Plugging Along with Smaller Learning Communities

The Smaller Learning Community Initiative at Kapa'a High School is in it's second full year of implementation with 50% of our students enrolled in Smaller Learning Communities.

Students from the Class of 2016 are enrolled in one of two Hui - Onipa'a or Ikaika. The two Hui place great emphasis on ensuring a smooth transition from middle school to high school. Study skills, leadership development and literacy are the primary foci in Grade 9.  Dedicated teams of teachers meet regularly to discuss student progress, plan interventions and develop joint curriculum plans. Tutoring, mentoring and student recognition programs have been systemized.

Following their successful Hui experience, the Class of 2015 are all enrolled in either the HOPES or IDEAS Academy. Our HOPES & IDEAS academies each have four pathways or strands for students to choose from:

HOPES - Academy Leaders (Kara Kitamura, Janis Gowan and Josh Owens)

• Health Services
• Publications & Graphic Design
• Education or Leadership
• Services: Culinary/Hospitality

 IDEAS - Academy Leaders (David Mireles, Brandon Fujita and Catherine Paleka)

• Industrial Engineering Technology: Building Construction or Auto
• Digital Media
• Entrepreneurship
• Arts: Visual or Performing

The focus of the academy in the 10th grade centers around building core knowledge in the academic subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies with the bulk of the academy experience taking place in their pathway/strand core class. The pathway core classes serve a multitude of purposes including:

• introducing students to the many careers related to their pathway
• providing an overview of history related to their pathway
• laying the foundation of important principles and content related to their pathway 
• emphasizing the importance of workplace readiness skills
• allowing students to apply their knowledge and connect it to their academic classes

Like the Hui teachers, academy teachers meet several times a week to discuss student progress, curriculum and instructional strategies. Particular emphasis is being placed on Literacy Development, Career Readiness and refining/aligning the Personal Transition Plan and the CTE Portfolios with our Academy structures.  Eleventh and 12th grade teachers also meet regularly to prepare for the expansion of the academies to 11th grade next year. Academy leaders receive support from the Smaller Learning Community Coordinator to ensure alignment within and across the three grades in each academy.  

SLC Teaching Teams in Action: Building Dreams

On Monday, July 23rd - thirty Grade 9 & 10 KHS teachers came together to reconnect, learn and collaborate. The room was abuzz with positive energy as teams spent time affirming our dreams for the students at Kapa'a High, planning the crucial first days of school, discussing Quarter 1 projects and learning more about Interactive Notebooks. The teams were also introduced to a new Common Planning Template that will be used to help plan and document the increased amount of teacher collaboration time afforded by our new block schedule. Finally the teams spent time articulating about how best to support individual students this upcoming school year. At the end of the day, teachers were asked to identify what they loved most about the day and their most significant learning. Here are some highlights:
Our Dreams For Our Students:

• Students Who Love Learning

• Self-Directed Learners

• Purposeful Sense of Direction

• Critical Thinkers

• Great Attendance 

• Enjoy School

• College & Career Ready

• Focused

Our Dreams for Our Hui/Academies:

• Positive Collaboration

• No Failures

• Keep it Fun

• Develop New Useful, Practical, Challenging Curricula

• Find More Passion in Our Work

• Stay Healthy: Mentally, Physically, Emotionally etc.

• Strengthen Effective Teaching & Learning Practices

• Improve Student Achievement

• Minimize Gaps in Literacy, Math, Science and Technology

What We Loved:

• "Learning about Interactive Notebooks. I will try them this year."

• "Going over data."

• "Working with colleagues"

• "The collaboration time."

• "Learning about next year's students."

• "Planning Quarter 1."

• "The great vibe in the room."

• "Being around people on my team."

Significant Learnings:

• Interactive Notebooks

• Organization & Teamwork is key

• Academy & Hui Dreams

• Planning & Pacing with Block Schedule

• We Have Creative People Who Gave Me New Ideas

• The Strengths on My Team

All in all, it was a great way to kick off the new year. The power of the SLC structure and the positive impact it will have on student learning was evident all day long.  Special thanks to presenters, Erin Millard, Holly McCool, Diane Ayre and Todd Harrison. Also thank you to Catherine Paleka for letting us use the Chorus Room and for all her help with setup and cleanup! It's going to be a great year turning our dreams into reality.

