Charter high school graduation set for Saturday

Finishing its fourth full year at its new campus, Richard McKenna Charter High School will celebrate the graduation of seven students during a ceremony Saturday morning.

The commencement begins at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 950 North 7th East Street.

Teachers and charter school officials will speak during the graduation ceremony. They will also announce the recipient of this year's school scholarship.

School officials need students to arrive by 9 a.m. Saturday with doors to the church open to guests at that time. Seating remains limited, and admission tickets are required. People may pick up these tickets from graduating seniors.

Before this week's graduation, McKenna educators hold an end-of-year lunch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. In addition to a musical program, the school holds a silent auction featuring an assortment of gifts and gift certificates from donations by parents of students, school faculty and local businesses. The auction allows students to spend their "McKenna Bucks," which they earn throughout the year for volunteer service, exceptional attendance and more.

A graduation rehearsal follows the lunch at 1 p.m. Students attending the events must wear their school uniforms.

Accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, the Idaho public charter high school formed in 2004 by the state's public charter school commission. It serves the needs of approximately 45 students in grades 9 to 12 at its Mountain Home campus. Hundreds of additional standard education and at-risk students across the state receive their education through its online programs.

Over the years, its faculty helps students become self-reliant by focusing on critical learning and thinking skills with added emphasis on interpersonal communication and mutual respect, according to school officials. Besides teaching standard academic subjects like math, geography and language arts, the school's curriculum includes more unique classes, like alternative energy, Native American history and astronomy.

In addition, the school encourages civic involvement and volunteer service throughout the year. During this school year, students attending its campus invested more than 1,090 hours conducting a variety of volunteer projects in the Mountain Home community.