William Finch Charter School
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| Glenn County's K-12 Independent Study Program | ||
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607 E Tehama Street in Orland, CA 95963
Phone: 530-865-1683
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School Enrollment: 150
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| School Colors:Red, White, and Blue |
About Us : The Pioneers
William Finch Charter School is the Glenn County Home Independent Study program, offering an alternative education option for K-12 students.
A charter school is a non-traditional form of public school designed to spur innovation in teaching and learning. Charter schools are flexible so administrators, faculty, staff and parents have many options in designing an educational program, facilities and budget that meet the needs of students. Charter schools operate under five-year charters, which may be renewed.
William Finch School was established to support the principle that all students should have an equal opportunity to participate in the California public school curriculum, which prepares individuals for academic, social, personal, and job-related success.
The school offers a quality curriculum focusing on individual needs and styles. On-going evaluation of individual student progress, field trips, student and parent workshops.
A charter school is a non-traditional form of public school designed to spur innovation in teaching and learning. Charter schools are flexible so administrators, faculty, staff and parents have many options in designing an educational program, facilities and budget that meet the needs of students. Charter schools operate under five-year charters, which may be renewed.
William Finch School was established to support the principle that all students should have an equal opportunity to participate in the California public school curriculum, which prepares individuals for academic, social, personal, and job-related success.
The school offers a quality curriculum focusing on individual needs and styles. On-going evaluation of individual student progress, field trips, student and parent workshops.
Wm. Finch School Offers:
Wm. Finch Students have participated in:
- Parent/Teacher Independent home and classroom learning environment
- An accredited educational program fulfilling state standard requirements
- Distance education, connecting students to teachers and curriculum through computer technology using OdysseyWare and University of California on-line courses
- On-Site english, math, art, lab science, music, and history classes
- K-12 field trips and activities focusing on family involvement
Wm. Finch Students have participated in:
- Glenn County Science Fair
- Glenn County Spelling Bee
- Glenn County Track Meet
- Glenn County Fair
- Glenn County Resource Fair
- Glenn County Harvest Festival
- Glenn County Academic Decathlon
- Red Ribbon Week
- Concurrent Enrollment at Butte College
History
When California enacted legislation in the
late 1990’s that requested that schools not be designated by the type of
program they present, the staff of the Glenn County Home Independent
Study program launched a search to find a suitable new name. They
researched the history of Glenn County schools and chose the name of
William Finch, the first Superintendent of the Glenn County Office of
Education.
Born in Portland, Indiana, in 1862, William Finch rode by horseback to Colusi (Colusa) County, California, in 1880. He worked in the fields in the summer while attending Pierce Christian College in Colusa.
Mr. Finch held the first Glenn County Teachers Institute from December 21-24, 1891. At the time, there were just a few teachers in the many locations throughout the country.
While serving as Superintendent, William Finch studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1897. He was then elected as the first Superior Court Judge in 1905. He also helped form and was the President of the First National Bank of Willows.
William Finch married Anna Latimer and had one daughter, Mabel. Because of William Finch's connections to the Glenn County Office of Education as the first Superintendent, this was a great choice for our new name of William Finch School.
Born in Portland, Indiana, in 1862, William Finch rode by horseback to Colusi (Colusa) County, California, in 1880. He worked in the fields in the summer while attending Pierce Christian College in Colusa.
Mr. Finch held the first Glenn County Teachers Institute from December 21-24, 1891. At the time, there were just a few teachers in the many locations throughout the country.
While serving as Superintendent, William Finch studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1897. He was then elected as the first Superior Court Judge in 1905. He also helped form and was the President of the First National Bank of Willows.
William Finch married Anna Latimer and had one daughter, Mabel. Because of William Finch's connections to the Glenn County Office of Education as the first Superintendent, this was a great choice for our new name of William Finch School.
Vision
Every student who enrolls in our school will graduate from high school prepared for the option of enrolling in a four-year college. S/He will have the confidence, competence, and information needed to make choices for her/his future, and will have demonstrated strength and competence in all the areas needed for full participation in the 21st century economy, and in the political, cultural, and intellectual life of our nation and global society. These areas include: technological literacy; communication skills; aesthetic sensibility; critical thinking and reasoning; social, environmental, and civic responsibility; multicultural and cross-cultural competency; and strength of character; as well as academic competency.
Learning Strategies
In the new Wm. Finch Charter School’s vision of challenging learning activities, the curriculum for all students will emphasize the integration of higher order thinking skills, and on site academy authentic learning. In lieu of students practicing discrete, isolated skills (i.e.: spelling and punctuation done on worksheets), the curriculum will stress composition, comprehension, and applications of skills. Rather than treating basic skills as an obstacle that must be surmounted before exposing students to more complex and meaningful learning activities, WFCS will provide all students and especially at-risk students opportunities to learn and practice basic skills in the context of working on authentic tasks. Through studying research, we have found that at-risk students need to work more in heterogeneous groups.
Programs
Course Information
All Wm. Finch curriculum is common core-based. Wm. Finch uses adopted texts, as well as, OdysseyWare internet curriculum.
Grade Level Requirements
Wm. Finch is committed to providing a quality education for all students. Wm. Finch requires 240 units to graduate high school.
California Academic Decathlon
William Finch Charter School is one of more than 500 high schools in 42 counties and districts participating in the California Academic Decathlon. All California public and private high schools are eligible to compete. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Assessments
CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress)
The CAASPP assessment was established under Assembly Bill (AB) 484 which was signed into law on October 2, 2013. The purpose of the CAASPP assessment system is to assist teachers, administrators and pupils by promoting high quality teaching and learning throught the use of a variety of assessment approaches.
Students in Grades 3rd-8th and 11th are administered the assessments in ELA and Math in the Spring .
iReady Diagnostic (K-12) Schoolwide Screener is administered in reading and mathematics three times per year.
College Connection
- For information on college entrance requirements and to prepare for a successful transition to college from high school contact The College Board.
- Get help paying for college by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).