Greetings Husky Families!
Expeditions: A Walk Around Summit Prep
We have completed yet another successful Expeditions and we are so excited to share more details about the growth our students have made! Walking through the halls of our building during Expeditions is a great way to see how engaging expeditionary learning can be for our students. Take a left at the entryway and over the course of two weeks a wall is being repainted with the "Leave no Husky Behind" motto in gold writing and vibrant colors. Follow the hallway down and to the right and you'll find students creating 3D papier mache hands and sewing personalized projects. To the left in a small alcove there is a group of students holding a collaborative Math study session for the upcoming AP exam.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9vg3zAafay1X1FkNF9PQnUwa1U/edit?usp=sharing
Keep walking around the hallways and as you enter the Grand Room, you'll hear the sounds of guitars, drums and other instruments floating through the air. "We're practicing for our recital on Thursday," the musicians share, who are a part of a music class that is pure student led and organized.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9vg3zAafay1UnR6TVhMaWphNUk/edit?usp=sharing
It is so fantastic to see the blend of learning that is happening around this vibrant student-centered campus!
AP and STAR Testing
Over the next two weeks, Summit Prep students will be working hard to "show what they know." They will be taking AP Exams, STAR Testing, and the new statewide Smarter Balanced assessments. Our performance is important not only for our school, but also for each individual student. Colleges and universities look to these numbers to help form a picture of what kind of school Summit Prep is and how we have prepared our students for future academic success.
This year, our students are more prepared than ever, as they have been actively developing their critical thinking skills all year, as well as building up their strategies for taking multiple choice exams. Please make sure your children are sleeping and eating well this week!
AP Exams Morning AP Exams will begin promptly at 8 a.m. Please arrange appropriate transportation to arrive at 7:45 a.m. if your student is signed up for a morning exam. The cost of each AP Exam is $89.
11th Grade STAR tests are used by colleges to determine whether students can place out of remedial classes - remind students that it will save them time and money if they do well.
Teaching and Learning At Summit Prep
Although our students will turn their focus towards testing over the next two weeks, we are proud of the rigorous and exciting projects students are working on.
What is a Project? A project is a series of tasks and experiences our students work on in class with their teachers and peers to develop cognitive skills and connect the content they are learning to a real-life experience. Each of the projects builds towards a final product such as an essay, speech, or research paper.
Students spend the majority of their day in Project Time - learning from their teachers, developing their cognitive skills and receiving feedback so that they can improve their final product.
What is a Cognitive Skill?
Cognitive skills are the real-world skills that are crucial to success in college, careers and life, such as problem solving, conducting research, developing arguments, using evidence, writing, speaking and listening.
Students' grades on projects are derived from their growth in cognitive skills. Focusing on cognitive skills in a culture of constant growth and feedback helps drive towards their fullest potential, preparing them for success in college, careers and life!
We hope everyone has a great week!
Penelope, Patti, and John
