Welcome to The Academies of Bryan Station 8th Grade Scheduling-Family Night

Academies of Lexington Overview What is this Academy thing??? Purpose of Academies Academies of Lexington Overview What is academy -It is a small learning community that takes a school that serves 1600 or 1700 students and turns it into a smaller school that serves 200-300 students. There is a focus on career themed curriculum and hands on project based and work based learning. - The business community of lexington and fayette county came together to transform education. By infusing high expectations and academic rigor with real-world relevance, career academies provide students with a solid academic foundation, 21st century knowledge, and technical skills. This approach eases the postsecondary transition, whether that transition is to postsecondary education or employment. Purpose The Academies of Lexington is the result of a partnership between Commerce Lexington and Fayette County Public Schools, as well as postsecondary institutions, business and industry partners, and civic organizations. Working with Ford Next Generation Learning, these stakeholders came together to develop a common vision for this community and implement the best practices necessary to transform the way public education is approached with the understanding that students deserve a new type of educational experience as innovative, as immersive, and as engaging as the world around them. What are the Academies of Lexington? The Academies of Lexington are small learning communities within Fayette County public high schools that allow all students to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real-world applications. These Academies provide students with a new kind of educational experience -- one that helps them truly thrive in today’s economy. This initiative is a partnership between Fayette County public high schools, students, families, educators, businesses, and community partners, uniting Lexington behind the cause of transforming public education. What are Academies? Based on the principle of small learning communities, academies are set apart from other schools because of their focus on career-related and academic coursework. These small learning communities, also known as schools within a school or schools of choice, serve small populations of students within larger learning environments. A typical high school may serve 2000 students, but a career academy might serve 200-300 of those students. These smaller learning environments allow for personalized learning, which can improve the rigor and use of real world applications in coursework. Additionally, small learning communities create a sense of belonging for students by making them accountable to each other and to their teachers. Academy students take classes together, remain with the same group of teachers over time, and follow a curriculum that includes rigorous academic courses as well as career- oriented courses and participate in work-based learning activities. Teachers from different subjects work together as a team to support student learning and achievement, and to provide students with academic content taught through the lens of the career theme. Teacher teams attend professional development together and share common planning time in order to develop and implement a career-themed curriculum. In addition, career academies have a principal and counselor to provide academy-specific support. “Originally designed as a dropout prevention strategy to keep at-risk high school students engaged in their education” (US Department of Education, 2016), the career academy model serves students from all backgrounds by engaging them with career-themed curricula and hands-on experiences. By infusing high expectations and academic rigor with real-world relevance, career academies provide students with a solid academic foundation, 21st century knowledge, and technical skills. This approach eases the postsecondary transition, whether that transition is to postsecondary education or employment.

Freshman Academy Administrative Staff Mr. Fred Snodgrass – Freshman Academy Principal Mrs. Kristy Field – Freshman Academy Principal Mrs. Yvette Thompson – Freshman Academy Counselor(A-K) Mrs. Dana Lawrence – Freshman Academy Counselor (L-Z)

Freshman Academy Structures/Supports Dedicated Wing/lunch In-school Academic Supports Commitment to Graduation Ceremony Career Expo College Visit Transition Supports (8th Grade Open House, Defender 101, Freshman Seminar, Peer tutors/mentors, etc)

Grading at the Academies of Bryan Station High School PERFORMANCE to show what a student knows, understands, and can do PRACTICE to learn and grow class work, homework, participation 4 = A (Exemplary) 3 = B (Proficient) 2 = C (Developing) 0.1 = F (Unsuccessful) 0 = F (No Attempt) tests, essays, projects EMPLOYABILITY to become career ready dependability, communication, and technology use Grading at the Academies of Bryan Station High School

Scheduling 2019-20 School Year 8th grade schedule cards for the 2019-20 school year will be given to the counselors at Bryan Station High school by the middle schools on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 . Each middle school has set their own procedures and deadlines for when materials must be returned to them before being delivered to the high school. Additional scheduling materials can be obtained from your student’s middle school counselor. Students must have 8 courses selected on their schedule card and all appropriate signatures obtained. Additional notations can be made on the card for specific program placements outside of BSHS. Winter/Spring MAP assessments in 8th grade and final transcripts will be evaluated to determine placement in 21st Century Reading and Math Intervention courses. 21st Century Literacy 1 = MAP Reading below 227 21st Century Math 1 = MAP Reading below 243

2019-20 Schedule Card

Upcoming events! 8th Grade Open House- March 27th 2019 @6pm Defender 101- Summer 2019

Defender 101 10 Day Summer Bridge Program held at BSHS during July 8th - July 19th at 8:00 am -12:45 pm. Student will be eligible to earn .5 general elective credit towards graduation!

Registration - simply use the link below! http://bit.ly/Defender101 10 Day Summer Bridge Program held at BSHS during July 8th - July 19th at 8:00 am -12:45 pm. Student will be eligible to earn .5 general elective credit towards graduation! There will be a mandatory parent meeting in Mid-Late June and we will provide further details using the email address given at registration. Permission slips - Program expectations, transportation, field trip(s)

Stay Connected! School website: www.bshs.fcps.net Academies of Bryan Station High School @BSHSacademies The Academies of Lexington @AcademiesofLex Academies of BSHS @BSHSacademies Academies of Lex @AcademiesofLex School website: www.bshs.fcps.net BSHS app- Google Play or iTunes