STUDENT LED CONFERENCES
Advisors are in the process of scheduling Student Led Conferences for all students for next week, October 16th though October 20th. If you haven't already received a phone call, you should expect one by the end of the week, or call
562.283.4456 to schedule one.
We align the conference process with
our mission: to foster student's growth in the
intellectual virtues in a
thoughtful, challenging, and
supportive academic environment. We believe
partnering with our Academy families, collaboratively and holistically guides our students towards success.
Every Academy student is given the opportunity to take the lead, and speak their truth, while demonstrating
intellectual courage and thoroughness. Students write reflection letters to identify what struggles they have faced, and where they have grown. Students thoughtfully connect their experiences to the virtues, deepening their understanding of their own thinking and learning. Finally, conference reflections end with appreciations.
Here are
examples of student reflection letters from
different students:
"The class I feel most successful in is Mr. Schmidt's class... the days I leave that class I feel positive and upbeat about everything that we learned."
The class l’m struggling with is Algebra... I have to use tenacity in this class because it’s easy to give up, but I have to keep going. Although this class is hard, I appreciate the challenge."
"The students and teachers make me feel like I belong... they don’t put me down or say I’m weird or nerdy. The teachers also want the best of me. They push me harder and are learning know my strengths and weaknesses."
|
GOOGLE CLASSROOM
Teachers use this to communicate changes to assignments, post pictures of class notes, provide quick feedback on assignments and posting additional resources used during class and resources for further exploration.
Students can log in with their academy email address.
Parents should have received an invitation to sign-up for classroom summaries. If you use a GMAIL account, you will have the option to receive updates daily or weekly. Otherwise, parents who register will receive summaries on a weekly basis. If you have not received an invitation to register for Google Classroom Summaries, please email
Mrs. Day.
|
CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT:
PHILOSOPHY
Is what you know true? Does your understanding of the world reflect the way the world actually is? How do you know? Can you know… ever? Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” certainly does not answer these questions, but it tries to make them vivid. But as is often the case, the words are less vivid than intended. So, our students brought them to life. After reading, writing, and discussing Plato’s allegory and examining its implications on what we know and how we live a ‘good life’, students built scenes from the Allegory using random materials and considerable imagination. The results were absolutely incredible, and multiple students conveyed that building something helped them understand the message of Plato’s Allegory more completely than reading and discussing could have. Active, discovery learning, indeed! Pictured are a few “caves” created in class.
In coming weeks, students will use the understanding built from this combination of analysis and ingenuity to make in-depth written connections to the films
The Matrix
and
Inception
. Or maybe they didn’t really do any of this and have been dreaming the entire time… no way of
really
knowing.
Want to know more about the process?
|
|
JUST IN:
NEW ACADEMY SPIRIT WEAR
If you have already placed an order, shirts will be delivered this week. If you are interested in purchasing new spirit wear, order forms can be found in the front office. $12 per shirt and $30 for 3!
|
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR
Dear Triton Families:
We wish to update you on how the Academy is preparing our students for college. We are on track to receive accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). All private and public high schools about every six years (or within four years if a new school) must apply for WASC accreditation in order to be recognized by US colleges/universities. At this point, we are ahead of schedule, with a visit scheduled for this spring. We have several administrators and faculty with experience leading this process at prior schools, and we do not foresee any hiccups given our test scores and course offerings, among other data we have collected since inception.
We should add a few words regarding our course offerings since they are particularly strong. Our course selection is designed to not only meet, but also exceed University of California's requirements for admission. That these courses are engaged by our students through rigorous critical, creative, and reflective thinking -- the types of deep and flexible thinking colleges and universities state they seek in their applicants -- will only enhance our WASC standing.
Sincerely,
James McGrath
Founding Director
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 14, 10 a.m.
Oct. 16 - Oct. 20
Student Led Conferences
- Min. Days All Week Dismissal- 1:57 p.m.
- Extracurriculars begin at 2:15 p.m. all week
Fri., Oct. 20, 9 a.m.
Mon., Oct. 23,
Applicant Shadow Days Begin!
Applicants can schedule a Shadow Day by emailing
Mrs. Day.
Wed., Oct. 25, 9 a.m.
Thurs., Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 27, 7-9 p.m.
Halloween Dance
|
|
OPEN ENROLLMENT
2018-2019
The Academy is starting to receive applications for students going into 9th, 10th, and 11th grade for next year. If you are a current Academy family, this is a
great time to
submit an application
for a sibling going into high school next year.
Most people hear about the Academy through word-of-mouth. This is a great time to encourage
friends, neighbors, and family members to submit an application. Feel free to bring them to our upcoming
Information Session
on Saturday, October 14 at 10 a.m.
|
|
STAY CONNECTED!
Follow AcademyLBHS
|
|
WATER BOTTLES
Please remember to bring a re-useable water bottle to school, especially on those hot days!
|
|
CARPOOL
Are you interested in forming a connection with other parents? Please email
Mrs. Day, and she will connect you with other families in your area.
|
|
MASTER VIRTUES
CREATIVE VIRTUES
Curiosity
Ask questions!
Open-mindedness
Think outside the box!
Intellectual Courage
Take risks!
CRITICAL THINKING VIRTUES
Intellectual Attentiveness
Look and listen!
Intellectual Carefulness
Avoid errors!
Intellectual Thoroughness
Go deep!
VIRTUES OF SELF-GROWTH
Intellectual Autonomy
Think for yourself!
Intellectual Humility
Admit what you don't
know!
Intellectual Tenacity
Embrace struggle
!
|
|
|
Intellectual Virtues Academy, A Long Beach Public High School
1637 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, California 90813
562.283.4456 | www.academylongbeach.org
|
|
The Intellectual Virtues Academy is a public Long Beach high school, open to all students, authorized by Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