Grade 9 Rocket Launch

When we first began to design smaller learning communities at Kapa'a High, we were cautiously excited about the curricular possibilities. Dedicated teams of teachers sharing common students and planning time afforded the opportunity to work together on everything from classroom expectations, common study skills and student support. Probably most rewarding has been the joint curriculum planning.

Mr. Paleka & Mrs. Millard Kick Off the Event!

The possibilities we dreamed about a year ago came to life on Tuesday, May 22nd when the entire freshmen class converged upon our softball field to participate in a Rocket Launch event.

Rocket Math!

Students researched and designed rockets alone or in pairs. They could enter one of three categories: distance, precision or height. Students learned the mathematical concepts needed in Algebra class, while in Physical Science they explored chemical reactions.

 In English class, they practiced their oral presentation skills as they had to present their hypothesis, process and final product to their peers prior to Rocket Launch day. In Social Studies, students were learning about the atomic bombs used during World War 2. Social studies teachers also supported students as they tested their rockets prior to launch day.

Successful spray launch

Innovative Design

Launch day was a great success. Students brought innovative and creative rockets, teachers manned the different stations, while parents volunteered by  bringing snacks/lunch for the student.  What was very clear to observers was the level of student engagement and enthusiasm for the project. Students were able to clearly explain their designs, their thinking and why launches worked well or didn't work as well.

Award Winners

Dads Came to Help!

This event would not have been possible without the vision of our Grade 9 math teachers and the support of the rest of the Hui teachers, the parents and the school leadership. Special thanks to the Kapa'a High School Foundation and PTSA for helping to support the event so we could give out awards and raffle prizes to the students. This was definitely a whole team effort and we look forward to continuing this and other great exhibitions of learning that bring our community together moving forward!

Snack Bar Crew! Thank You!

Warrior Faculty Never Stop Learning

As we wind down our school year, it’s time to reflect on the progress we have made in implementing our Smaller Learning Community Initiatives. Our extremely busy semester included the following:

• Selecting and training the two Grade 10 Academy Teams. Each team had four full days of training in teaming, developing academy identity, defining common expectations and joint curriculum planning.
• Implementing the Academy Selection Process for the first time with our Grade 9 students.
• Strengthening the Grade 9 Hui Teaching Teams & identifying what works best with teaming and integrated projects.
• Developing and/or revising our Hui and Academy Handbooks.
• Planning our first Grade 9 Launch Day event for the last week of school.
• Sending 20 teachers and school leaders to the Smaller Learning Community Biennial Conference at McKinley High School on April 14th.
• Completing our Annual Progress Report.
• Participating in a federal audit of our program.
• Preparing for a successful 2 day WASC Accreditation Mid-year Visit
• Revamping our master schedule to ensure that common teachers with common planning time share common students in Grades 9 & 10.
• Articulating with the middle school regarding incoming freshman.
• Including over 40 student leaders and 8 staff members to design orientation for our incoming freshmen.
• Planning for and advertising our Summer Bridge Vampires and Zombies program for incoming freshman to ease the transition to high school.
• Preparing teachers to teach on the new block schedule.
• Training teachers in the new Common Core Standards
• Training teachers in how to effectively implement Data Teams.

Whew! What a list. At any other school teachers might have shut down under such a heavy load but at Kapa’a High, our teachers are extremely committed to ongoing student success. In order for success to become a consistent reality for each and every student, the Warrior faculty recognizes the need for ongoing training & collaboration. It has been exciting to witness the different teams come together to discuss teaching, learning and student support systems. Although we are about to begin our break, Kapa’a High School teachers will continue to learn over the summer. We are sending several teachers to Advanced Placement & AVID training in July and hosting a 2 day Project Based Learning Workshop the week after school ends on campus. Our faculty deserve a special shout out for their professionalism, camaraderie and continual willingness to work on improving our school.

