EAGLE \u2014 Red Canyon High School students believe there is a big gap between what the public thinks about their school and the reality that unfolds every day at the facility.<\/p>\n
They also believe they can be the ones to bridge the chasm. To that aim, they have inked an official school public relations plan to guide their efforts. The PR plan was the product of a class taught by RCHS English teacher Ann Constien and local marketing professional Melinda Gladitsch.<\/p>\n
“Ann had told me that for a long time she had a passion for tackling the PR story on behalf of Red Canyon,” Gladitsch said.\u00a0“She decided she wanted to handle it as a class and let the kids participate in putting together the school\u2019s PR plan.”<\/p>\n
At RCHS, Monday through Thursday classes are devoted to core subjects and Fridays feature elective classes. The PR class fell into that latter category.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn class, we tackled the current reality of what people think of the school, where we want our image to be, and the bridges it takes to get to that image,\u201d student Joe Cordova said. \u201cIn the Red Canyon public relations class, I learned what it takes to market an establishment and learned the steps it takes to actually do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the class projects involved mapping out the perception-vs.-reality issue. Gladitsch said to launch the activity, the kids shared their thoughts without doing any research in the community. They then revised the map based on what they heard from community members\u00a0 \u2014 particularly from business owners and employers.<\/p>\n
The final map includes both positive and negative statements. On one hand, the students believe the general public thinks the school issues substandard diplomas and that drugs and smoking are big concerns. But when they reached out to business owners and employers, the students discovered RCHS kids have a reputation for being dependable and ready for work.<\/p>\n
As they discussed their\u00a0school\u2019s story, the kids wanted to communicate how RCHS has the same accreditation as other high schools in the valley and that it\u00a0provides a creative environment\u00a0with interesting and relevant classes. The PR course option, for example.<\/p>\n
After mapping out the perception-vs.-reality, the PR students cited specific\u00a0bridges that can connect the two. Hosting open houses, launching a student podcast, and developing an information roadshow\u00a0were\u00a0some of the ideas from students.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn class, we were assigned to do specific tasks and mine was to create follow-me videos on current students and alumni,\u201d Cordova said. \u201cWhat this project consisted of was following the alumni in their daily life and asking them questions of what effects Red Canyon High School had on them and how it changed their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another student \u2014 Harley Ralston \u2014 is a budding graphic artist. Her assignment was to create a visual map of the school\u2019s perception vs. reality in the valley.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hope that this class will be picked back up and the action items can be followed through,\u201d Gladitsch said. \u201cThese kids wrote the plan. Now that the plan is in place, a new group of students can pick it up and implement the action items.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gladitsch said the PR class students were enthused by the opportunity to tell their own story. While there are some last chance stories at RCHS \u2014 kids who have had issues at other schools and ultimately landed at Red Canyon \u2014 she noted those kids don\u2019t represent the school\u2019s entire population.<\/p>\n
“What I heard from a lot of the students, and I have also heard this from the teachers, is while Red Canyon is called an alternative high school, it isn\u2019t about kids who have been in trouble,\u201d Gladitsch said.<\/p>\n
Gladitsch noted the PR plan is the first step in redefining how the community views RCHS students. “They are kids who may not care about the traditional high school activities,\u201d she said. \u201cThey have a different level of maturity. They have moved on from the high school scene and are ready to move on with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is Red Canyon? It’s a school, of course, but not just any regular school. It’s just different,\u201d Cordova said. \u201cIt works around student schedules, it sees what students need and helps them make a plan to be on track for graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n
For some RCHS kids, keeping on schedule to graduate can be thwarted by adult-world responsibilities, Cordova said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany RCHS students\u00a0know\u00a0the struggle of what it\u2019s like to be in the real world,\u201d Cordova said. \u201cWe are the most hard-working people in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordova believes RCHS has a great program to offer and a great story to share.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe classes are the most diverse classes I\u2019ve ever seen in my four years of high school,\u201d he said. \u201cThe teachers are the most caring and understanding. If a student\u00a0is falling behind the teachers will help him or her in any way they can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, Cordova said he wants the larger community to know how RCHS students and staff watch out for one another.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne important aspect of the school community is the respect we have for each other and it’s also one of the RCHS norms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He then literally spelled out those norms:<\/p>\n
R \u2014 Respect<\/p>\n
C \u2014 Community<\/p>\n
H \u2014 Hope<\/p>\n
S \u2014 Self-discipline.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe live by them when we are at school and out in the community,\u201d Cordova said.<\/p>\n