“The school [also] utilizes the facilitative leadership model to increase communication and improve working relationship among the faculty, staff and the parents,” the WASC accreditation report stated.
The school was previously accredited for a three-year term only.
“We have been working to align our school with the overall mission of our Public School System to improve classroom learning,” Hopwood principal Jonas Barcinas said. “Our PSS leadership and our parents have played a big role in what our teachers, counselors, teacher aides and staffers have achieved with this historic accreditation.”
Appointed as the school’s principal in 2009 by Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, Barcinas has vowed to “transform” Hopwood.
The WASC report validated the “growth and changes” that took place within the last two school years since its last visit in 2008.
“This is a significant recognition of what Hopwood has been doing,” Sablan said. “I credit the leadership of the school, from the principal to all the staff members, the students and the programs that are in-place, and the parents for making this happen.”
She added, “There is student performance, quality teaching and the school is continuously working to make the campus safer for our students through infrastructure development.”
The WASC accreditation report noted the following areas of strength at Hopwood:
• It has a clear statement of purpose which, together with its Expected Schoolwide Learning Results, is published and displayed throughout the school.
• Hopwood has diversified instruction techniques to accommodate different learning styles and backgrounds.
• Its communication with stakeholders and the community has improved and strengthened through regular meetings and media notices.
• Student achievement is a priority and staff members are empowered to help students achieve higher learning results.
• PSS provides ongoing professional development, including learning communities and project mentor for new teachers.
• Hopwood has a uniform policy in place and student compliance is increasing, its incentive and reward programs help increase student self-esteem and motivation, and support and involvement from the community is evident.
“Since the last visit in 2008, HJHS has had several changes in school leadership, faculty and staff (and despite these changes) there is school-wide growth areas. Progress has been made,” the report stated.