Hui Data: Glimmers of Hope

This past week, we had the chance to analyze some initial data related to the impact of the changes we have made in Grade 9. We are thrilled with the preliminary data in the areas of attendance, behavior and overall academic performance.  Comparing Semester 1 results for Grade 9 from 2010-2011 SY with results from Grade 9 this school year, we have noticed significant improvements:

	SY 10-11	SY 11-12
Attendance Rate	88.7%*	96.1%
Referral Rate	4.5%	2.4%
D’s & F’s	475	124

*Attendance Rate is EOY for SY 10-11 vs. Sem 1 for SY 11-12

Referral and D/F data is straight Semester 1 comparison

This data inspired the Grade 9 teachers to consider what changes were most responsible for the radical improvements. Here are their thoughts:

1. Having the Grade 9 students and teachers in close physical proximity on the lower campus for core classes has greatly improved the ability for teacher collaboration & dialogue about individual students. It has also provided the Grade 9 students with their own "home" on campus.

2. Dedicated teaching teams for English, Math, Social Studies, and Science have made a difference. Careful pairing for inclusion settings was also critical. 

3. Weekly collaboration with team members to discuss student concerns & curriculum alignment. Quarterly collaboration days with the whole team were essential. 

4. Norm implementation - teachers have agreements in the following areas:

• —Attendance policy (tardy, etc.)
• —Use of Planners
• Engrade Use
• Common Assessments
• —Common Rubrics
• Common Projects
• Weekly Tutoring Schedule & Intercession (led by core teachers/makeup work)
• Common Classroom practices (bellwork, agenda, benchmark, exit passes, etc.)

We are excited to continue & expand these practices and to share them with the Grade 10 teachers and the rest of the faculty in the service of improving teaching and learning at our school. 

—

Academy Selection Update: Part 2

Over the past week, students have been carefully making their Academy and strand choices. Although we had hoped to let our students know their final placements this week, we have several students who needed more time to make a solid decision. At the same time, the students who have made their choices have been selecting the IDEAS academy as their overall first choice. This has caused us to rethink our initial breakdown of strands within academies. We are considering several alternatives and have decided to take more time to weigh options in order to garner faculty input. It is critical that our academies are balanced in the number of students (otherwise class sizes in one academy will be much larger than in the other academy), in the number of honors and special education students, and, to a lesser degree, with regards to gender. We also want as many students as possible to be placed in their first choice Academy/Strand. At the very least,  we want them to have their first choice of strand in the alternate academy. We hope to be able to let the students know which academy they are in by January 30th. The registration deadline will be moved back to February 3rd which is actually in alignment with all the other grades.  

Academy Selection Update

We have had a busy couple of weeks getting our students ready to make solid Academy Choices. Last week, students completed RIESAC surveys &  explored Hawaii's Career Kokua Web-site. They also had the chance to attend a mini-fair and an assembly highlighting our Academy choices. Students all had the chance to tour at least one strand in each academy this week. Thank you to all of the parents who turned out for our Grade 9 Parent Meeting on Monday, January 9th. The purpose of the meeting was to explain our transition to Academies and the Academy Selection Process. We also went over graduation requirements and answered questions from those in attendance.

On Thursday, January 12th, students will be asked to select rank their strand choices in each academy and to tell us what their overall first and second choices are for academy and strand. Be on the lookout for an Academy Selection Form to sign on Thursday evening! The forms are due Friday, January 13th and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should turn their forms into their science class teacher on Friday.

Below, please click here to enjoy a short video that our students created to provide a brief overview of our two Academies. You can also view our Academy Handbook for more information.

Academy Selection Process

Academy Selection for this year's 9th graders starts January 4th and 5th. Students in Megan Goodale's science classes will start us out in the I102 lab on Wednesday (January 4th) with Sara O'rourke's classes the following day (January 5th).

Students will complete the R.I.A.S.E.C. test to see what their Career Personality Types are and then use Career Kokua (online State of Hawaii Career Site) to complete their "SELF PORTRAIT" organizer. The self portrait asks for information based on their personality results and from investigation of two sectionas of Career Kokua's Holland Sections to help them make sense of their results.

