PARENTS
June 2010
Dear Arts Academy Students & Parents:
Congratulations! We want to welcome you to The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush community. We look forward to your participation during the upcoming year. We will be conducting the Rush Arts Student Institute on August 24, 25, and 26th for our incoming 9th graders. This Institute will be an opportunity for students to learn more about the programs at Rush Arts, meet with current students, participate in team building activities, and receive essential information about preparing for high school. During Wednesday and Thursday of that week, the students will be given a placement test for math and Spanish in order to determine their levels for our roster. However, students will not be able to study for these assessments.
We do have some summer reading assignments. Please see the website for the readings and assignments.
Students should pack their lunch for the student institute:
Schedule:Student Institute – 2010
August 24, 25 and 26
Goals:
The goals of our student institute are to welcome all incoming 9th graders (and a select few of new 10th and 11th graders) into The Arts Academy community. We will review expectations including an overview of our rigorous instructional program, habits of mind, and behavior expectations. Students will participate in various team building activities, learn skill building/high school survival tips, and tour the school as well as adjusting to their roster. Ultimately, they will be given a sense of our school culture and community.
Outcomes
* Readiness for first day
* Fostering relationships between sophomores, juniors and freshmen
* Moving toward the AABR frame of mind (the uniqueness of our school)
* Learn a sense of importance & rigor in all of our courses
* Navigating technology (websites, gmail, media literacy)
SCHEDULE
Day 1
9:00-9:30 Welcome Parents & Students
9:35-10:05 Parents: Info session and Tour (in groups) & technology lab
Students: Team building activity
* Parents Leave
10:10-10:40 Scavenger Hunt/Tour
10:45-11:45 ID pictures & Team building (in groups)
11:50-1:00 Skits about expectations, Q&A, slide show and video from last year
Day 2
9:00-9:30 Expectations review
9:35-10:45 Math Placement Test (all students)
10:50-12:35 Mock School Day – Habits of Mind introduction
12:40-1:00 All Student Send-off
Day 3
9:00-9:30 Welcome
9:35-10:20 Tech workshops
10:25-11:25 Organizational skills & Transportation buddy interviews (in groups)
11:30-12:00 Send Off
12:00-1:00 Spanish Placement Test (for those who want to place into Spanish II) Math Placement Test Make-Up
