0:14

Welcome to another episode of Sage Studio.

0:17

I'm Tiffiny Webster, and today we are

0:17

talking all things fun in high school.

0:22

I am so excited about this

0:22

conversation with Brenda and Danny.

0:26

So welcome both to the show. So glad to have you here today.

0:30

Thank you. Brenda, why don't you

0:31

start the conversation?

0:33

Remind everybody what your role is

0:33

here at Sage Oak before we start

0:37

talking about all the great things that you have planned for high school this year.

0:40

So my role this year is student

0:40

success support, ASB, student

0:47

council, and then of course my NCAA.

0:49

Big, the bigger chunk is

0:49

definitely the ASB this year.

0:53

Awesome. So great to have you in that position.

0:56

I know that you've been doing that for

0:56

a little while here for Sage Oak and you

1:00

always bring awesome things to the kids. And how about you, Danny?

1:02

Welcome to Sage Studio. Tell us about your role with Sage Oak.

1:06

This is your first time on the podcast. Glad to have you. Yeah.

1:08

Yeah. Thanks for having me. I'm an Education Advisor

1:09

and a History teacher.

1:11

This year I'm teaching

1:11

World History Through Film.

1:15

So it's a lot of fun.

1:17

So yeah, that is doing

1:17

some film buffs to join

1:20

me. I love that. That's a cool course.

1:22

I bet you are a popular choice when

1:22

it comes to taking a course like that.

1:26

So good. So good to have you here. As Sage Oak is known for, we always offer

1:28

these great excursions and opportunities

1:35

for our students, which is so important

1:35

being an independent study school that

1:39

we have these opportunities for our

1:39

students to gather outside of that

1:44

and really meet each other in person. So we're going to talk to

1:45

us a little bit first about.

1:48

Overall, what is the

1:48

philosophy of offering these?

1:52

Why does Sage Oak even offer these types

1:52

of events and excursions to our students?

1:57

So one of my visions when we started

1:57

the high school program was for to

2:01

retain students in our program by

2:01

offering them some of the things that

2:07

they used to go back to school for.

2:10

So friendships Those in person

2:10

milestone events, things like that,

2:14

that high schoolers want to experience

2:14

So building community, building

2:19

relationships, building friendships

2:19

was really, the crux of that, giving

2:25

them a chance to be together in

2:25

person because they're so far apart.

2:28

So many of them. For sure. I think that is such a need.

2:31

And I think that you've

2:31

done such a great job.

2:34

When you first started looking

2:34

at this idea of trying to build

2:37

community within the high school

2:37

department, did you immediately

2:40

think, Oh, we have to do things for

2:40

these kids to get together in person?

2:43

Or did it start off just as the virtual hangouts? And no, we started we started with

2:47

the ASB on zoom and then we moved into

2:52

into trying to have some of those ASB

2:52

meetings in person in various areas.

2:58

We've tried lots of things. But having the I don't think it was the

3:00

very first year, but very soon after

3:04

where we started saying, Hey, let's

3:04

figure a way out for kids to get together.

3:08

How can we do that? And it's just morphed

3:09

and evolved into so many.

3:12

I don't think I can remember every

3:12

way that we've done it, but just

3:16

figuring it out to see what fits best.

3:19

Yeah. I love that. Always iterating, always

3:21

innovating. And actually I have to say that one

3:22

of the ways that, it really took off

3:26

this year, and no, I should say last

3:26

year, is that we added another element.

3:31

We added Discord. We used to use Edmodo to communicate with

3:32

the kids, and it just wasn't working.

3:38

But we started to use this app,

3:38

Discord, and everything is on Discord

3:42

with our ASB, and it is the best way

3:42

to connect with the kids immediately.

3:46

And because of that, we've

3:46

gotten so much turnout.

3:49

We have a hangout tomorrow

3:49

where we have 40 kids.

3:51

No way! Yeah. So it's, it really has made a

3:53

difference with involvement and

3:57

getting them involved and excited and

3:57

giving them an opportunity to make

4:00

friends with each other on that app. I love that.

4:03

I think that's so great. And I think that it's also great

4:04

that, has probably, come about

4:08

by students suggesting how they

4:08

want to interact with one another.

4:12

And so the fact that you guys take that

4:12

feedback in and act on it and give them

4:17

the way that they connect in a way that. Is meaningful to them.

4:20

I think it's just awesome. So Danny, I know that Brenda has

4:22

always had her hand in like the ASB

4:26

pot why she's been here at Sage Oak.

4:28

But, you've only been with

4:28

Sage Oak for a couple years.

4:30

How did you get roped in all this? Tell us your story there.

