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When Heritage high School opened its doors in August – Principal Mark Mimms and his staff had some good ideas already in place.

He wanted Heritage to exhibit class.

He wanted Heritage students to graduate.

He wanted to challenge them to think of others first.

As second semester is now underway – those steps to making those goals happen have already begun.

Walk into Heritage High School and you hear and see high ideals in practice. Heritage’s Coyote Creed  is C.L.A.S.S. Character, Leadership, Accountability, Scholarship, and Service to Others.  The campus banner that proclaims C2G™ isn’t advertising a new club or new addition to the Periodic Table of Elements. C2G™ stands for Commit to Graduate. Heritage is a Rachel’s Challenge school – which means many students are working to promote kindness and tolerance.

The truth is that these concepts are evident in all Frisco ISD high schools. Frisco High School is in the second year of its Commit Not to Quit program. Centennial High School has been honored for the number of its students who take the ACT test in preparation for college. Both Wakeland and Liberty High School are strong in promoting academic success and positive attitudes. But principal Mark Mimms and his faculty wanted to open Heritage with all of these elements of success in place. Heritage wanted to set a pace and a tone for what the district’s newest high school would represent, Mimms says.

Heritage High School is the Model C2G™ high school in the western United States. C2G™ (Commit to Graduate) , is a program that is sponsored by Jostens and was developed based on doctoral research done by Lisa Spain, sister-in-law of Principal Randy Spain of Centennial High School. Jostens is in the graduation business, selling class rings, caps and gowns, announcements and other memorabilia that goes with high school graduation. But many of its employees are also former educators. Jostens has offered its support to campuses who want to initiate the program, helping with development and off-setting some costs.

Although Heritage doesn’t even have seniors yet, the entire school has its eye on graduation.  The goal is to have all of the Class of 2012 and all those who come after earn a diploma.

The goal of graduating may seem obvious to parents and teachers but students may not always realize the importance of a high school diploma. In fact, Mimms asked the teachers opening Heritage High School to bring in their high school diplomas and display them in their rooms. Dana Chumbley has draped her letter jacket on a skeleton. Other have brought their caps and gowns and displayed them along with the diplomas.  Mimms did ask that the teachers not make a big fuss about it – display the items and wait for the students to comment. The strategy has worked. Several teachers have had conversations with students about how important their high school graduation was to them.

Geometry teacher Casey Robertson is an experienced math teacher. She says she knew that the high ideals Heritage has embraced are working when she met with one of Heritage’s coaches about how some of his young men were doing in math. “Several of these students were struggling but as we talked about how to reach them - Coach Davis told me that the boys know I haven’t given up on them. That’s the first time anyone has said that to me in 13 years,” she said.

 “We are the first school to open as a C2G™ school,” Mimms said. Heritage has opened this year with only freshmen and sophomores. Teachers identified 100 students as leaders among their peers and nominated them to spend a few days developing ideas for promoting C2G™ – a smaller group of leaders had been selected in second semester. “I asked the teachers to observe the first few weeks of school and come up with leaders. Not just the top 10 students in the school or the ones who are going to be in National Honor Society. Those kids are great. They are leaders. But we also wanted the quiet leader – the one who sometimes goes unnoticed. The one who always come to school and gives their best,” Mimms said.

Teacher Korinna Kirchhoff says that the selection of the leadership team has been very interesting. She likes the fact that Mimms specifically asked teachers to encourage all students, regardless of their academic ability, that show leadership qualities to be in on the C2G™ planning. Kirchoff says the atmosphere of high expectations and the positive attitude has made a difference as Heritage has developed its own identity. “Even students who were hesitant at first have responded,” she said. One older 10th grader who has struggled has become aware that all his teachers are watching his performance daily and communicating their findings with his parents. “He is beginning to communicate with teachers, as well,” she noted. A major part of the Heritage plan is communication – with students and parents, according to Mimms.

Heritage has a very diverse population with a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The sophomores had attended both Liberty and Wakeland High Schools and had to shift from being Redhawks and Wolverines to Coyotes. Being part of a brand new school was a little difficult in the first weeks. But all the preplanning and C2G™ are playing a big part in setting a tone at Heritage, Mimms said.

The students who have been selected to serve as the C2G™ leadership team are developing a design for the first Heritage High School diplomas and covers. During the first semester students signed commitment banners and all students will receive a neon green wristband to wear to show their commitment. The banners are on display in the cafeteria. Other programs such as a Math Boot Camp work were implemented to help student improve their math skills.  As an incentive, the students were fed an early morning breakfast or pizza as an after school snack. And yes – there were people who just wanted pizza – but they came and participated. The camp will be held again, teachers say.

Heritage student Fallon Miller is in 9th grade. She is one of the motivated people who already knows what she wants to do with her life – go to Texas A&M and become a veterinarian. Miller says she has noticed many other students talking about C2G™.  But as any freshman, she also knows people who have no interest in talking about graduation or making plans for their future. That’s why she hopes the banner and other ideas that have been put in place begin to influence the entire student body. “I would hope anyone in their right mind would want to graduate,” she said.

Mission statements, banners, and wristbands have all been tried over the years as part of various programs. What is the extra step of C2G™ that Mimms and his leadership team hope will make a difference? He breaks it down into these four parts:

Working with parents: Heritage plans to work with the schools in its feeder pattern to reinforce the goal of high school graduation. Heritage also wants to educate parents about what needs to be done as their student enters the last year of middle school and prepares to enter high school.  They are providing detailed information about each year of high school and the steps students need to take to be successful. “We will visit with parents at eighth grade parent night to explain our school initiatives,” Mimms said.  “We hope they will ask lots of questions and be excited about sending their son or daughter to Heritage.”

Getting students on board: Coyote Roundup for freshmen is a major part of introducing Heritage values and goals to students, according to Mimms.

Getting involved:  “We show kids we value them every day.” Heritage teachers and administrators are dedicated to knowing their students and identifying their needs.

Service to others: The goal is to show students that they have something to offer the world by volunteering or building up another person. “Sometimes people get so involved in their own plight that they don’t think they can reach out to others,” Mimms noted. “We are encouraging our students to look outside themselves and help someone else.”

Mimms says he and his staff have the goal that 100 percent of the students who attend Heritage will walk across the stage and receive a diploma.

“A goal of 100% of our students graduating might seem like a high standard, but we are convinced we can do it.” Mimms said.