SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES OXON HILL HIGH SCHOOL

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SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES _at_ OXON HILL HIGH
SCHOOL

• Prince Georges County School Systems has
  received grant money from the Dept. of Education
  to implement Smaller Learning Communities into 6
  High Schools.
• Oxon Hill High School was selected. Please
  read the following slide show presentation to
  learn more about this initiative and if you have
  any further questions after you read this slide
  show please email OHHSACADEMIES_at_gmail.com
• We will be happy to answer your questions?

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Smaller Learning Communities Initiative.

• The need for this initiative in Prince Georges
  County is the data that shows the large number of
  students in Prince Georges County Schools not
  meeting the High School exit requirements to
  graduate educators are trying to figure out a
  solution to the problem.

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Definition of Community

• A large number of urban districts are seeking
  to personalize their high school by creating
  small schools and breaking their high schools
  into smaller communities.
• Example A group of people having common
  interests is a community..

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Prince Georges County received the SLC grant

• 6 targeted schools in the district will receive
  money for the SLC grant
• Oxon Hill High School
• Potomac High School
• Suitland High School
• Duval High School
• Forestville Military Academy
• Crossland High School

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How are SLC schools chosen?

• Data that shows high failure rate of ninth grade
  students.
• In Central cities in the country between 40 and
  50 of schools have weak promotion power.
• With the HSAs in place only half of the high
  schools graduate 50 of their students in four
  years.

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We need change to improve our school. YES WE
CAN!!

• Our goal is to create learning communities needed
  for high levels of achievement by all students.
• But we can not have change without the teacher or
  parent support of the program.

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Programs involved under SLC

• Summer Bridge
• Freshman and Sophomore Institute
• Advisories
• Career Academies
• College Summit
• Read 180
• Americas Choice

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Summer Bridge

• Programming prior to your child's freshman year
  in high school which will consist of both
  acceleration and enrichment activities.
• The Guidance Counselors from the middle schools
  and high schools meet and compile a list of
  students that will be targeted students for the
  Summer Bridge program.
• If your child will be a freshman at OHHS 2009-10
  school year you think he or she will benefit
  from the Summer Bridge summer enrichment program
  please contact their 8th grade counselor. ASAP!
  All are welcome.

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Advisories

• Provide an adult advocate for each student
  and create a sense of community and belonging.
• Advisory is supposed to be set up in small
  groups (not to resemble the traditional
  classroom)
• The students will meet to discuss and gain and
  understanding of the issues involving their
  social, emotional and academic growth.
• Advisory meets once a week at Oxon Hill High
  School for 30 minutes.

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Freshman and Sophomore Institutes/ Academies

• Developed to enable students to close the
  achievement gap and achieve grade-level
  proficiency in all core classes by the end of the
  tenth grade.
• 9th and 10th graders will have a team of common
  teachers for their core subjects.
• 10th grade institute is necessary to gain higher
  scores on the English, Biology, Algebra and
  Government HSAs.
• The teachers in the 9th and 10th grade academy
  will collaboratively plan there lessons for their
  students.
• The teachers will discuss student achievement or
  failure issues as well as any common discipline
  issues.

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Career Academies _at_ OHHS(2009-2010)

• SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE
• ACADEMY OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, ACADEMY OF
  ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, ACADEMY OF BUSINESS
  ADMINASTRATIVE SERVICES
• SCHOOL OF CONSUMER SERVICES, HOSPITALITY AND
  TOURISM
• ACADEMY OF HOSPITALITY AND RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
• SCHOOL OF ARTS AND MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
• ACADEMY OF DANCE, ACADEMY OF MUSIC, ACADEMY OF
  VISUAL ARTS
• SCHOOL OF HUMAN RESOURCES
• ACADEMY OF MILITARY SCIENCES, TEACHER ACADEMY OF
  MARYLAND

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Prince Georges County Mandates

• Each student must choose an academy to major in.
  We would like the students not to change
  academies during their 4 years at Oxon Hill High
  School. So it is very important that the
  students choose wisely during registration. The
  academies will provide internships opportunities
  during the students junior and senior year and
  prepare them for work or college after high
  school.

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College Summit

• This program creates a college going culture
  and a system of support for students.
• College Summit is a class that students can
  enroll in their 12th grade year as and elective
  within their career academies.
• This class provides them with guidance to prepare
  for college such as the financial aid process,
  college applications and putting the student in a
  college bound mindset

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Read 180

• Reading intervention for the older struggling
  reader
• This program is designed to meet the needs of
  elementary through high school students whose
  reading achievement is below the proficient
  level.
• Students who are having issues with their reading
  can sign up for this class as an elective within
  the career academies.

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American Choice Project

• American Choice offers proven solutions to
  complex problems educators face in an era of
  accountability with students. One major focus of
  Americas choice is children who are struggling in
  the area of mathematics. This course can also be
  signed up for as and elective within the career
  academies.

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American Choice Goals and Objectives are

• The High School will create students who leave
  high school ready for college
• Please look at this website for more information
  about the America's choice program.
• http//www.americaschoice.org

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3 major goals to achieve successful SMALLER
LEARNING COMMUNITES

• We need to change the School Climate
• We need rigorous academics
• We need to increase Student Achievement

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How to change school climate?

• Create small, safe and successful learning
  communities that enable all students to be known,
  supported, and motivated to succeed.

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Rigorous Academics-

• Increase educational expectations so all students
  maximize their academic potential

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Student Achievement

• Ensure all students graduate with the knowledge
  and skills to transition successfully to
  postsecondary education and training

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ALONE we can do so little TOGETHER, we can do so
much

• Please email OHHSACADEMIES_at_gmail.com for further
  questions or concerns. PARENT NIGHT OPEN HOUSE
  TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT SLC INITIATIVE _at_
  OHHS AS WELL AS MORE INFO. ON THE WEBSITE IS
  COMING SOON. DATE FOR THE PARENT NIGHT (TBA).