By Valerie Sliker, Courtesy Wagener Monthly
Principal Ute Aadland has welcomed another year at Wagener-Salley High School with renewed vigor due, in large part, to the many changes that have taken place recently. Riding high on an excellent post-graduation outcome in May -- WSHS had its highest rate of college acceptance, over two million dollars in scholarships and two Palmetto Fellow recipients – Aadland is also excited about all the changes at the school academically, athletically and artistically.
WSHS continues its exclusive Dual Enrollment (DE) relationship with Aiken Tech, which provides college classes to the high school students at a hugely discounted price. While we’ve had DE for a few years, Aadland has added more courses this year, bringing the total to six: English I and II, Western Civilization I and II, Psychology, Sociology, College Algebra and Trigonometry.
DE is different than Advanced Placement courses (AP). AP constitutes a regular high school class with a very set curriculum prescribed by the college board. At semester’s end, students must pass a test in order to receive college credit for that class. With AP classes, the instructor is an AP certified WSHS instructor. Students receive no class credit if they fail that test.
In DE, students take the class and either pass the course or not, passing doesn’t hinge on one exam. The classes are online with a lot of dialogue going back and forth and everything is proctored. WSHS students can take nearly a full freshman year of Aiken Tech courses that, upon successful completion, will result in a viable transcript, transferable anywhere within the state. These same courses taken as a traditional Aiken Tech freshman would cost a whole lot more.
Also new academically, WSHS Academy of Leadership and Military Science, the school’s new name under the district’s thematic schools program, is incorporating a new program called Jefferson Leadership. It is a leadership class through the business department that will teach our budding entrepreneurs what it takes to establish and maintain a small business.
The school is also getting students involved in work-based learning by providing opportunities for internships through partnerships with Aiken Regional Medical Center, Chandler Law Firm and, of course, local businesses like Tyler Brothers, Busbee Law Firm, Browns Bottom Farms, Wagener Milling, Christ Central Institute, Russell’s Pizza and more. WSHS students can participate in job shadowing and the school has one of the best Career Fairs in the district. As featured many times in this paper, WSHS has one of the best CATES programs in the state. Students career or college minded have equal opportunities and respect to pursue a successful life. Strategic planning and career exploration are very important to Aadland as she works with her students.
WSHS has a Career Development Occupational Program for special needs students. This program helps these students develop functional skills that will prepare them for life outside the school. The special needs area of public education continues to grow and expand.
With the retirement of Mr. Whetstone, Mrs. Alyson Moots joins us as the new lead guidance counselor. She has been here all Summer preparing for the school year, preparing to help our students not only making career choices and selecting the right classes, but also with completing college applications, scholarship applications, reviewing college choices and navigating the emotional turbulence of the high school years. The high school guidance department is a really important part of the functioning of the school and we are very excited to see great things happening in this arena as well.
For the first time ever, WSHS has an expanded Agricultural program. Ag Mechanics will be taught by Mr. Alex Derrick while Mr. Ethan Busbee returns to teach the Environmental Natural Resources branch of the Ag department.
JROTC remains an important part of WSHS, even more so with the thematic program. They will continue their new drill club at the middle school with the eighth graders, which has been a successful recruitment program.
New this year is both Drama and Wrestling. This is the first time ever for drama, Theatre I. We have one of the nicest auditoriums in the district. The lighting has been updated and we have new curtains. Aadland believes we have one of the most beautiful original auditoriums in the state, featuring the original chairs.
Aadland is a strong believer in the importance of athletics. “Academics and athletics work together,” Aadland explains. “The kind of discipline that it requires to be a successful athlete feeds right into the academic arena – overall character, respect, leadership.” Improvements in the athletic realm include the new football scoreboard, the athletic bus with a beautiful wrap, and new football uniforms and helmets. The basketball court floor has been redone and looks great with last year’s new team chairs with the revamped retro WSHS logo on each cushion. Aadland is working on getting new banners in the gym that will advertise our athletic accomplishments.
The Aiken County school district cares about all of its schools and is invested in the improvements of each one. Parents and town residents are encouraged to get involved, meet the teachers, attend athletic and choral events, and now, some theatre events as well. District-wide initiatives are focusing on establishing valuable community connections. Stay up-to-date with school activities on the school website at www.acpsd.net/Domain/24.