Getting Ready for Speak Out!

DCTS gets 2 new ipads!!

DCTS recently was awarded a grant which enabled us to purchase 2 new ipads for students to use in school. Students have been busy writing graduation speeches, and getting ready for the SPEAK OUT May 15th!

SPEAK OUT, MAY 15TH, 2010

Come one, come all...every 26 seconds a student drops out of school; it's time to do something and SPEAK OUT.

WHERE: The Capitol and Corner of State Street
TIME: 12:00; check-in at 11:30 for a t-shirt and to register to speak (2-5 minutes per person).
DATE: Saturday, May 15th, 2010
RSVP: dctsalternative@gmail.com

See our website too, dctseducation.com!

Jessica Doyle Visits DCTS!

On Thursday, April 8th 2010, first lady Jessica Doyle and her assistant Ashley came to visit DCTS. She was a wonderful guest to have, and we shared a lot of stories with her during a sit-in (something we really like to have with visitors because it helps them get to know us and how we feel about our school). Here are some things Mrs. Doyle said about DCTS:

• "Had I known nothing about this place, I would have been sold just by hearing your stories."


• "A great testament to the school and yourselves."


• "I don't think I've ever seen a group that's been so attentive and so respectful to one another."

Here are a few highlighted quotes by students:

• My mom's actually proud of me for once!


• This place is the best thing that's happened to me.


• I was 2 years behind on credits because my family moved a lot. The "New Student" meeting explained the program and mission; it was at this meeting that I saw how DCTS strays from the traditional school program. We are able to be free to be ourselves at DCTS.


• Without this place, there was no way I was going to graduate. After I was expelled from my old school, I lost hope. Now I have direction.


• I ended up coming to DCTS due to a disease. I was receiving NO help from my home district. Finally, I got the state involved, and I made it here. I no longer have to sit at a computer and do online programs like Plato (I really hate Plato).


• I came to DCTS because I was being harassed by teachers and police. It was recommended that I come to DCTS. I decided to give it a shot. Now, I have a second chance.


• I have been through some terrible things in my life - this school has saved me - I hope that other people can come here and grow in the same way.


• Cliques at my home district were annoying. At DCTS, we're all one big family. This school has completely changed my life. My friends from my old school call and ask, "Hey, you wanna skip today?" I say, "Nah, I'm going to school."

A staff member's opinion:

• The curriculum is flexible and integrated. I can teach students carpentry and integrate elements of math and science that are linked to state standards. All curriculum is designed to be useful to life after high school. I am amazed, after all these years, that graduates come back and are doing really well. Nine out of ten kids walk out of here and are going some where. This job is very fulfilling - it's where I want to be.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Jessica Doyle for coming to visit DCTS! It meant so much to us.

When you're here, you're family...

This school is like a family, and we all know that. There are too many people that drop out because they can't learn in their school. Those are the kids we could be helping. Before I came here, I was gonna drop out. Now that I'm here, I'm thinking about going to MATC. I need this school, it helped me get back on track.

We can smash stuff here!

When I first came to DCTS, I was not planning on coming to school and having good attendance. About a week before school actually started, we were doing a project with Habitat for Humanity. People said that I was the best worker on the site. I got to smash down a four unit complex, and that was the day I decided I wanted ot go to MATC for construction and fire fighting. It took me a few weeks to actually realize this school is better for me than my old school

Too Legit to Quit

I never used to want to come to school, and now I love coming to school. DCTS is too legit to quit! If I wouldn't have come here, I probably would have dropped out of school. Teachers here care, they listen and take actions on what is needed for their students.

My Mom was Right?!

Before I came to DCTS, I would take a month break from school. I would sit at home and use. It was my mom who got me interested in going to DCTS. She said that it had worked for my older sister, and thought it was the right program for me. Turns out, my mom was right. I started going to school on a daily basis, and I'm also sober. I come because I know the teachers care, and they want me to succeed in life. They will change the way they teach just so I understand. I hope this school, my learning home, will be here next year for students like me.

Pass...

Since I have come to DCTS, I have enjoyed coming to school and learning. At the beginning of the year, at my home school, I was failing all of my classes. Since I was given the opportunity to come to DCTS, I am passing all of my classes.

Make music, make dreams...

Where can I start? Where would I be without DCTS? I can honestly say that I wouldn't know what to do with my life after high school, if I even passed high school. DCTS has helped me direct my life towards my dreams. More importantly, it's helped me bring out my dreams and approach them realistically.