Students will then complete their Self Portrait organizer with personal information about what is important to them and what they like to do. They will also record several career areas that were explored in their search that looked interesting.

Students will then get a brief overview about our academies and will find out what other activities will be included in the Academy Selection and Registration process.

IMPORTANT ACADEMY SELECTION & REGISTRATION DATES

Jan 4th/5th Personality & Interest Surveys and Career Kokua in Science Class

January 6th Academy FAir (Lower Campus, Lunch) / Assembly ( Gym, 5th Period)

January 9th Parent Meeting re: Academies

January 10th & 11th Academy Class Visits

January 12th Academy Selection Session in Science Classes

January 13th Signed (by parent) Academy Selection Forms Due

January 23rd Academy Plaements Announced / Registration Session

January 27th Signed Registration Forms Due

Smaller Learning Communities Snapshot

Academy Parent Meeting, January 9, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Attention Grade 9 Parents

Please join us for an informational parent meeting on

Monday, January 9, 2012

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Kapa'a High School Cafeteria

Come learn about Smaller Learning Communities and Registration for 2012-2013!

See you there!

Academy Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we doing Academies at Kapa’a High School?

Academies allow us to assign students to smaller groups of teachers so that teachers can get to know your child better. We believe students are ready to start focusing their talents and interests and to consider how those might play out in your education and work life after high school. Academies give students a head start. We are confident that the Academy experience will help students feel more connected to their peers, teachers and school and that they will do better in school as a result. Schools with Academies report better attendance, higher grades, and higher graduation and college going rates.

What if my child doesn’t like either of the Academies or any of the Strands?

We tried to create Academies based on our most popular programs but we also have some new programs that reflect the future of Kaua’i’s economy. We couldn’t create too many programs or we wouldn’t have enough students in each one. We tried to make sure that all sorts of students with all sorts of interests could find something they were at least a little bit interested in. If they really can’t find anything, we hope they will try something different. Who knows? They might enjoy something new!

How will my child be placed in an academy?

The curriculum coordinator and counselor will introduce students to the two Academies. Students will take career interest surveys and have the opportunity to visit academy/strand classes. Students will then rank their Academy/strand preferences, develop a compelling written argument for their choices and be placed accordingly. Every effort will be made to balance the two academies with regards to the overall number of students, gender, ethnic background and academic ability. Students will be placed in Academies first and then complete the registration forms for their particular academy.

Can students switch academies? Can they switch strands?

We hope to do an excellent job of preparing students to make a solid Academy/Strand choice. Once you are placed, there will be no switching of academies for 2012-2013. If there is room in a different strand within their academy at the time of request, a strand change may be possible. Students can switch academy for 11^th grade provided there is space in the academy and they can still complete the course sequencing for the new strand in the other academy.

What if my child doesn’t know what he/she wants be or do after high school?

We know many students will end up focusing on or working in different areas after high school. Academies aren’t like majors. They are just a series of 3-4 classes in one area over the next three years in an area that interests them now so that their classes are more interesting and they can learn about possible jobs in that area. All students will still take all the regular English, Math, Science, Social Studies classes and electives – their classes will just integrate some of the Academy themes so it’s hopefully more interesting. Students will be prepared to study & pursue whatever you like after high school.

Who can help my child make a good choice?

Ms. Christensen, Ms. Pemberton, your child’s teachers and/or any other adult they feel comfortable talking to on campus will be able to help. The Academy coordinators are also good people to talk to (Mr. Costa, Ms. Quinones, Ms. Schwarze, Ms Kitamura). Try to discourage your child from making their decision based on what their friends are taking unless they have similar interests.

Can my child still take honors and AP courses? What about foreign language, arts classes and JROTC?

Yes, honors classes will be offered in and/or for both academies. Students from both academies can sign up for elective classes such as foreign language, arts, music, JROTC, physical education, etc. For some classes, students in specific strands will have preference.

How can I learn more about Academies at Kapa’a High School?

