Alternative Schools Gain New Names

SAN JOSE, CA – Students seeking to rechristen their Alternative Schools got the go-ahead from the Santa Clara County Board of Education at the board's Wednesday meeting.

Students, teachers, parents and staff at the sites worked together to come up with the ideas for the names at the schools, which are operated by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.  The new names are listed below, with their former names in parentheses:

Redemption Academy Community School (Calero)
Novo Community School (Foundry/Sunol)
Pathfinder Academy Community School (Snell/Pathfinder)
Odyssey Community School (South County)
View Side Academy Community School (Terra Bella)

Students appeared at the meeting to explain how they arrived at their final decision, and talk about what the new names signified to them. In the case of Novo, the name was chosen makes it "means change; to make anew," student Jessica told the board. The change "reflects what the school is going through right now."

After the board's vote, board member T.N. Ho congratulated the students. "It's not that often that students get to name their school," he said.

The SCCOE's Alternative Schools Department provides educational programs for students who are under court supervision, or who are not attending regular school for a variety of reasons. The educational program at the sites emphasizes academic competencies, as well as behavior and attitude change.

Date last updated: March 4, 2010