Focus Group Notes

Introduction:

• “I think of jail”

• “I think of bad little kids (running around and playing)”

• “The underdog when compared to other schools” 

• “I think of brothers, sisters, and the band”

• “Colors”

• “we don’t have the resources and tools to do so” 

• “I think of a community of students that are trying, very small number of students in Julian that want to make it a better place” 

• “Basketball player”

Academic:

1. Do you feel like there are resources (such as extra time with teachers, academic advisors, tutors, college prep courses) that could help students academically, and if so, what are they? Are they present at the high school?

   • there are teachers but are very limited as resources, even the kids who need the most support don’t get it because they are labeled as “bad kids” 

   • advising is not enough

   • the resources aren’t being utilized, there are people who would help you individually but it is not a school-wide, systemized thing

2. In your experience, are there any challenges your school community faces when it comes to doing well in school? This could include income barriers, housing, parental support, and community resources. 

   • we are not experiencing it, but definitely present. it’s hard to know what the situations are, because students are vulnerable

   • you don’t know what goes on within students’ lives at home, and some of those kids act out and get labeled as “bad kids” and you will never know what they are going through (a place to sleep, food to eat)

   • don't have access to food car, better to grab and go 

3. What are some ideas you have that could engage all students in the learning process (such as attending classes, tutoring support, and extracurricular activities), particularly those who may be facing academic challenges?

   • classrooms look like jail and parts of the environment (light)

   • very monotone and overwhelming curriculum (should switch things up)

   • the behavioral issues is because students don’t have connections with the adults

     • the ones that do connect with the adults show up and do better

     • it is this connection between student and adult that brings about positive outcomes at Julian

   • the teachers need to show up at school and be more present in the classroom because students who are getting bad grades feel like they are being neglected

   • not “disciplinary” and people are just going to school for fun

     • a better disciplinary system 

   • I feel like we need to have the motivation to do well

   • at Julian, we get nothing for trying, you don’t get recognized, and they only worry about labeling the bad kids

   • we always talk about the things we can’t change and not the things we can change

   • Q: how to improve the school environment for underperforming students cannot be accurately voiced by the SVC (they are AP honors)

     • the regular students may feel compared to the AP students and therefore feel more unmotivated to try at school 

   • AP kids are cohorted and their schedules look very similar, so that can have a negative impact on those that are in regular classes (they feel they are not as good as the other students and they are being excluded)

     • the fact that AP students and honors students have those classes make them feel like they can’t make mistakes (that puts a lot of mental pressure on them) 

   • We don't talk about mental issues enough at school. 

Career:

1. What do you plan on doing after high school? 

   • everyone college

2. Do you feel that you get all of the resources you need for that career path?

• the students believe there is great post-secondary system, it is just underutilized by the students 

• the kids just don’t take advantage of these great resources (willing teachers)

• 5 programs (CTE): a lot of the students in these programs; end up being in the career that they are trained in high school

• they believe that CTE should be expanded and be offered to more students

  • medical academy (has own certification) 

  • gaming

  • digital imaging

  • broadcasting tech (won national award)

    • • helps with achieving goals 

3. Are there reasons why students are not engaging with these resources?

• some would love to be in CTE, and there actually are a lot of students who are engaged with their academics

• it’s really hard to talk about the “disconnect” between students and adults/academics because it all goes down to what happens behind the scenes at home 

• about expanding CTE: people wouldn’t go into the programs because it is limited; so maybe add more career choices 

Hygiene: 

1. Have you or anyone you know experienced a lack of hygiene-related products (clothes, soap)?

   • there are people in this school without proper hygiene products, they don’t get bullied but they do get talked about 

   • it is for certain that they do lack some things 

   • there are teachers who have things like lotion and other hygiene products for them

   • because Julian is so tight-knit, everyone knows about each others hygiene and they don’t really talk about it 

   • the school doesn’t really have the resources (hygiene products) for the students 

   • lack of support system where students can lean on the school (can come to shower at school because home situation is bad) 

     • very very limited 

   • Julian should be a place where the students can feel comfortable at and find shelter

   • there are no private spaces where students are able to freshen up

     • girls bathroom: filled with soiled feminine hygiene products

2. How can the school help improve the hygiene-related facilities at Julian?

   • night classes: they should have a time where students can be able to shower

   • SVC came up with idea: build “hygiene closet” which is a room where students can freely go into and take whatever they need

     • a closet in the bathroom that students can just go into

     • “cultural issue”

     • painting, inspirational quotes on the walls, so people feel that they can go into the closet and feel more comfortable  

Social and Emotional Wellness: 

1. Since the pandemic, are there any social and emotional wellness issues that you see among other students at Julian High School?

   • The pandemic put a lot of people in a bad place

     • some kids don’t want to be here, some not used to being in classrooms, many are just used to being at home

     • can be depressing for some 

     • they started to give affirmations/announcements, but the student body is not actually listening 

     • Julian has been “hard-hitting” and she understands the harshness from the adults, but we need to slow down and reconsider how we treat each other

     • school does not feel like a place you can embrace (disconnect)

     • we should “beautify” the school and make it feel more like home, then students will be more comfortable with embracing the school 

     • I feel like Julian has changed from when I first came in

       • first year was pretty fun and easy and then sophomore year came and it all went down 

       • senior year, we are just thrown out of high school, we are not prepared for anything 

2. Do students know about the social and emotional wellness resources available to them? How accessible are they to them?

   • we have social workers available but our emotional and mental health are overlooked because they are really strict and it’s all about how we are acting

   • when they do open up to them, they don’t care about what the students need

   • 2 (or one) social workers for 450 students

3. How can the school do a better job at promoting the social and emotional wellness resources to the students? Or to improve the mental health of students?

   • teachers are focused on stopping fights, so they won’t care even if you are crying in the bathroom

   • we need more younger adults in the building, people who can relate and engage with the students (too much of a generational gap)

   • “SCO?” days: have to talk about feelings and relate to others 

     • other schools have those but Julian doesn’t have it

   • it's the same thing every single day (constant pattern)

   • the days get blurry and it gets very draining 

     • we need either breaks or more freedom

     • other schools have on-campus lunch (things Julian doesn’t have access to)