Small Learning Communities at Overton High- Where are we?
Update from the Site Coach…October 14, 2008
We are excited about the changes happening at Overton this year! These is where we are so far:
We have implemented our Freshman Academy, and have three teams serving our freshmen. These teams of teachers meet weekly to discuss student progress, curricular goals, and ways to motivate and reward our students.
We are also planning to begin our advisory program in January. Advisory, soon to be called “Bobcat Paws” will be a 30 minute weekly session where students will meet in small groups with an advisor to work on study skills, career plans and high school success strategies.
Overton has established an SLC implementation team that is gathering data from students, staff, and parents about our career and thematic academies. We will decide which academies we will offer to students by January of 2009. Our faculty will then begin the process of establishing the academies, selecting an academy to join, and creating pathways and courses for the students. In the spring our 9th graders will be asked to choose an academy, and they will register for courses and electives that fall under that academy. We will update the Overton community every step of the way in this process, and feel that Career Academies will have a profound impact on all of our students.
Our staff has been attending trainings and professional development in order to prepare for our Career Academies. We have teachers that are participating in Partnership Councils with community leaders in the areas of Engineering and Science, Hospitality and Tourism, Business and Marketing, and Health Sciences. Our teachers are getting training on working on teams, teaching on a block schedule, and using formative assessments. Teachers are lifelong learners, and our staff is dedicated to helping our kids succeed through their own growth and development as professionals.
