Welcome to Hillside High School

Principal Lassiter's The Hornet’s STING

Volume 1, Issue #10       Greetings, all Hornets and friends of Hillside High School! I know that it has been a while since I have had the opportunity to update my blog. The flu bug has bitten the Lassiter household HARD, but I am glad to report that all is somewhat back to normal, and I can devote some time to updating you on critical information about what is going on at Hillside High School.

 First: We issued student report cards and our North Carolina School Report Card on October 29, 2009. By and large, our students did well academically, but there are still a few who are not performing up to their ability or potential. During a series of meetings on November 2, 2009, our school is poised to embed extra help sessions and tutorials to students who are not meeting academic standards through one or more of the following means:

•  A “Breakfast Buddy” program, where students will be able to receive tutoring prior to the beginning of the instructional day OR,
• A “Lunch Buddy” program, where students can report to tutorials during their lunch period OR,
• Consultative planning period tutorials, where teachers report to subject area classrooms and provide small group instruction in a co-teaching role to help improve student performance.

 We are excited about these instructional initiatives, and truly believe that our instructional outcomes will be greater than in years prior!

Second: There is a spirit of collaboration at Hillside High School that is evident in the POWERFUL site-based decision making committee meetings, department chair meetings, and PTSA meetings. We have had some very intense, yet positive and productive meetings in recent days, ALL focusing on improving the performance of our school, its students, and helping to continue to put Hillside “on positive blast” as I like to say. I strongly encourage you to explore joining our PTSA, because it is through this organization and follow-through/next steps process that change can come to HHS.

Third: I know that most, if not all of you are aware of the outstanding performances of our students lately. Check this out…

• Hillside theatre and music students, under the direction of Wendell Tabb, Xavier Cason, and Anthony Pierce did an OUTSTANDING JOB in our inaugural theatre production of “High School Musical” on November 6-8! I had the pleasure of watching two shows, and I was truly amazed both times. It was AWESOME to see our students executing lines, notes, and tunes in a FLAWLESS manner!
• Hillside music students under the direction of Anthony Pierce performed the Star Spangled Banner at the CIAA Championship football game on Saturday, November 7, 2009. The game featured the Broncos of Fayetteville State vs. the Bulldogs of Bowie State, which the Broncos won in thrilling fashion. But, before kickoff, the Hillside Hornets were on full display!!!
• The Hillside Hornets football team, under the direction of Antonio King, finished the regular season 8-3 and has earned the #6 seed in the east 4A bracket. The boys will host the Rams from Pernell Swett High School out of Pembroke, NC, the #3 seed out of the MSEC and the #11 seed in the east. Kickoff is at 7:30 Friday at HHS!

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Why Choose Hillside

Hillside provides a comprehensive instructional program to meet the demands of its students. The school offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate Programme. The Science department maintains an active relationship with several Research Triangle facilities. The school is also the site for a specialized Business and Finance Academy. Students may study electronics, food service, cosmetology, and child care through the Workforce Development courses, as well as traditional business classes. Highly specialized or advanced courses which may not be available to most high school students are taught electronically through the Distance Learning Lab and the Virtual High School. The Arts Department enjoys a fine reputation, and Hillside students have performed nationally and internationally. For the most part, classes at the school follow a block  schedule, although a few specialized classes are on a  modified block schedule.

Hillside: The Real Story

Talk with Student Government President Racquel Bethea and you will hear about caring teachers who push students to succeed.  Listen to new Principal Hans Lassiter and the commitment to accelerating progress for all students is evident.  Read about Hillside graduate John Lyons and his Harvard scholarship and understand that students can and do get a great education at this high school.

Hillside High School evokes conflicting thoughts.  At one time a judge threatened to close the school for poor performance on certain state tests.  In 2008-09, the school made expected growth and it was no longer in danger of being low-performing.

It has one of the most rigorous academic programs to be found in high schools—the International Baccalaureate program, and students are completing that program and earning the IB diploma.  At the same time, the low-performing label the school wore at one point is still present in the minds of some in the community. 

Those who think that Hillside students drop out at a much higher rate than other schools may be surprised to learn that Hillside’s numbers are in line with the rest of the district and in fact, two other traditional high schools in Durham have higher dropout rates in the last reporting in 2007-08.  Eighty Hillside students dropped out in that year. 

The same hold true for school crime and violence numbers.  According to the state report, Hillside had fewer incidents of crime and violence than four of Durham’s other traditional high schools. 

We encourage anyone who is interested in Hillside to contact the school to arrange a visit and to talk with parents and students who actually have experience with the school.  It’s a new day at the school, and you’ll want to see it for yourself! 

Links

DPS Parent's Home Page

The Hornet's Sting

Webmail

National Alumni Association of Hillside High School (NAAHHS)