Higher Ground Academy

Description

Background:
In an effort to provide seventh and eighth grade students access to information about career opportunities and to get them thinking about future goals, the idea emerged to establish "clubs" and bring in subject-matter experts who will provide training and/or information to their group of students over the course of the school year. Volunteers with expertise in selected subjects are being recruited to facilitate and provide training to these clubs. Each club will have between 7 and 12 students. Students will participate in only one club per quarter, rotating to a new club the following quarter. Volunteers will meet with students once a week on Fridays (clubs will be held for one hour each Friday, replacing the students' English class). Students will work on assignments related to the session (essays, research, projects, etc.) during the rest of the week, with the oversight of their Higher Ground Academy English teacher.

Objective: "English mastery, college-ready, career focus" - Bill Wilson, Executive Director, Higher Ground Academy

The objectives of the clubs are:
1. Offer a wider selection of class choices to the students.
2. Provide exposure to career options and give a solid understanding of what it takes to enter a certain profession.
3. Improve English proficiency (English is the second language for most of the students).