Accelerated Achievement

Academy

A California Distinguished School

Parent & Community Informational Meeting

Calaveras School Campus Hollister School District

Hollister, CA

March 16, 2015

The Highest Achieving School in San Benito County!

Accelerated Achievement Academy

Home of the Alligators

Opened in August of 2010

API 940!

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

A California Distinguished School 2013

• Commendations include:

– A concentration on Professional

Learning Communities

– High Parent Involvement

-- Provide shaping for Honors level

classes at the high school level

-- Presentation skill development

incorporating technology

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• WELCOME! • Meeting Objectives

– Introductions – Magnet School Philosophy – Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Vision • Organization and Location • Scope • Administration • Program Highlights • Enrichment • Teaching Staff • Admission Requirements • Parent and Student Expectations • Uniforms • Application Process

– Responding to YOUR questions!

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Introductions

– Mr. Joe Rivas, Principal – Mrs. Christine White, Principal of

Calaveras School – Mrs. Tiffany Bianchi, Resource Teacher – Teaching Staff: Mrs. Bessette, Mrs.

Maddock, Mrs. Josselyn, Ms. Laitinen, and Ms. Alvarez

– Academy Parent Club

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Hollister School District’s Magnet School Philosophy in 2007

– To provide parents choice of school

theme and grade level configuration.

– To broaden educational offerings

for all students.

– To enhance student

learning and achievement.

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School Configurations in the HSD

• K-5 at Ladd Lane, ROHardin,

Sunnyslope, Cerra Vista and Gabilan

Hills

• K-8 at Calaveras

• 6-8 at Maze Middle and Rancho

• K-8 Hollister Dual Language

• 4-8 Accelerated Achievement

Academy

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Vision

– The Accelerated Achievement Academy provides a rich learning environment in which high-achieving and gifted students are challenged to reach their fullest potential.

– To go deeper into the standard curriculum

– To participate in unique enrichment programs.

-- Strategic focused work

load in the classroom

-- Engaging project based

learning

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Organization and Location

– Separate public school for 4th-8th

grade students in the county – A school for gifted and high achievers – Five classrooms located in a wing on

the Calaveras School campus – Additional math and PE teachers – Shared office and staff – Shared library, 72 Chrome books for 120

students and multi-purpose room

– Shared playground access

– Shared drop-off/pick-up areas

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Scope

– 4 with 24 students (Bessette)

– 5 with 30 students (Laitinen)

– 6 with 25 students (Maddock)

- 7 with 26 students (Alvarez)

- 8 with 15 students (Josselyn)

– The goal is to grow to 30 students in each grade level.

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Administration on Campus – Academy Principal, Mr. Joe Rivas

– Calaveras Principal, Mrs. Christine White

– Resource Teacher, Mrs. Tiffany Bianchi

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Program Highlights: – Based largely upon the Joseph Renzulli

model of “schools for talent development”

– Through curriculum compacting, students move at a faster pace and dig deeper into the grade level curriculum using thinking maps as a tool

– Emphasis on the Common Core State Standards

– Activities are designed to challenge students’ critical, logical, and creative thinking skills based on Bloom’s Taxonomy

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Program Highlights: – Students will be able to capitalize upon

their own unique strengths, as demonstrated on pre-assessments

– Once skill mastery has been demonstrated, alternate activities will be provided based upon the data collected

– Done through professional

learning communities

-- Standards based hands

on enrichment field trips

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Program Highlights Students and faculty create and participate

in unique enrichment classes: – Photography – Writing – Product Development – Journalism – Community Service Projects (Small Steps

and Community Pantry) – Technology – Ag in the Classroom – Rachel’s Challenge Projects

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Technology

• Promethian Board in one classroom,

and 70 inch television projection

system in 4 rooms

• Accelerated Reader

• Math Support

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Teaching Staff – Teachers are receiving professional

development in the following areas: • Differentiated instruction to meet

individual student needs • Strategies and modifications for the high

achievement classroom • Learning style identification strategies

(Gregoric Learning Style Inventory and Multiple Intelligence models, Kate Kinsella, Anita Archer)

• Enhancing creativity in the classroom • Ideas for project-based, hands-on

learning activities • Meeting the unique social and emotional

needs of high-achieving students

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Admission – All students in the Hollister School District

as well as within San Benito County are welcome to apply! Admission to the Accelerated Achievement Academy is based primarily on the following criteria: • District Benchmark Scores

• Teacher Observations

• Task Commitment

• Report Cards

• Writing Sample

• Non-verbal Intelligence

Test

verbal intelligence

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Parent and Student Expectations

– An agreement detailing teacher, parent and student expectations will be signed each year .

– Parents are asked to volunteer at least 20 hours a year to the school.

– Parents must provide their child’s transportation to school.

– Students wear uniforms to school.

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School Uniforms

• Black/Khaki Pants,

Capris, or Skirts

• Black, White, or

Green Polo Shirts

• Black or White

Sweaters or

Sweatshirts with no

logo

• Academy Shirts or

Sweatshirts okay

• Black or Brown

Belts

• White, Brown or

Black Socks

• White, Brown or

Black Sneakers for

Physical Activities

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Are we moving the

Academy?

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• Application Process – Applications may be obtained in the

school office throughout the year or online at hesd.org

– Completed applications are requested before May for the next school year, and are accepted year-round

– The Principal will review the applications – Parents will be notified of application

acceptance or denial by phone

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

• For more information…

– Please contact Joe Rivas: • (831) 636-4460 • jrivas@hesd.org

• Hollister School District Educational Services Department (831) 630-6300

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Shadow Day

• Thursday, March 19 10:00-12:30

• Sign in begins10:00-10:30

• School Tour 10:30-12:00

• Classroom Visitations 10:30-12:00

• Lunch/Pick up 12:00-12:30

• At the Accelerated Achievement

Academy (1151 Buena Vista Rd.)

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

What are YOUR questions?

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Accelerated Achievement Academy

THANK YOU for your attention!