Linworth Alternative Program

Linworth Alternative Program
Address
2075 West Dublin-Granville Road Worthington , (Franklin County) , Ohio 43085 United States
Coordinates	40°5′22″N 83°2′45″W
Information
Type	Public, Coeducational high school
Established	1973
School district	Worthington City School District
Director	Chris Hasebrook
Grades	9-12
Mascot	Newt
Alumni	Linworth Alumni Partnership
Website	http://www.linworth.org

Linworth Alternative Program is located in Worthington, Ohio in the Linworth area and is part of the Worthington City School District.

History

The Linworth Alternative Program opened in the fall of 1973 as another high school option for students who also attended Worthington High School. Later, when the school district created two new schools, Linworth became an option for those who went to the new schools; Thomas Worthington High School or Worthington Kilbourne High School. The goal of the program is to fully engage students in their educations. This is accomplished by creating situations in which students have to make choices, take on more responsibility, and to actively apply what they have learned through experiential education.

Walkabout

The Walkabout program is designed for seniors who have met graduation requirements prior to the second semester of their senior year. It is provided to help students explore their possible career paths and to help students become more independent. Students plan two nine week, off campus activities which the they will attend full time. Students may choose anything in a related field of their desire with staff approval. Students are required to keep journals throughout their experience. The purpose of journaling is to have students reflect and think about their experiences away from school and in some cases away from home.

Town Meeting

Town meeting has been a part of the program since its beginning. Students and teachers have an opportunity to bring up issues that concern the school, main campus or city events that they would like to make known, or Town Meeting provides students an opportunity to get more involved in their school government and decision making. Town Meeting largely replaces Student Council at traditional high schools. Every person—regardless of status as a student, teacher, or administrator—gets one vote on all meeting initiatives.

Philosophy

Linworth relies on a framework of personal & social responsibility, trust and respect. Students make their own class schedules which are set in longer, college-like periods. There are no study halls—there is simply free time which students have the option of using in any way they choose. There is no designated lunch hour at Linworth, as each student has one hour of "sign-out" time each day, which can be used in segments or all at once. Additionally, there are no combination locks on the lockers, and students rarely, if ever, choose to secure their belongings. In true egalitarian fashion, teachers are called by their first names. Many school services, such as the computer network and the vending machines, are operated and sustained by the students themselves.

Reunions

Linworth Alternative High School organizes student reunions every 5 years. All alumni, students, and faculty from 1973 to present are invited to attend the reunions. These reunions take place on the school grounds. The most recent reunion was held in the summer of 2009. The 40th Linworth Reunion is scheduled for July 6, 2013.

NOSB

The Linworth National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) team has attended the Great Lakes Bowl, the regional competition held each year at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Currently, Linworth AP is no longer fielding a NOSB team, though they have several times in the past.

1999

6th place out of 15 teams. Team members: Lindsey Bleimes, Liz Baker, Diana Lafyatis, Claire Moore, & Emily Puckett.

2001

3rd place out of 12 teams. Team members: Michael Barfuss, Brian Carnahan, Captain Ryan Greene, Jon Pratt, and Ryo Sato.

2002

2nd place out of 11 teams. Team members: Michael Barfuss, Brian Carnahan, Captain Jon Pratt, Ryo Sato, and Ariel Cohen.

2003

2nd place. Team members: Michael Barfuss, Brian Carnahan, Ariel Cohen, Michael Petrick, and Captain Jon Pratt.

2004

1st place. Team members: Michael Barfuss, Lindy Long, Michael Petrick, Captain Jon Pratt, and Alex Whitney.

2005

1st place. Finished 9th place in the national competition in Biloxi, MS. Team members: Robert M. Barga, Ande Bell, Lindy Long, Captain Mike Petrick, and Alex Whitney.

Worthington Spelling Bee

2012

3rd place (behind two perennial adult winners). Team members: Gaby Poliseno, Mitchell Maynard, and Yulija Klochan. Liz Sweet served as Staff Advisor.