Briggs: The P.O.W.E.R. To Renew

Dear Friends, Families and Visitors,

We're very happy that you've decided to visit our website to find out more information about us.

We are Norwalk's Alternative High School. We refer to ourselves in many ways, a magnet school (because we accept students from all over the district), a fresh start school (because students have an opportunity to experience again what a wonderful experience it is to be an engaged and successful student), a small school full of great opportunities. We are all of these things, depending upon the needs of our students. Mostly, however, we are a student-centered learning environment.

The staff at Richard C. Briggs High School is dedicated to providing a quality education to the students who are enrolled. Many students come to us with moderate to severe academic deficiencies and we are committed to helping them fill in their learning gaps and become proficient learners. Some of our students have been Honor Roll students in middle school and were overwhelmed by the size of the comprehensive high school. The smallness of the school, the caring of the staff and the close knit relationships between staff and students that is nurtured in the school makes Briggs a good place to learn.

We are very fortunate in that we have two teachers for each academic discipline; we also offer PE, Health, Art and Graphic Design. We have a wonderful day care where up to eight babies, babies of students who are attending Briggs, are well cared for. The young mothers and fathers have an opportunity to eat lunch with their babies and participate in a child development class in the day care. Our day care has had a waiting list for the past two years.

We have an incredible after school photography program, where students have an opportunity to work with a professional photographer and learn about digital photography. Participants in this program have taken picutres for various community organizations and their pictures have been used in the organizations year end reports.

Our students know that we have very high expectations for them. We believe that each student who wants to should have the opportunity to experience college. This opportunity is presented to our students via our very successful Briggs-Norwalk Community College Academy. Students who are part of the Academy take college classes while they are still in high school. They get a chance to graduate from high school with a college transcript and the knowledge that they can accomplish college level work. This is a unique opportunity in an alternative school.

Parents often ask us about the graduation requirements. We are Norwalk's third high school and, as such, the requirements are the same as they are for the comprehensive high schools: 20 credits and proficiency on the CAPT.

If you are in need of a smaller learning envrionment where your academic needs will be met, an environment where every teacher knows you, where you are expected to achieve behaviorally and academically, where you are given opportunitites to make-up work and are provided with tutorials to help you understand your work. If you want an early college experience, come visit us. We are a great place to learn.

Sincerely yours,

Alaine Lane, Principal