With a new principal comes new rules, protocols, and goals for the school as the students and staff figure out the new year.
For every class walking through these doors, Principal Jamie Voorhies wants to support their needs academically and socially. Because students are only here for four years, she wants everyone to have a great experience as well as feel prepared when they leave Starr’s Mill.
“How are we preparing you for what’s now and what’s next?” Voorhies said.
During the 2024-2025 school year, Starr’s Mill is going to be working on updating systems and structures that will support student learning in the long run. Doing this will teach both the students and faculty how to solve problems proactively. By learning how to initially solve problems, it will be easier to identify where the flaw is coming from and how we can fix it permanently.
The transition from elementary to high school can go many ways. However, school is school, no matter when or where. As far as how to run a school it follows pretty similar basic structures around the nation to make it as simple as possible.
“School improvement practices, those systems as a school are very similar,” Voorhies said.
While it still may be a building full of kids and teachers, there are many ways high school is different from elementary school. Elementary school focuses more on what the school needs and what the faculty want for the students. At a high school level, it is all based on what each individual person needs at that time and how school personnel can assist with that.
“Each student needs a different pathway or level of support based on what you want to do,” Voorhies said.
Stepping into the position of principal after having no experience at the school can be difficult. With a new school comes learning curves. Part of being a high school principal is all the extracurriculars and things that students are offered to participate in aside from the core classes they need to graduate.
“It’s never quiet,” Voorhies said.
Even during the summer, things are always happening, including practices, camps, and club meetings. There is always something going on and Voorhies encourages everyone to be a part of something.
Not only is the school for students and their families but it also impacts the whole community. Many people from all over the Peachtree City and Fayetteville areas come to support our school at performances, games, and events.
“I want the student body to be an active part of the school culture,” Voorhies said.
High school is what you make it. As the new goals and routines soak in, enjoy this year, be active in your learning, and get involved as a Panther.