Pamphlet kicks off positive PR campaign for Lely High

It is orange and black, the school colors, and speaks of great students, great teachers, great athletes and its support to many communities.

It talks about "D ciphering the FCAT" and its titled Points of Pride, Lely High School's pamphlet that shows the many good sides of the school.

Lely High School Student Advisory Committee members Liz Hausauer and Diane Jerrett, both of Marco, coordinated efforts in putting the pamphlet together. They first passed out the pamphlet at Lely's spring football game May 19. It will be given out at orientation in the fall, sent to community leaders and placed in as many adult hands as possible.

It will also be printed in Creole and Spanish. Lely Pride bumper stickers are planned for the fall, going to students, teachers and staff.

"This a positive community outreach, showing the positive things about Lely," Hausauer said. "It is positive, real information that we want to get out to the community."

Jerrett, a Lely alumnae, said the school isn't much different from when she graduated.

"We had great school spirit, teachers challenging us, it was diverse," she said, commenting on the strong camaraderie she felt when she attended the school. "The difference today is in Lely's perception."

Clarence Tears, advisory committee chairman, says the effort is to make people realize Lely's qualities.

"Lely gets a bad rap throughout the community because they don't realize the school's qualities," he said. "We decided to create the pamphlet to help the community realize what great things are happening (at Lely)."

Hausauer and Jerrett, both finishing their freshman year, said they only heard the ugly side of Lely as they prepared to enter the school last fall.

"I heard rumors about people getting stabbed and drugs, but I have only seen two minor fights," Hausauer said. "I like the school, I would not go anywhere else.

"There are a lot of good teachers and most of the kids are pretty good," she said. "There is a lot of school spirit and a nice atmosphere to be in at Lely." She is a cheerleader and is on the soccer team and student council.

"At first I was probably a little scared because of the rumors, but it is really not bad." Jerrett said. He played on the school's freshman football team and junior varsity baseball team.

Submitted photo

Lely High School's Points of Pride pamphlet shows the many good sides of the school.

One of the positive items highlighted in the pamphlet is the four recent Golden Apple winners on the teaching staff for their quality work with students. One of them, Mark McGarrity, also the cross country and track coach, feels very positively about the school.

"I think Lely is one of the best schools in Collier County all the way around," he said. McGarrity thinks those who talk negatively about the percentage of minorities at the school aren't looking at the whole picture.

"Yes, Lely has diversity, but I think it more represents the real world," McGarrity said. "In talking with our high academic students it is something they thoroughly enjoy. A lot of the kids that went on to a major college said it made their adjustment easier. They wouldn't trade their experience here for anything."

However, Hausauer acknowledges the difficulties at Lely when it comes to garnering a good score on the FCAT, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

"Because of the demographics we have a lot of non-English speaking parents that makes it difficult for them to participate," she said. "It also affects the students' abilities to achieve. How would you like to be placed into a school in another country and be expected to know the language in two years. They do as well as they can on the FCAT."

As Lely awaited its marks in science, math and reading for this year, the pamphlet spoke of "D ciphering the FCAT" rankings.

Hausauer pointed to the 2005 FCAT score, saying that Lely ranks at least a C in five categories, writing, reading, reading gains, math and math gains. It is the sixth criteria, improvement in 50 percent of the lowest 25 percent taking the test over two years, that is difficult for Lely students learning English as a second language.

In 2005 about 800 students took the FCAT. The lowest 25 percent equates to 200 students. Of those, 50 percent, or 100 students, needed to show improvement to support Lely's C ranking. In 2005 Lely showed a 48 percent improvement.

Lely missed the 50 percent by 2 percent, or four students.

Jerrett and Hausauer think one of the answers is to have volunteers, tutoring students in English, reading and math.

"We all know the school dollars are shrinking," Hausauer said. "There are no volunteers at the high school level. We need retired business people, clubs like Rotary to help in mentoring students."

Those interested in volunteering can call Sally Stone, administrative assistant to the principal, 377-2003, or Hausauer at 438-5394.

Carl Kolling, another Golden Apple teacher, was one of the people who helped design Lely when it was built. In 1973 the only Collier County high schools were Naples, Immokalee and Everglades City.

"At the time, I was doing double shifts because we had so many students at Naples," he recalled.

Kolling, a special education teacher, said he has stayed at Lely "because it has always had an atmosphere of care. I could not ask for a better place to be."

He sees how students help each other, how well English for Speakers of Other Languages teachers have worked with the students.

"They have done a fantastic job in helping assimilate non-English students into the general flow of school programs," he said. "A test (FCAT) does not make a school. It is unfortunate that schools are judged on how well they do on one test."

He talked about the successes in non-sport, extra-curricular activities. The student mock trial team won the regional championship and finished fourth at state, with students winning best attorney, best witness and best closing argument awards.

Kaitlin Arnold became the fifth Lely High School student to win the Shakespeare Recitation Competition, then presented in the national competition in New York City.

Many scholarships were won by students to various service academies. And for the last four years Lely students have earned scholarships totaling more than $1 million each year.

Lely having five principals in four years has not helped its perception.

"We are saddened that Mike (Parrish) is leaving, he was a solid, steady leader," Hausauer said.

Jerrett said Parrish laid ground work for a good, positive direction.

"Lely is moving forward and we expect it to continue," she said.

"Mike Parrish is an awesome person, he has a positive attitude," McGarrity said. "Lely needs to get stabilized, get a person who will stay here, a person who will pick up the ball, work with the teachers and staff. We all need to be accountable."