Student Life

Rotary De Tolosa provides a PBHS student with the opportunity to take part in the yearly Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. Young people are chosen for their leadership potential to attend an all-expenses-paid camp to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. 

RYLA aims to:

• Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders;
• Encourage leadership of youth by youth;
• Encourage youth to make a difference in their communities through volunteer work and social responsibility; 
• Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth.

For detailed information, see the RYLA website.

The Portfolio Project requires that all graduates complete extensive career and future goal assessments to guide them in career selection including applying to at least one college,12 hours of community service, job shadowing, and scholarship interviews. The portfolio also includes a completed resume, letters of recommendation and list of references.

Through a network of community organizations and businesses, each graduate completes a job shadow in their area of occupational interest. Past shadow experiences have included pediatric medical assistants, dental hygienists,  recording studios, veterinarians and equine facilities, automotive repair, police ride-alongs, acupuncturists,  engineering and fabrication,  and fire stations.

More than 30 PBHS students have been participating in a new program that combines instruction in several academic subjects with hands-on experience creating, tending and harvesting a school garden. Teachers Anne Wilder and Terry Jacobsen have been collaborating with volunteers from the non-profit organization, Central Coast Grown (CentralCoastGrown.org), to engage students with learning the biology of plants and the principles of sustainable agriculture or “agro-ecology” in the classroom and with putting that knowledge to work in the field. “The field” is located a few minutes’ walk from the school on City Farm, the City of San Luis Obispo’s Calle Joachin Agricultural Preserve. While learning, students have succeeded in transforming a quarter-acre patch of brick-hard clay soil into a productive and beautiful garden providing local organic food.

The Farm Program offers all students the opportunity to learn science, English, economics, history and math at the same time they enjoy growing and eating (and eventually selling) organic vegetables. In cooperation with SLO City Farm, we have access to one acre of prime organic farm land, only a few minutes walk from campus. Students work the soil, plant and maintain the vegetable crops, and harvest the fruits of their hard work.

The school yearbook is created during one quarter, providing students with the opportunity to earn credits in a job skills based course. Microsoft Publisher is used to create page templates and increase the student knowledge base. Yearbook class qualifies for elective credit, which is required for graduation.