You can learn more by visiting the Kapa’a High SLC Blog via our main web site or at and/or by contacting the Grade 9 counselor Ms. Terri Christensen at ext. 133 or our SLC Coordinator, Lisa Mireles at ext 232. You can also attend a parent meeting on January 9, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in our cafeteria!

Kapa'a High Academy Overview and Timeline for Students

Kapa'a High is proud to announce that next year, all 10^th grade students will be placed in one of two Academies. What this means is that students will take all core subject classes with other students in their Academy. Students will also pick a strand to specialize in within their Academy and take at least one class a year related to that strand. In 10^th grade this will be the CTE core class that matches their strand.

The HOPES academy focuses on developing a conscious, healthy and sustainable culture through human connections. The students who are a part of the HOPES Academy will discover their place in our community and the global society by participating in authentic learning experiences that include community and college partnerships.

Students who are part of this academy strand will learn…
Health Services	to help people maintain their health and wellness. They will be taught the skills necessary to deliver quality health care for a better future. Health Services Core
Organic Farming & Environmental Studies	to provide and cultivate products that integrate natural systems with human needs . Natural Resources Core
Public Services: Hospitality & Culinary	the knowledge and skills necessary to strive in a hospitality or culinary career. They will gain interpersonal skills essential to working with and helping people. Public Service Core
Education & Leadership	the skills and qualities to be an effective leader in a classroom or in the greater community. Public Service Core

The IDEAS academy will be dedicated to developing students who possess a rich academic foundation while sharing a deep understanding of creativity & design principles as they relate to creating innovative and sustainable products that solve some of our biggest global challenges. Students in the IDEAS academy will also learn important foundational employment skills.

Students who are part of this academy strand will learn…
Industrial Technology: Building/Construction & Auto	to use new and emerging technology in the fields of Building/ Construction or Auto to design structures and devices. Students will also learn to design and build solutions for growing communities. IET Core
Digital Media & the Arts	to express their ideas and stories using technology, traditional art mediums and/or music. Students will also learn to create and communicate messages through sight and sound. Arts & Communication Core
Engineering	to employ mathematical and scientific principles to develop effective solutions to real-world, technical problems. Students will also learn to design and build solutions for growing communities. IET Core
Adventures in Business	to manage financial systems that drive the global economy. They will also use learn to use organized systems to solve problems & develop entrepreneurial skills. Business Core

We have designed a few activities & steps to help students in making an Academy Selection:

Jan 4^th & 5^th Personality & Interest Surveys in Science Classes

Jan 6^th Academy/Strand Mini Fair (Lower Campus, Lunch)/Assembly (Gym, 5^th period)

January 9^th Parent Meeting re: Academies (Cafeteria, 6:00 p.m.)

Jan 10^th & 11^th Academy Class Visits

January 12^th Academy Selection Session in Science Classes

January 13^th Signed Academy Selection forms due

January 23 Academy Placements Announced/Registration Session

January 27^th Signed Registration Forms Due

HOPES and IDEAS: Charting a New Course at Kapa'a High School

This year Kapa'a High School began implementing a new structure in our Grade 9 as part of our Smaller Learning Community Initiative. We are excited to announce that starting with the 10th graders in August 2012, Kapa’a High School will be organized into two Smaller Learning Communities, HOPES and IDEAS for students in Grades 10-12, Regardless of which SLC they choose, students will work on a rigorous curriculum in both core and elective classes to fulfill college & career entrance requirements. Academy teachers will develop units of study aligned with the academy goals/themes to improve student engagement, build deeper critical thinking skills and develop stronger academic performance skills.

What are “academies”?

● A small learning community, comprising a group of students within the larger high school who take several classes together for three years, taught by a team of teachers from different disciplines who share common students and planning time;

● A college preparatory curriculum with a career theme, enabling students to see relationships among academic subjects and their application to a broad field of work; and

● Partnerships with employers, the community, and local colleges, bringing together resources from outside the high school to improve student motivation and achievement.

What is the focus of each academy?

