The aim of our school is to help students develop into internationally minded people who share their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, and who seek to help create a better and more peaceful, equitable world (modified from Peachtree Elementary School website http://teacherweb.com/GA/PeachtreeElementarySchool/Homepage/apt18.aspx)

 

 

 

·         creating a safe environment for risk taking (failure), engagement, and communication

·         developing independent learners that ask questions, pursue knowledge and new skills 

·         helping students establish habits of mind that facilitate participation, action and reflection

·         facilitating collaboration and connection with material and the community (local through global) …think teams??

·         giving students a voice and a choice (social and emotional engagement??)

·         incorporating technological tools to facilitate authentic learning and collaboration

·         developing real world application?? PBL?? Internships?? Service Learning??

·         encouraging inquiry, innovation, creativity, and problem solving

 

 (These goals were developed from reading IB Learner profiles, http://www.ibo.org/, Burke, 2013; https://www.english.com/blog/21st-century-skills. )

 

 

“Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literature environments, the 21st century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies.” Jim Burke (The English Companion p. 12)

 

1.      Learn and master new technological tools

2.      Establish collaboration with others on global level, by building strong relationships and encourage exchanging ideas/ solving problems 

3.      Create, critique, manage, analyze, and evaluate multi-media texts

4.      Understand ethical/ moral themes and / or obligations that texts rise and establish connections.

 

I.                   Teachers will follow 10 Elements of Effective Instruction

 

·         Provide necessary conditions for optimum learning and engagement: create a safe and supportive environment.

·         Establish and communicate clear, specific learning objectives.

·         Make explicit connections between present and past lessons, student’ lives, other texts or subjects.

·         Prepare students by teaching relevant background knowledge, skills and academic language and literacies.

·         Integrate assessment thought instructional process, using the date to establish initial understanding, measure progress, provide feedback, refine instruction, and prepare students for future performance.

·         Teach students strategies for learning, remembering, and doing.

·         Model by providing examples and give clear directions to students-work with students-let them work independently -feedback.

·         Use various instructional methods, mods, and media.

·         Ask students to generate a range of ideas, interpretations, solution, questions, and connections.

·         Provide meaningful opportunities to practice, perfect, and perform all lessons in class and at home.

 

 

1.      Emphasize the importance of common cultural heritage (Mathew Arnold).

2.      Development of the intellect through engagement in great ideas/ discussions (Applebee).

3.      Development of essential language skills (Burke).

4.      Develop lesson plans based on students’ interests and appeal rather that their place in common culture (John Dewey).

II. Shared Commitments (Adopted from Phoenix High School, Lawrenceville, Ga)
 
 The following sets of shared commitments (Teacher and Student) have been developed to directly support your academic success at May Force Be with You High School Please note that the Student Commitments section was generated by both current and former May Force Be With You High School students.
 

 | Teacher Commitments

 Each teacher is committed to the following:

·         Personal Learning ·         Plan for Student-Centered Learning ·         Use Consistent Criteria for Learning ·         Make Assessment Criterion and Performance-Based ·         Participate in Professional Conversations and Support Phoenix's Philosophy
Personalize Learning
 
 ·         Take time to get to know your students as individual learners. Choose and use a variety of teaching, learning, and assessment strategies that address the needs and talents of each student that will help them learn well. ·         Invite students to participate in making decisions and plans about their work. ·         Be positive with students. Help each student feel positive about him or herself and about education. ·         Develop specific classroom procedures and make sure each student knows your expectations. Deal with student behavior calmly, quietly, and consistently. Show respect and deal individually with problems
 Plan for Student-Centered Learning
 
 ·         Engage students in active work that teaches and applies essential knowledge and skills. ·         In every class, give student opportunities to work with other students. ·         Help students make connections between classroom activities and their larger world. ·         Incorporate course appropriate technology throughout the curriculum. ·         Plan thoroughly for the full two hours of class each day. 100% of class time should be used for instructional purposes. Make quality bell-to-bell learning a priority.
 Use Consistent Criteria for Learning
 
