The Lisbon School District contracted with The Big Picture Company to assist in designing Community Connections High School. The school is based on the idea that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their own education through personalized learning, authentic work, adult mentors and family involvement.
CORE VALUES, BELIEFS, AND LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
The goal of Community Connections High School is to graduate productive young adults who are effective problem solvers and decision makers. They will become confident lifelong learners prepared for 21st century challenges. All students are valued individuals with unique personal and academic needs. Advisors, parents, students and adult mentors work collaboratively to develop personalized Learning Plans based on each student’s interests and common learning goals. Students’ strengths and self esteem are developed through innovative and authentic learning opportunities. Community Connections High School fosters this development through project work, internships and academic and personal goals. Our graduates are informed, responsible adults who respect diversity and value lifelong learning.
Student Learning Expectations
- Interpret, analyze, and evaluate text in order to expand understanding and appreciation.
- Speak and write, using standard language structures and diction appropriate to audience and task.
- Prepare, publish, and/or present work appropriate to audience, purpose, and task that communicates interpretations of written, oral, and visual text.
- Use information and technology to create written, visual, oral, and multimedia products to communicate ideas.
- Apply knowledge to organize data, draw conclusions, analyze data, and solve problems.
- Increase self-awareness so that individual interests, talents, and skills can be explored, developed, and demonstrated for 21st century success.
- Develop personal responsibility which supports personal wellness, encourages respect for self and others, and promotes positive contributions to society.
ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: PERSONALIZED EDUCATION: The curriculum is based on each individual student’s needs and passions. Each student has an Individual Learning Plan that he or she creates along with teachers (advisors), parent (s), mentors and internship coordinators. PARENT/FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: The student’s parents/guardians are important members of the learning team. They are directly involved in making curriculum and assessment decisions. LEARNING THROUGH INTERNSHIPS: Learning is centered around real work. Students work alongside a mentor in a workplace, performing jobs or solving problems with real outcomes, while simultaneously exploring their interests and developing skills. AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT: Each student demonstrates his/her progress through an exhibition before advisors, peers, parents and mentors. Each quarter teachers write a narrative evaluation of the student based on learning goals. COLLEGE CREDIT: Students are encouraged to participate in college classes for credit beginning in the Junior Year. SMALL SETTING: To maintain our “One Student at a Time” approach, our school will not get larger than 120 students. |