Although both academies have similar outcomes in terms of academic rigor, internships and senior projects, the content focus of each is slightly different. Both academies will emphasize service and sustainability. Our HOPES academy will be dedicated to developing students who possess a rich academic foundation while sharing a deep understanding of how to work with others to create healthier and more sustainable communities from the perspective of health, food, public service and education. Students in the HOPES academy will be able to choose from specialty strands in the areas of:

• Health & Wellness
• Organic Farming & Environmental Studies
• Public Service: Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
• Education & Leadership
• Service & Sustainability

Our IDEAS academy will be dedicated to developing students who possess a rich academic foundation while sharing a deep understanding of creativity & design principles as they relate to creating innovative and sustainable products that solve some of our biggest global challenges from the perspectives of building/construction, graphic design, business and the arts. Students in the IDEAS academy will be able to choose from specialty strands in:

• Industrial Technology: Building/Construction or Auto
• Design: Digital Media/Graphic Arts
• Engineering
• Arts: Visual and/or Performing Arts
• Service & Sustainability.

What is the difference between an academy and a specialty strand?

Students in an academy will take most of their core academic courses with students from all four strands in their academy. However, they will take 1 or 2 strand specific classes each year primarily with students only in their strand.

How will my child be guided to select an academy?

During 9th grade, the counselor will introduce students to the two Academies. Students will take career interest surveys and have the opportunity to visit academy/strand classes. Students will then rank their top three strand preferences, develop a compelling written argument for their choices and be placed accordingly.

Can students switch academies? Can they switch strands?

We hope to do an excellent job of preparing students to make a solid Academy/Strand choice. However, a student will be able to switch strand and/or academy one time during high school as long as they can still complete a strand within the academy.

Will my child be prepared for careers and college regardless of Academy choice?

Absolutely - both academies have the same learner outcomes and exit criteria. The projects and evidence each academy requires for completion are very similar. For example, students in both academies will need to complete an internship, a community service project, a personal transition plan and a senior project. Ensuring students are prepared for both the world of work and the world of college is a top priority for both academies. Students in both academies will be able to take AP and Honors classes.

Why academies at Kapa’a High School?

Research confirms that smaller schools are safer and more productive because students feel less alienated, more nurtured and more connected to caring adults*. It is also clear that SLC’s encourage:

• Higher scholastic achievement
• Reduction of the negative effects of poverty on achievement
• Increased student affiliation with their school and community
• Greater safety and order
• Higher college entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and GPAs
• Higher levels of extracurricular student participation
• Higher levels of parent and community involvement and greater satisfaction**

* Source: Cotton, K. New Small Learning Communities: Findings from Recent Literature. Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. December 2001

** Sources: Fowler & Walberg, 1991; Gregory, 1992; Stockard & Mayberry, 1992

WET CEMENT: AN OVERVIEW OF OUR SLC STRUCTURE

The KHS Academy Design Team has been hard at work this first quarter planning for the integration of Academies in Grades 10-12 over the next few years. Working with both Mike Neubig and Michelle Swanson to crystallize our vision has been challenging but inspiring. We are excited to present what the overall structure will be with our two academies, HOPES and IDEAS that build upon the skills and knowledge our students will gain in Grade 9 from their Hui experiences. Across the board we are committed to helping our students have meaningful options aligned with their interests and strengths upon graduation. The image above outlines the progression of students from Grade 9-12 highlighting their pathway options as the move through our school. The plan will be explained to Grade 9 students and parents over the next several months to ensure appropriate academy selection. Look for more news soon!

Glimmers of Hope

Today our 9th grade Hui teachers were treated to a day long workshop with SLC expert Michelle Swanson. Michelle is full of "treasures" when it comes to strengthening teams. She stretches us to consider how we can become more intentional with our work particularly when it comes to student support and deep learning. We spent time discussing high yield strategies, were introduced to the concept of performance assessments to promote deep learning, and considered more systemic approaches to student support.

