Moving Forward in the 21st Century PHS Wall-TO-Wall Moving Forward in the 21st Century Working in partnership to ensure Academic achievement, responsible Behavior and Civic engagement.

What are career academies? Career academies are designed to prepare students for both college and careers. They are schools within schools that link students with peers, teachers, and community partners in a structured environment that fosters academic success. The career academy concept has three key elements: A small learning community (SLC) A college-prep sequential curriculum with a career theme An advisory board that forges partnerships with businesses, higher education and the community.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Plattsmouth High School’s wall-to-wall academies will be based on our students’ current learning interests and career goals.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Students will benefit from this academy model in many important ways. From the start, students gain a sense of belonging as they are grouped within small learning communities within the larger school.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Smaller learning communities will allow students to become engaged immediately with integrated applied content and support from a core group of teachers as well as classmates with similar learning and career interests.

PHS Wall-to-Wall Academies offer our students various opportunities to participate in designed programs of study, receive industry certifications and gain real world experiences through job shadowing, internships, business mentorships, and partnerships with businesses in related fields.

Academy Structure During the ninth grade year, the students will complete multiple inventories that revolve around learning interests, individual strengths, and career education.  At the conclusion of the ninth grade year, students will determine the academy in which they would like to enroll.

Academy Structure Students are obligated to an academy for one school year. If a student feels that the academy is not a good fit, he/she may try another academy.  All students will be a part of an academy. Within each academy a student will have the opportunity to complete a program of study.  

Governance The Advisory Board will have membership from administration, academy teachers, school board, business and post secondary institutions.  The Advisory Board will help set goals and do what is ever necessary for the academy to be successful.

Governance Cross-curricular teaching teams and student leadership will help guide the success of the each academy.

Governance Sophomore, junior, and senior advisory groups would have a career mentor who will meet once a month with the group. The career mentor will work on soft skills with the students and provide information pertaining to his/her respective career area.

Business/Community Partners: What will they do? Each partnership is a mutual understanding between the business/community and the school. The minimum requirement to maintain a partnership is to participate in one academy related event per semester. Events would include: Being an advisory board member College/career fair participation Supporting teacher externships Being a guest speaker Being a career mentor Providing curriculum advice Hosting field trips Providing student internships Allowing student job shadowing

Key Components During the 8th grade year, students will visit the high school for academy presentations and to become educated on the expectations of the high school academies.  

Key Components The freshman year will contain a class that would help each student identify her/his learning and career interest. Students would take inventories and participate in career exploration to assist in guiding their academy decisions.

Key Components Freshman academies will still utilize the freshman transition program and career exploratory speakers.

Key Components During the senior year, students will complete a capstone project that will utilize internships, work study and/or portfolios.

Key Components Students will be committed to an academy for one school year before they can make a change in their home academy. Students are allowed to take classes in whichever academy best fits their needs.

Key Components AP and dual credit classes will be enhanced as students focus more on being career and college ready.

Academy Structure #1 Business, marketing & mgt. Education A/ V Tech Communications Human Services & Hospitality Completer Programs: High School of Business, Education, Culinary Supporting groups: FCCLA, ER,DECA, FBLA

Academy Structure #2 Science (Health Science) Technology Engineering Aeronautics Mathematics Completer Programs: jROTC, Medical Science(CNA) Supporting groups: HOSA, jROTC, Skills USA

Academy Structure #3 Architecture & Construction Transportation/Logistics Environmental & agricultural systems Arts Manufacturing Completer Program: Diesel Mechanic Supporting Groups: Skills USA

Key Components Academies will do cross-curricular projects. An annual review of the wall-to-wall program and academy elements will be completed using a continuous improvement model.

Things Yet to Be Considered What will the school day look like? Block vs 8 period day How can we have three separate physical academies in our building? Who will teach in each academy?