Flexibility key part of education at independent school

Editor’s note: Whitefish Independent High School serves students with an alternative secondary educational approach through an established culture that promotes a safe learning environment. Students who attend the school do so for a variety of reasons. Throughout the school year, students from the Indo (as they call it) plan to share their personal stories and experiences at the school.

A few things brought me here but the most important and least understood by the community at-large is: this school is flexible with each student. They realize that every situation is different and they address each student’s needs. In my case, I need to see a connection to what I am “told” is important to learn and what I “know” is important to learn. If it wasn’t for the opportunities at the “Indo” (as we call it), I would never have gained the professional work experience I have.

Because of the Whitefish Independent High School, I developed a unique and in-demand skill set as a lighting and sound technician. Normally a teenager with this interest takes a shot at being a DJ for dances or other events — more like a hobby experience. I, however, am the right-hand to Micah Gruschupf of the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. There we move-in, set-up, run, tear-down, and move-out all the events that the PAC hosts. Additionally, I take a class at Flathead Valley Community College with Richard Haptonstall to further my expertise and support the FVCC productions, too. Without WIHS, I would have dropped out at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year and fell into a careless lifestyle. WIHS has allowed me to develop a sense of responsibility and more importantly: accountability.

Our academic expectations are the same as a traditional program: come to school and do our work to graduate. How the WIHS differs, though, is that if our work is not acceptable, we must redo it. We cannot fail a class here, we just keep getting re-assigned until we demonstrate proficiency.

Lastly, through classes like Jobs for Montana Graduates, we have helped with improving the Whitefish Trail system. Under the guidance of Alan Myers-Davis of Whitefish Legacy Partners, we gain an understanding of specialized tools and environmental stewardship. On Oct. 6 the school spent the day at the Lion Mountain trailhead making multiple improvements. It was my second time serving on this project, and the independent school’s seventh year improving with the trails.

All of us left with a sense of belonging to the Whitefish community because we gave something of ourselves to it.

T.J. Belcher is a junior at the Whitefish Independent High School.