4:34

I'm just a person that

4:34

likes to be involved.

4:37

Previously I've done outside activities.

4:39

I like to see students outside

4:39

the classroom and I like

4:42

to build that community. It's very important to me.

4:45

Just. Seeing students grow and Brenda

4:45

mentioned the Discord and I know students

4:50

that met other students without even

4:50

seeing them just from the Discord.

4:54

And now they all go to the hangouts. So to see it grow like that, and

4:55

I just want to be a part of it.

4:59

That's why I'm always at these events.

5:03

It's so great. I know Brenda loves talking about

5:03

your involvement, how much it

5:07

means to her and to the students.

5:10

Brenda, tell us a little bit

5:10

because I know he doesn't want

5:12

to spill the tea on himself. But we know that Danny is an integral

5:14

part of this high school department.

5:17

So go ahead. You sing his phrases.

5:20

Danny, we hired Danny as an EA and that

5:20

very first beach party that we had,

5:27

which was a few weeks in, he showed up. He was there and I was like, wow.

5:32

It was a brand new job and

5:32

he has shown up ever since.

5:36

There's no other way to put it. He has shown up every I asked him and he's

5:37

I'm there and he is and he's there early.

5:43

And he he just cares and the kids can

5:43

tell, that he cares and that it makes a

5:49

difference, they talk to him, they, and

5:49

the same with the EAs, we love Danny and

5:54

we love how much he loves the kids and

5:54

the program and it just, it radiates.

5:59

It radiates. It's so great. Really not only are you giving the kids

6:01

a chance to connect with one another,

6:04

you're getting to connect as colleagues,

6:04

but then the kids are getting a chance

6:08

to see that, wow, you know what? We do really have this support

6:09

system of teachers who care about

6:12

us, who care about this program,

6:12

who care about creating these

6:15

opportunities for us to get together.

6:17

So what a win, you guys. So excited to see all of the

6:19

things that you are bringing.

6:22

Let's get into that by the way,

6:22

because I know that there are

6:24

some good things coming up. So give us an overview of kind of what

6:26

do you have planned for this year?

6:30

This is probably, I want

6:30

to say like year five.

6:33

That we've done. Catalina took 30 kids this year.

6:37

We had 30 kids sign up and

6:37

20 kids on the wait list.

6:41

So next year, I think we're going to be

6:41

opening it up to more students because I

6:46

think on the first day that trip was full.

6:48

It is a science biology trip.

6:51

So there's labs and there's snorkeling

6:51

and there's just tons of fun.

6:56

We love it. It gets us out, but the kids are learning.

6:59

They're engaged. Like Danny said, it's so great

7:01

for them to learn some things

7:04

outside of a traditional classroom. They really they really do learn a lot

7:06

and they do a lot of labs, but then

7:13

they also build relationships, which is.

7:15

The other part of that, learning to

7:15

make friends, they will, in, in the

7:19

little free time they have, they're,

7:19

they've brought games, they're playing

7:23

on the, playing on the grass in

7:23

front of the dorm card games, beads.

7:28

This is a perfect example of. This year, some girls brought

7:31

beads to, to make little

7:34

necklaces and things like that. Danny sat down and he made an anklet.

7:41

He sat there. I love it. I

7:44

love it. The commitment down to the anklet.

7:46

It's just, again, it speaks so much about

7:46

the community because I think on its

7:50

face, if you were to tell people, hey,

7:50

we're going to take a bunch of kids that

7:53

don't know each other that well, that

7:53

work in an independent study program,

7:56

that don't have a lot of that interaction,

7:56

except maybe a few opportunities online.

8:00

We're going to get them

8:00

together and it's going to work.

8:03

People will be like, you're crazy. But the way that you guys have set

8:04

it up, how do you, how do you think

8:09

that it all comes together like

8:09

that where it's so comfortable and

8:12

so easy for these kids to connect? I think for me, the trips, there's always

8:15

a few kids that don't know other students.

8:19

And at the beginning, when we're waiting

8:19

in line, specifically Catalina, waiting

8:23

in line on that boat for the boat,

8:23

you can tell they're a little more

8:27

reserved they're a little shy, and then

8:27

there's always a handful of students

8:32

that are very outgoing, just going down

8:32

the line, hey I'm Danny, nice to meet

8:36

you, just going through, and then by

8:36

the time we're on the boat, They're

8:40

already with three other students. Laughing, having a good time.

8:44

And then end of the trip, exchanging

8:44

info and they've made a huge group

8:48

of new friends and it's the students. I haven't experienced this before

8:49

in my career that we have a group

8:55

of a handful of students that just

8:55

go up to new students and introduce

8:58

themselves and welcome them very openly.