The morning started with Michelle asking us to stop and reflect about our progress after one quarter of SLC implementation in Grade 9. Although we have had some glitches and challenges, overall we definitely feel we are on the right path as evidenced by the "Glimmers of Hope" our 9th grade teachers shared today. So far we have experienced/noticed the following, "Glimmers of Hope"

• Great support/collaboration within and across the Hui
• Greater support working with other teachers in the Hui
• Our 6th period is a wonderful example of positive classroom culture/community.
• Good collaboration among the 4 English teachers in 9th grade. This has led to more focused planning and effective lessons/units
• Establishing relationships with individual students
• Kids are not slipping through the cracks like they used to thanks to a grade level counselor and ongoing Hui teacher discussions
• Most of our students are eager to learn!!
• I love our students! They have such great personalities and senses of humor!
• Students seem more conscious of their grades - ENGRADE is wonderful
• Seems like learning styles are being addressed.
• We are using technology for learning such as mobile devices
• Interactive Notebooks Rock!
• Students are enjoying the labs and seem to be learning the scientific method.
• Team teaching is decreasing negative student behaviors
• Collaboration and Ohana are found in our Hui.
• Majority of students come to class
• Truancy, Referrals and Fights are all down in the 9th grade.
• We had over 100 parents at 9th grade orientation.
• The Freshmen have been seen. (by the counselor)

This simple exercise, reminded all of us as to WHY we embarked on the SLC journey in the first place. As we work towards expanding the SLC model into Grades 10-12 in the form of academies, it seemed important to share our learnings/reflections with the greater school community so that teachers, parents and students can all understand the potential of common students, common teacher and common planning!

Building Dreams - Academy & Hui Updates

This year our overall theme as a faculty is "Building Dreams". Our dream is to transform Kapa'a High into the premier high school in the state by implementing smaller learning communities in the form of interest based Academies to build upon the strength of the Hui smaller learning communities in Grade 9. School started the first week of August, it's already mid-quarter and already we are seeing the fruits of the 9th grade Hui and charging ahead with Academy Planning.

Hui

We can already see that last year's planning to improve the transition to high school and the entire freshman experience is paying off. Our 260 freshman have been moved down to lower campus and divided into two Hui, Onipa'a and Ikaika, each with a team of dedicated math, English, social studies and science teachers. A counselor has been dedicated to Grade 9 with a VP assigned to each Hui. Hui Teachers have common planning time to discuss student challenges, progress, joint projects and other aspects of their work. So far we have integrated common assessments, project based learning, a no zero policy and AVID strategies focusing on strengthening basic organizational and study skills. Additionally, all of the 9th graders will participate in the Leadership Challenge curriculum designed to help them explore their values, interests and strengths. This work will become part of their Personal Transition Plan designed to help them transition from high school to their post high school educational and career plans more smoothly.

Academy

Since we already see the benefits of the Hui concept in terms of our ability to respond to student needs, there is a sense of urgency to create smaller learning communities for our 10th - 12th grade students to improve rigor, interest and overall achievement. Our Academy Design Team this year includes all of our department chairs, an additional representative from each department, various support staff and administrators. All in all, we are about 20 people with a shared dream. We recently spent a second collaboration day with Mike Neubig refining our HOPES and IDEAS Academies with course sequencing for the four strands in each academy.

HOPES

Health- Health/Wellness

Organic Farming– Natural Resource /Agriculture

Public Service - JROTC

Entrepreneurship – Culinary & Hospitality

Service & Sustainability - ALL

IDEAS

Industrial Technology: Auto or Building Construction

Design: Digital Media & Graphic Design

Entrepreneurship: Virtual Enterprise

Arts: Visual & Performing Arts

Service & Sustainability - ALL

Our next steps will be to present to our entire faculty, address our burning questions with Mike Neubig on September 13th, examine different schedules that might better serve our students with these new structures, educate and engage our parent community in September and October, educate and straw poll our students, create new registration materials, reach out to university, business and government partners and train our teachers for this transition. Our plans are to launch the SLC's for our current 9th graders in Fall 2012. Our dream is that by Fall 2014, every student will be enrolled in a smaller learning community providing structures and support for a more rigorous, more personalized, more relevant and more successful high school experience.