The Children’s Cabinet’s Redfield Academy congratulated the graduating class of 2015, who were honored at a special graduation ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on Sunday, June 14.
Graduates included:
- Jeronimo Rangel-Lopez: High School Diploma
- Jacqulin Acosta: High School Diploma
- Oscar Garcia: Certificate of Credits and Completion
- Jose Gonzalez: Certificate of Credits and Completion
- Brittany Barreiro: High School Equivalency and Certificate of Completion
- Josefina Garcia: High school Junior earning Credits and Early Completion
Redfield Academy, located at the Children’s Cabinet’s Wilbur D. May Youth Center at 777 Sinclair St., is an “alternative school” for youth to catch up on missing credits to get back on the path toward earning their high school diplomas. Redfield Academy fills a critical need in our community by providing educational opportunities for youth who are on the path to dropping out of school.
At-risk youth find success at Redfield Academy for a number of reasons:
- Small class settings with more attention from teachers and fewer distractions.
- Students are involved in developing their own personal academic plans.
- Students receive case management and counseling services to ensure that they follow through with completing their plans.
“When I first started, I was very unfocused towards getting my credits, because I was very immature. I was also a sophomore with only 4.5 credits, so I thought it would be impossible, said Redfield Graduate Jose Gonzalez. “With the support of the teachers and many case managers, I got my act together and set a goal for myself promising that I would graduate. Now I can look back and thank all the teachers and staff for never giving up on me and also making it clear that I can be somebody in life.”
The Nevada Department of Education reports a statewide public high school graduation rate of 70 percent. Nationally, this rate is 81 percent. The Children’s Cabinet works with the Washoe County School District and Washoe County Juvenile Services to support students and their families in working towards graduation. The negative implications of dropping out are personal and societal. Dropouts are more likely than high school graduates to live in poverty, be unemployed, receive welfare, be in prison, and to parent children who drop out of school. Addressing the dropout crisis is one of the most effective ways to promote long-term community health and economic growth.
“The educational environment at the Redfield Academy helps youth earn and recover credits,” said Lacey Dinius, School Principal of Redfield Academy. “It is also designed to teach students they can be successful in life and change their destinies by taking initiative, addressing challenges, and following through with the action necessary to learn in school and to achieve personal and academic goals.”
For more information please visit www.childrenscabinet.org or call
775-856-0356. Follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/childrenscabinet and Twitter at @ChldrnsCabnt.
About The Children’s Cabinet
Celebrating 30 years of supporting children and families, The Children’s Cabinet exists to keep children safe and families together by offering services and resources that address unmet needs through a unique and cooperative effort between the private sector and public agencies in Nevada. The Children’s Cabinet serves 11,000 Nevada families annually. Services including, providing food, shelter, and crisis intervention, child care assistance, academic support, parenting classes, and family counseling. Ensuring access to these services strengthens our community’s children and families.