Why upgrade?
Our students last year were clear:
- although they had to work hard, they learned a lot,
- many felt they learned more in the Communications for Life Success/Technology for Life Success course in one year than they'd learned in the rest of their high school combined!
- Every student made gains, and some made two to three year gains, on their standardized testing, even in subjects where they had not specifically focused,
- Each student not only completed, but achieved excellent scores on their "Exit Presentation," a final performance assessment that included public speaking, presenting in Dakota, and self-advocacy.
Last year was a "pilot program" that let us experiment to see what types of things worked well. This year, we will offer new courses (so that students from last year can continue, but learn new things).
In the morning, we will have a block scheduled class (period 3,4, and 5) for up to eight Juniors and Seniors.
- Communication 4Life Success (earns English credit)
- Math and Money (earns Math or Personal Finance credit)
- Career Skills 4Life Success (earns CTE credit)
7th Hour, up to six freshmen and sophomores will take a unique, hands-on math course called "Math Skillz 4Life Success." This small-group learning experience allows students who struggle to succeed in larger classes . The focus is on math you can use, and many will go on to succeed in other high school math courses, such as algebra.
In the afternoon, we will have a second block-scheduled class (period 8,9, and 10) for a different group of up to eight Juniors and Seniors.
- Workforce Literacy 4Life Success (English)
- Workforce Math 4Life Success (Math or Personal Finance credit)
- Employment Skills 4Life Success (CTE credit)
As you can imagine, this class will be focused on developing adult skills for success in a workforce setting. We'll explore career and job possibilities, plus the writing, reading, technology, and math skills necessary for adult work success.
Each course offers different content, so students can take whichever best fits their personal goals for life after high school.
Students in these courses are students of high potential who also have IEPs or 504 Plans. They must have a teacher recommendation, plus an interview and application. The interview and application are done during our first week of school.
During the year, this website will be a great place to visit to see what we're learning and doing. Please feel free to scroll down to peek at last year's successful and engaging learning. Then, come back often for more.