9:01

And for me, Brenda talked about earlier

9:01

my first time at that beach bonfire.

9:06

That's when I first saw it. There were students walking up by

9:08

themselves, and right away, these

9:12

students were welcoming them. Welcome, come hang out with us over here.

9:15

And I hadn't experienced anything like that before. And that kind of blew my mind and

9:18

encouraged me to be a big part of this.

9:24

And specifically, I had seven students

9:24

on the Catalina trip, and one of

9:28

my students, I knew he knew no one

9:28

going in and the boat right home.

9:32

I was laughing to myself. He was surrounded by new friends, and

9:33

he was very nervous before the trip,

9:37

and he's already ready to go again.

9:39

So it was their great time. Wow,

9:42

that's pretty incredible. And so impactful in their lives, right?

9:46

These can actually be very life changing

9:46

events like that when they get those

9:49

experiences, and they realize that

9:49

they can get out of their comfort zone

9:53

and it works out and even probably

9:53

works out better than they imagined.

9:57

Yeah, I wanted to say that one of the

9:57

things over the years and we had a

10:00

great team of kids in ASB leadership.

10:04

And so one of the things that I've

10:04

been working with and what I try to

10:07

work with on that with them is that,

10:07

we're, you guys are all in the same

10:11

position, you're all at home learning

10:11

and, far away from a lot of these things.

10:15

And so there are kids that,

10:15

are shyer than others.

10:18

I was encouraging the kids that

10:18

are in leadership and some of them

10:22

themselves were shy, but they would

10:22

break out of their comfort zone.

10:26

I'd say, Hey, go, can you

10:26

go say hi to that person?

10:28

They're alone. Can and they would do it. And it's become a culture.

10:33

It's become part of the culture now

10:33

in the ASB to include other people and

10:37

to realize, Hey, we're all the same. We all come from a situation

10:39

where we're at home.

10:42

And so this is the chance to, make

10:42

friends along with the fact that

10:46

I think the Discord app, which was

10:46

like you said, students suggested.

10:52

I think that's really what's broken

10:52

the barrier, it's to really make

10:56

friends and make build that community.

10:59

We saw it last year in

10:59

graduation in the ceremony.

11:02

I was just up on the stage watching

11:02

these kids cheering each other on

11:06

when they were getting their diplomas. And I thought that's what that was

11:09

my dream was to see these kids

11:09

graduate with their friends because

11:14

you get in line and you make friends. Cross the stage for your mom in your,

11:16

in your cap and gown okay, I did it.

11:21

What I wanted to see was friendships

11:21

develop, give them time to do that.

11:26

And then when they graduate, they're

11:26

graduating with their friends.

11:29

And I really feel like last year was the

11:29

first year we've really hit that on the

11:33

head. That's so great. It's really great to see.

11:36

I think that's such a beautiful thing. And I'm so glad that we're seeing that.

11:39

what's the next field trip

11:39

that's on the agenda?

11:44

The next there's Pally. Okay.

11:46

That, that's a leadership

11:46

camp for high school.

11:49

that is a camp that we set up

11:49

when the rest of our program K

11:53

through eight goes for science. We take the kids up for as many

11:55

from ASB as possible, but just.

12:00

It's just an opportunity

12:00

to bond and team build.

12:03

So they go through a lot of

12:03

team building activities up

12:05

there and helping each other. And again, it might just be

12:07

some kids from the high school.

12:09

They may not be in leadership, but it

12:09

is that opportunity for them to work

12:14

together, collaborate, that kind of thing.

12:17

So they do things like, climbing

12:17

wall and they do specific, kinds

12:21

of discussion and things like that. And they work with the leadership

12:23

at Pali that helps them with

12:27

working together, and collaborating. So we enjoy that.

12:30

There's about 15 kids going

12:30

this year in that trip.

12:33

That is such a great trip and I love that it

12:34

is so leader centered.

12:37

Do you see the kids making that

12:37

connection between the challenges

12:41

that they might be facing in a ropes

12:41

course or a physical team activity to

12:46

how that might show up when they're

12:46

having conversations or discussions

12:50

or having to work through things? Do you see them making that connection?

12:53

In my experience, you can really see it

12:53

in the conversations that they're having.

12:56

they're bringing up topics specifically

12:56

to have them express their opinions

13:02

and to discuss what's going on.

13:06

and how they would think about that. But that's to build, empathy and

13:07

acceptance and things like that.

13:12

So really working through that, I

13:12

think having those kinds of deep

13:16

conversations is awesome for them. For sure.

