X Thespian One Act Festival and have received excellent ratings in the categories of monologue, duet acting, and solo musical at the District X Thespian Individual Events Competition and several have qualified for the State Thespian Festival. The Jazz Ensemble has earned superior ratings since the school's inaugural year. In addition, Superior ratings have been earned by the marching band, symphonic band, chamber ensembles and select soloists. In addition to performing arts, we have also added advanced placement music theory to our ever-growing curriculum.

Numerous extracurricular activities are available to students. The Robotics Team—which is composed of teachers and students from the three district high schools—has won regional championships thereby qualifying for Nationals for three of the past five years, placing 2nd and 5th at the National Competition. The Student Government Association won the gold medallion award the last two years. The SGA at JBHS also currently holds the office of President School of District V, overseeing all of the schools in the six surrounding counties. We are involved in many community service projects and have won first place in the White Dove Toys for Tots challenge the past two years. We are also currently participating in a mentoring program with Jensen Beach Elementary called Teen Trendsetters. French Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, SADD/SWAT are some of the clubs that are responsible for community service hours at our school site and in our community. We are also fortunate to have a large number of volunteer hours recorded by students and parents, especially in the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), which has sponsored several workshops. As a result Jensen Beach High School earned the Five Star School Award and Green School designation this past year.

The common vision shared by the Jensen Beach family is academic excellence, discipline, and preparing young adults for their roles as productive members of society and to be life-long learners. [http://jbhs.sbmc.org/administration.html]

Major accomplishments

*Straight Superior in Jubilate 2008, Jubilate Women, and Men's Choir (2008)
*Girls' Volleyball State Champion (2007)
*Girls' State Basketball Champions (2007)
*Positive Behavior Support (PBS) "State Model School" (2007)
*Home of Conney Dahn, Florida Teacher of the Year (2006)
*Department of Education ranks JBHS one of the top-50 high schools in the state (2006)
*Boys' State Soccer Champions (2006)
*Girls' State 4 x 800 Relay Champions (2006)
*Wrestling State Champion (2006) [http://jbhs.sbmc.org/index.htm]

References

Related External Links

* [http://jbhs.sbmc.org/ Official School Website]
* [http://jbhsband.info/ Official Band Website]
* [http://jbhs.sbmc.org/actpage/sga/sga_home.htm/ Official SGA District V Website]
* [http://spamrobotics.com/ S.P.A.M. Robotics]
* [http://www.firstwiki.org/180 FIRST Robotics Competition Team 180]