[0:03] ♪ Let's go ♪ [0:06] - [Lindsey] What's the next element we're gonna look at? [0:07] - [Students] Hydrogen. [0:08] - Hydrogen. What do we know about hydrogen? [0:10] Hi, my name is Lindsey Novak, [0:12] I'm a science teacher here at Armstrong, [0:14] and one thing that I really love about this school [0:16] is the energy that the students bring to it [0:19] and the variety of classes that I get to teach. [0:21] I love seeing the students' curiosity every day. [0:27] - To be honest with you, [0:28] I'm impressed with students every day. [0:30] I think our student body here is unique [0:33] because we got kids coming from all different walks of life. [0:36] - Armstrong is a super welcoming community. [0:38] I felt like the second I walked in those doors last year [0:41] as a freshman, [0:42] like all my teachers and peers [0:44] have made me feel like I'm at home, [0:46] like this is my home away from home [0:48] - At Armstrong, I was really encouraged [0:50] to join leadership positions. [0:52] I mean, if you see all around the school, there's flyers, [0:54] there's clubs, there's always something to be active about. [0:57] - There's a lot of opportunities, [0:59] from elective classes that kind of introduce them [1:02] to some of the possible work fields [1:05] and then just the different clubs that are available [1:08] and building that confidence and finding where you belong [1:11] and what you're good at. [1:13] - I'm most appreciative of the academic support [1:16] and academic opportunities Armstrong gives you. [1:18] Armstrong has resource rooms for every subject, [1:21] science, math, English, social studies. [1:24] At Armstrong, we have two climate and culture specialists. [1:28] We have college prep programs like AVID. [1:30] We have a huge selection of AP classes, [1:33] and we have a lot of options for you [1:35] to take college classes when you're in high school. [1:37] - [Payton] Armstrong makes me wanna learn. [1:39] It makes me wanna try new things and better myself. [1:42] - Here at Armstrong, [1:43] we use something called the BARR model, [1:45] which stands for building assets, reducing risks. [1:47] And what it is is all [1:49] of the ninth grade students are divided into a team. [1:52] It gives kind of a smaller feeling [1:54] for that ninth grade class. [1:55] They get to know each other better, [1:57] and then the teachers get to know them. [1:58] When students are coming from middle school, [2:00] one thing I've noticed is that they're coming [2:02] from so many different places, [2:04] and something that's really important for them when they get [2:06] to high school is to be able [2:08] to find their place here at Armstrong. [2:11] One thing that the teachers here do really well [2:13] is get to know their students [2:15] and then encourage them to grow the gifts [2:17] that they're seeing in them [2:18] and the interests that they already have. [2:20] And we find that the more [2:21] that students feel like they belong here at Armstrong, [2:23] the better they do academically, socially, emotionally. [2:27] And that's what we try to do with them every day. [2:29] - I have watched my older son become [2:31] such a better student this year [2:32] because of the staff that I see working [2:34] so hard every single day. [2:36] He cares about school, and I think that's in large part due [2:39] to the caring staff who truly want [2:42] to see the best from every single one of their students. [2:45] - I can't always be there. [2:46] And so to know that people are looking out for them, [2:51] it means a lot. [2:52] - From the day I walked in freshman year, [2:54] I was just surrounded by people who were so welcoming. [2:57] My teachers, my friends. [2:59] School spirit has been amazing. [3:01] Armstrong has just such a strong sense of community. [3:03] - It's a phenomenal community, [3:05] and I'm proud of this school and I'm proud of this district. [3:08] Kids are leaving this place prepared, [3:10] and I think they're leaving this place as good people. [3:14] - Believe, belong, become.