F.I.S.H.-Moving Our School Into A New Direction

Personalized Learning Environments:
·    Ninth grade academy
·    Career/professional academies for 10-12 graders
·    Interdisciplinary teams
·    Transition courses in sixth and ninth grades
·    Electronic transition portfolio 

Academic Engagement of all Students:
·    Project-based education
·    Increased student participation in honors and AP courses
·    Capstone Project
·    PSAT for all ninth grade students 

Empowered Educators:
·    Common planning period for team teachers
·    Site specific professional development
·    Professional collaboration
·    Reflective practices
·    Common vision and mission
·    Aligned resources
·    Equitable practices and policies
·    Data driven decision making 

Accountable Leaders:
·    Common vision and mission
·    Aligned resources
·    Equitable practices and policies
·    Data driven decision making 

Engaged Community and Youth:
·    Service Projects
·    Business Partnerships
·    Increased parental involvement in the development of individual student educational plan
·    Senior career/professional experience (internships)
·    Adult mentors 

Integrated System of High Standards, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Support:
·    Experiential learning activities
·    Essential skills
·    Differentiated instruction
·    Portfolio and performance assessment activities
·    Academy elective courses aligned to industry standards
·    Literacy instruction throughout the curriculum

Due to the restructuring of the budget, the district has placed a hold on the vote for the eight period day.  We will let you know when there is more information.

We want to welcome our new academy leaders!

In order from left to right:

Josephine Otero (9th Grade)

Lucia Benchetrit (Business and Information Technology)

Ayleen Monzon (Culinary Arts, Education, and Design)

Tracy Watkins (Public/Personal Service and Wellness)

Jordan Rosen (Visual and Performing Arts)

Syliva Cuesta (International Baccalaureate)

Continue reading →

Core teachers have been asking about academy selection on the teaching preference selection sheets that are due to Dr. Diaz by Friday.  In response, core teachers need to know that they will not be teaching the content from the elective pathway classes of culinary operations or accounting.  In creating small learning communities, the core teachers will have to be assigned to groups of students who will fall under an academy.  Dr. Diaz is asking the core teachers to think about their own individual preference and which academy they would like to fall under.  Eventually, when looking forward to interdisciplinary project planning within academies, it is to the benefit of the students that they share as many teachers as possible.  It is in this way that we will be able to personalize their learning environment more to their interests.  So the core teachers will continue to teach their content as stipulated by the Sunshine State Standards and other district requirements, however they will fall under an academy to facilitate the grouping of students into their small learning communities. 

As we move closer to restructuring our classes into the academy structure to help our students experience a more purposeful and focused high school experience, it is hard not to question if we are proceeding in the best manner.  At a recent SSR district meeting, the same question was raised.  In response, the district unveiled its new “user-friendly” website.  The link is posted on the sidebar under “District’.  Please click on it to explore what SSR looks like at other Miami-Dade county public schools.  Additionally, click on this link for a “checklist” of what the elements of implementing SSR are:  http://ssr.dadeschools.net/test/Academy_Implementation.pdf  .  Hopefully you will be able to see that we are on the right track to a successful implementation that is tailored to the needs of our students.

Secondary School Reform at Coral Gables Senior High may still seem confusing and vague.  At the recent faculty meeting several teachers expressed that they felt uncomfortable in understanding what this restructuring entails. The desgin committee hopes that the introduction of this site will help in clarifying these misunderstandings while providing at the same time an opportunity to express your own thoughts.