All posts by admin
Virginia Beach Middle
Description:
The influence of Compass to 2015 is evident in many of our school-based initiatives that put 21st century skills at the forefront. As one example, we are working to develop effective communicators and collaborators through instructional activities such as the creation of graphic novels developed by 6th grade students and shared with elementary students in our feeder schools. Another example involves 8th grade students researching community resources and creating public service announcements using iMovie. Additional examples of our work related to the other 21st century skills will be highlighted at the Showcase.
Salem High
Description:
The Geometry/Dance Collaboration included 45 of our students, some were modern dance students and some geometry students. Students used dance as a vehicle to make geometry come to life. The students collaborated on special choreography that incorporated geometric principles. This collaboration was a three month long process and ended with a three minute dance that students performed for hundreds of high school and middle school students.
Ocean Lakes High
Description:
For the past five years, Math & Science Academy teachers, along with its Planning & Advisory Committee (PAC), have worked to update the program’s vision and revise the entire senior capstone project process. Out of this work, the MSA Symposium was born. Teachers work with students in all classes to plan and implement an appropriate project, one that highlights skills and personal interests. Parents are encouraged to ask their students about their plans and related work. This opportunity to explore, investigate and complete original, independent research responds directly to the Autonomous Learner Model (ALM) to which our school is committed. There are a variety of presentation mediums including display boards, oral presentations and demonstrations.
Bayside High
Description:
Our school offers a college readiness program, referred to as Bayside Minority Achievement Club (BMAC), designed to encourage African American males to graduate with honors (3.0 GPA or higher) and attend a four-year college or university. Although the program was initiated prior to Compass to 2015, the current strategic plan’s emphasis on closing achievement gaps and partnering with the community has translated into providing personalized academic support to eleventh and twelfth grade African American males and providing them with opportunities to engage in meaningful community service with underclassmen and students from our feeder schools.
Landstown Middle
Description:
Lancer Launch is a dynamic middle school transition program for rising 6th graders. The program is designed and led by student leaders, selected through an application process. Students know best the emotions and anxiety experienced during this crucial transition period. Allowing them to have a voice in welcoming students into the LMS family has created a sense of community that has permeated throughout the building. We look forward to having our students talk with the community about their important work.
Kempsville Middle
Description:
Developing sustainable resources for citizens of the United States is critical for long range survival. To understand the challenges and impacts of various energy resources, our eighth-grade students engaged in an interdisciplinary unit collaboratively developed by an earth science teacher and our economics teachers. As part of the unit, students created iMovies to showcase alternative and traditional sources of energy. In the videos, students highlighted the benefits and drawbacks of their selected energy source as well as the economic and environmental impact of the energy source.
Great Neck Middle
Description:
Our students took part in three scientific performance tasks, which were developed through the collaboration of science teachers and our gifted resource teacher. In the first performance task, our students assumed the roles of presidential committee members and debated various alternative energy sources by developing proposals focused on sustainability. Secondly, our Genetics Summit activity used a Socratic seminar platform through which our students delivered presentations as experts in the field of genetic engineering that shared their viewpoints on the controversial research. Finally, a town council meeting was a simulation project, which created a forum for our students to discuss informed arguments about an oil company establishing a mining facility in a small rural town from the perspectives of all concerned stakeholders.
Corporate Landing Middle
Description:
Our Rube Goldberg club builds machines that accomplish a simple task in the most complicated way possible. Our club teaches students cooperation, collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving skills in a fun and hands-on way. Additionally, students complete these tasks by learning and applying the Engineering Design Process.
Windsor Woods Elementary
Description: Our students have planted traditional Virginia crops in the C. Drummond Ball Children’s Garden. In the fall, there is a school-wide Harvest Day, and students harvest peanuts, field corn, cotton and a bumper crop of sweet potatoes. Teachers incorporated planting and harvesting of the various crops into language arts and math lessons during both spring planting week and on Harvest Day.
Trantwood Elementary
Description:
Our Trantwoood Troupers program is an after school theatrical program open to all fourth- and fifth-graders and has been in place for the past three years. In the program, students collaborate to perform a play or musical. In addition to being on stage, students participate in a stage crew, lighting, advertising and all other components involved in theatrical productions. Students are involved in 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
Thoroughgood Elementary
Description:
During the 2013-2014 school year, we focused on creating opportunities for all students by creating a schoolwide STEM project. Each student took an active role according to their grade level curriculum based on this Learning Garden problem: How do we maintain a healthy ecosystem so plants and animals can thrive? In addition, we held student-centered STEM days on the early release days where students worked through design briefs to create solutions to problems given.
Salem Elementary
Description: We developed R.A.M.P. It Up! (Rams Academic Mentoring Program) in 2013-2014 as a way to meet the needs of borderline students in Math Real-World Problem Solving. The program utilizes staff members to provide academic mentoring based on the following skills: goal setting, self-reflection, study habits, and work habits. Students and their mentors participate in after school workshops, weekly interactive notebooks, and other incentives to develop and positively reinforce self-motivation. This year, the program will expand to include students with reading concerns.