13:19

What a powerful experience. Okay.

13:21

Now talk to us about Sacramento.

13:23

This is a fast and furious field trip.

13:26

Talk to us a little bit about what that means. We go to the Capitol.

13:29

It's definitely a history

13:29

community civics type of trip.

13:34

We have the kids write to their

13:34

representatives from their area

13:38

and reach out to them and say,

13:38

Hey, we're going to be in town.

13:41

Are you going to be there? Can we meet you?

13:43

And then they give us a tour. we have lunch.

13:46

And then we have a college tour. So we either go to Sac

13:47

State or we go to UC Davis.

13:51

This year we're hoping to get to UC Davis.

13:54

We usually fit a museum in there

13:54

somewhere, something cultural.

13:58

And then we'll go to Old Town. Meals are included.

14:01

So it's a long day, but it's

14:01

a round trip, one day trip.

14:04

I love that. I know the big one that comes up every

14:05

year is the one to Washington, D.

14:09

C. So tell us about what is coming up and

14:09

what we can expect with Washington, D.

14:14

C. Nonstop nonstop action.

14:16

Once we get to D. C. We'll meet our tour guide

14:18

and then we're on the go. We're always doing something.

14:22

This is a great trip. I highly recommend it if the chance

14:24

comes up, but especially if you're into

14:29

history, we see so many of the different

14:29

monuments so many of the different sites.

14:33

We do a college tour this year. We're going to go to America University.

14:36

But if you look at our

14:36

itinerary, it's jam packed.

14:40

Seeing students experience these monuments

14:40

that helped found our country, seeing

14:47

these cool universities that we get to

14:47

visit, and hearing the students start

14:51

talking about, I think I would go here.

14:55

And then open their eyes to see

14:55

all these other universities,

14:58

these other opportunities that

14:58

are not just based in California.

15:00

Yes, California is great. But there's a whole world out

15:02

there and like all of our trips.

15:06

It's just another opportunity to grow

15:06

that community and for students to meet.

15:10

Other students that they might

15:10

not have got the chance to

15:13

meet and grow new friendships.

15:15

this year is a shortened trip. We we're going to do a four, three night,

15:16

four day trip this year so that it gives

15:21

the kids an opportunity to have weekends

15:21

on the either side of spring break.

15:26

So it is break. And that is that we're

15:28

trying that this year.

15:31

We are trying that this year. But like Danny said,

15:32

we're going this year.

15:35

We're going to try to go

15:35

to American in the past.

15:37

We've been to Georgetown, which

15:37

I didn't get to see, but Danny

15:41

and another chaperone took

15:41

the kids on that college tour.

15:49

And then, just the typical things, but

15:49

then also this year, we're going to go

15:53

to Gettysburg, which we've not done ever.

15:56

So we're going to, we're going to

15:56

drive over to Gettysburg and see

15:58

that battlefield from the Civil War.

16:01

So exposing them to all of that, but it

16:01

is definitely a shorter trip but packed.

16:07

Yeah, they're busy. We're busy. I know it's a lot.

16:12

It's a lot in a few days, but

16:12

wow, what a trip of a lifetime.

16:16

So good. So good. If our families want to know more

16:18

about all these field trips and

16:21

excursions and the great things

16:21

that you have going on, where is the

16:24

best place to find that information? Our high school updates.

16:28

It's on the website, so they can

16:28

definitely go to the website.

16:32

Unfortunately, as of today,

16:32

those trips are closed.

16:37

Our hope is that next year we

16:37

will be doing this earlier so that

16:41

families can plan ahead of time

16:41

for the funding from their budget.

16:46

They can use school funds for these trips.

16:49

And they can also use out of

16:49

pocket and a combination or a

16:53

nation depending on the cost.

16:56

We're really trying to make it

16:56

so that it's affordable for them.

17:00

But the website is the

17:00

best place always to go.

17:02

And if obviously go to your EA

17:02

and ask them, about the trips.

17:07

Always a good place to start. Thank you so much for both

17:09

being on the podcast today.

17:11

It's great to hear this community that

17:11

you're building, these opportunities

17:15

that you're providing our students. I know that not only is it exciting for

17:16

our high school families, but I think

17:19

the families that are coming up too,

17:19

it gives them something to look forward

17:22

to once their kids are in high school.

17:24

And I will definitely put a link

17:24

in the show notes to the website

17:27

so you can go and check out more

17:27

information on these still trips.

17:30

Danny, Brenda, it's been a pleasure. Thanks so much for joining me today.

17:33

Have a good one. Tiffiny. Enjoy your trips.

17:36

Safe travels, you guys. Have a fun time. All right.