I plan on going to a trade college to become a Luthier, a profession in which I can build and repair stringed instruments; including, cellos, violins, guitars, and pianos. I love to make music, and I love helping people make their own. This school has taught me the importance of helping others. Life is more than just about yourself; it's about helping others realize their own dreams. Without DCTS, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Freedom 1

Among other things, too many to be named, DCTS is great because of the freedom they give me. Before I came here, people were always condescending towards me because I was always practicing Parkour & Freerunning. Since coming here, I have been free to train in gym class, have inspired more than 10 people to start training, and started a PK/FR unit in PE. We are now producing a video for DCTS in hopes of helping the school stay open.

Freedom 2

DCTS has changed my life dramatically! I used to sit at home and smoke cigarettes all day, not going outside at all. But going to school has gotten me into parkour and freerunning. So now after school I go straight outside and practice PK/FR. Slowly I'm getting back into shape, and I've even quit smoking.

Before and After

Thanks to DCTS, my life has changed for the better. If it weren't for DCTS, I would still not be going to school or planning on going to college. Before DCTS, I would never have read a book. Now, I love to read. Before I came to DCTS, my old district singled me out to expel me. Now that I'm here, I'm succeeding in school again. It's an odd thing to hear myself say this often, but I love going to school.

The right to an education...

I don't understand why more people aren't at this school. This place saves lives! There are so many kids in this world whose lives are thrown away because people don't care if they are in school or not. Too many people in my life have been thrown away. Just because some people don't learn in the traditional way, doesn't mean they don't deserve an education. So many people in this world just take the easy way out. Give up. And that's not right. I'm tired of this bull. What happened to Humanity?

These are a few of my favorite things:

The main thing I like about the classes at DCTS: The staff teaches college preparation along with real-life skills and social coping strategies. Not only do I learn from my teachers, but I learn from EVERYONE of my classmates.

My favorite part of coming to DCTS: At DCTS, it doesn't matter that I am gay. I have a friendship with every person here. Also, I have grown into the person I've always wanted to be.

The moral is: DCTS is the best thing that could've happened to my high school career.

TBA...

Tell EVERYONE you know about our new idea! We are planning on holding a "speak-out" at a time and place, to be announced. We want our voices to be heard by our community, so we are going to get out there! We will not be shoved to the side, and we will not let this school die.

I could have used this place sooner...

I hated going to school; I was constantly beat up on by the other kids. If I said anything it became worse, so I shut-down. I was so down on myself that I began cutting; I used whatever I could find. The police were on my case, and so was my mom. Finally, my mom found out about DCTS, and yelled and screamed to get the school district to allow me to attend DCTS. I am so pissed that no one told me about DCTS until my junior year - I could have enjoyed high school instead of failing for two years. I don't know what to tell you guys, you have to raise heck to get in, but it's worth the fight. I don't understand why other schools can't look at me as someone of value. I felt like they were saying that I wasn't worth it. Don't let them do that to you - You can change your life IF you change your school.

I like school?!

I never went to school, I felt stupid - my teachers told me I was dumb. I felt like that from middle school until NOW - this year, I was lucky enough to be sent to Dane County Transition School. It's unreal! You wouldn't really get it unless you were here - but -believe me, I WAS JUST LIKE YOU until I found aplace that gets it - I am smart. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I like coming to school and learning! Why? Because I can be me. I help design the classes, I pick books that are interesting, I can ask for help without feeling dumb - they believe and respect me.

Spreading the word...

So here's some news: First Lady Jessica Doyle, the Wisconsin Governer's Wife, will be coming to DCTS tomorrow morning! She is one of the many important people we have talked to about our school. We have also met with Superintendent Tony Evers, Channel 3 News, and the Editorial Board for the Wisconsin State Journal. Spreading the word!! We'll let you know what happens tomorrow!

Today's DCTS Sit-in Comments

One of the unique activities we do at school is called a "sit-in". We all get together and pass around a candle and share a particular feeling based on a particular topic. We are planning to hold a speak-out in Madison, Wisconsin, and we want to share some things about ourselves to show others how important this school has been to us. Sit-ins help our school community come together. At today's sit-in, we are talking about how DCTS has changed how we look at learning. Check out our comments below:

" Teachers teach me how to handle real life things."

"The best thing about this school is that the teachers make you feel safe."

"I actually want to get up and come to school, which has never happened before."

"Everybody gets along with each other at DCTS."

"If I hadn't come to this school, I would have dropped out. It is easier for me to learn and make friends here. Before, I wasn't planning on going to college, but now I am excited about it."

"If it weren't for this school, I would be staying at home or getting into trouble."

"Before I didn't feel like I could be successful, but now I am planning on going to college for Journalism."

"If I wasn't at this school, I would have no plans for college. Before, I didn't care about anything, and I was messing up my life. All in all, DCTS is a reality check; it helps you get going again."

"I learn more at DCTS in a week than I would in a year at a regular school."