 ·         Expect all students to meet specific standards on essential knowledge and skills in order to receive course credit. ·         Do everything you can to help each student successfully meet the standards. ·         Prepare and give to students a course syllabus including objectives or key concepts, classroom expectations, and grading practices. The syllabus should be consistent with school system and Phoenix curriculum and policies. ·         Provide students with timely and appropriate feedback.
 Make Assessment Criterion and Performance-Based
 
 ·         Use a variety of assessment activities that account for individual differences. ·         Base assessment on demonstrations of real knowledge, skills, and habits of mind. ·         Give students opportunities for self-assessment. ·         Expect students to explain and defend their work through various means such as presentations and performances. ·         Provide reasonable opportunities for students to revise, relearn, and reassess their work. ·         Model learning for students: share your learning, problem-solving skills, and habits of mind. ·         Participate in Professional Conversations and Support Phoenix's Philosophy ·         Join the decision-making process and accept shared responsibility for instruction at Phoenix. ·         Teach with enthusiasm and be involved with your students. Concern and extra steps taken on the part of teachers help students make the difference between success and failure. | Student Commitments
Each student is committed to the following:

·         Exhibit Mature Behavior ·         Maintain Attendance ·         Take Responsibility for Learning ·         Motivation to Make Good Decisions ·         Respect
Exhibit Mature Behavior
 
 ·         Adult privileges are given to students; students should exhibit respect and proper behavior. ·         Students must be responsible for their own conduct. ·         Student must realize when it is appropriate to speak and express themselves without offending others. ·         Students should come to school drug free. ·         Maintain Attendance ·         Attendance is required. ·         Students are responsible for their own attendance and should maintain reasons for using absences and tardies. ·         Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from school.
 Take Responsibility for Learning
 
 ·         Walk into the building ready to learn. ·         Students should be prepared with classroom materials each day. ·         Students are required to participate in class. ·         Stay focused and attentive during class. ·         Students should do all work assigned. ·         Turn in assignments on time. ·         Make up any assignments on time. ·         Students should put forth the effort to earn the highest grades possible and to graduate.
 Motivation to Make Good Decisions
 
 ·         Come to class with a positive attitude. ·         Be ready to work when you enter the classroom. ·         Students should be motivated to make long-term goals in and out of school and short-term goals to keep up their grades. ·         Students should show motivation to make good decisions for long and short-term results. ·         Respect ·         Students should respect the teachers, staff, and other students in the building. ·         Students should respect the school building and equipment. ·         Students should respect individuality in teachers and other students. ·         Students should respect the ideas of others. ·         Students should respect that others are here to learn.

 4�

C-Squared is a learning academy that enriches the lives of the community (students, faculty, staff, parents, volunteers, and the community as a whole) through rigorous, and rich developmental academia via relationship-based education.  This is done through experiential, project-based learning that empowers students to build a diverse, interconnected, just and sustainable world.

Vision:

C-Squared thrives to be the cornerstone of preparation for the future; locally, nationally, and globally

C-Squared is driven to student success on the basis of collaboration, change orientation, student centered, participatory, interactive and globally competitive body. 

C-Squared’s articulation of its core values ground the school in this global approach.  These values are:

1- EDUCATION-Students will maximize unlimited resources for optimal education.

2-INNOVATION- In a constantly changing world, the ability to approach challenges in a new way is vital.  C-Squared teachers and students design projects that encourage divergent thinking, creativity through the arts, and risk-taking.

3- COLLABORATION- Creating an environment that builds on relationship building, empowerment, and experiences, C-Squared focuses on the collective ideas of others for the greater good. 

4-EFFECTIVENESS- C-Squared’s teachers will continue to grow professionally, stay current in trends, and provide current information and resources to the students, in order to maintain high literacy across all curriculum/content areas.  

5-CONNECTIONS TO LITERATURE- When students identify and explore literary works  through adventure and critical thinking, they begin to view themselves as a unit of expression. 

CORE VALUE PYRAMID