IDEA Public School's Middle School Booklet Spring 2019 (English)

Middle School at IDEA Public Schools

Self-Discovery Begins Here: Be Curious! Be Exceptional! Be You!

Spring 2019

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CONTRIBUTORS Middle school prepares scholars for success in high school and serves as the pivotal moment when many scholars develop their passion and interests.

The adventure of self-discovery begins here!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Vanessa Barry EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Irma Muñoz EDITORIAL EDITOR: Cavett Thorne COPYWRITERS: Marco Carbajal Cavett Thorne Sharise Johnson PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mitch Idol Johnny Quiroz CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jennifer Stevenson DESIGNER: Andres Llanas ON THE COVER: Mya Henderson, 6th Grade Scholar IDEA Innovation

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Table of Contents 4

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Mission 1 Be Ready: What to Expect

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Mission 3 Be Prepared: Planning for High School

Mission 2 Be Curious: Exploring Academics

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Mission 4 Be You: Joining Extracurricular Activities

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Mission 5 Be Healthy: Activating Body and Mind

Final Mission Be Successful

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Be Informed: Frequently Asked Questions

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MISSION 1: Be Ready — What to Expect

Through Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) coursework, college visits, and robust extracurricular activities, our dedicated teachers help develop the whole child and ensure scholars have the academic knowledge, character building, and outside-of-class experiences to excel in high school and college. Our middle school scholars are preparing and learning as they embark on a key transition along the road to success in college and in life.

At IDEA, middle school scholars achieve academic excellence! In 2018, IDEA’s 6th — 8th grade scholars outperformed their statewide peers on standardized tests by 11%.

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7th grader Adamari Venegas and her classmates ready with an answer at IDEA Brownsville

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CHECK OUT IDEA’S 2018 REPORT CARD FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY! SCHOLAR ACHIEVEMENT

SCHOOL PROGRESS

CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

IDEA Public Schools

B

A

B

Austin ISD

B

B

B

San Antonio ISD

D

C

C

McAllen ISD

B

A

A

Brownsville ISD

B

A

B

Sharyland ISD

A

A

A

Edinburg CISD

B

A

B

South Texas ISD

A

A

A

Alamo Heights ISD

A

B

B

Clint ISD

C

B

C

Socorro ISD

B

B

B

DISTRICT

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DID YOU HEAR ABOUT OUR 2018 NATIONAL RANKINGS? Schools within the IDEA Public Schools network in the Rio Grande Valley were ranked among the most challenging high schools in America by Jay Mathews, formerly recognized as The Washington Post Most Challenging Schools List.

This is the third consecutive year IDEA has been represented in the annual list of rankings, reflecting the rigor and success of IDEA’s college-going culture.

HIGH SCHOOLS RANKED TOP 20 IN THE NATION IN 2018

IDEA Public Schools: 5

Austin ISD: 0

Brownsville ISD: 0

Lake Travis ISD: 0

Harlingen CISD: 0

KIPP Austin: 0

South Texas ISD: 0

KIPP San Antonio: 0

Weslaco ISD: 0

Northside ISD: 0

Donna ISD: 0

Clint ISD: 0

San Benito CISD: 0

Socorro ISD: 0

San Antonio ISD: 1

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MISSION 1: Be Ready — What to Expect

*STAAR TEST RESULTS FOR 2017 Because of our rigorous courses and excellent teachers, we achieve stellar results at IDEA. Take a look at how IDEA outperforms other Texas schools:

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40

40 20

20 0

76%

80

60

75%

100

80

69%

100

84%

6TH GRADE

0

READING

MATHEMATICS

100

80

80

60

60

60

40

40 20

0

0

READING

77%

40

71%

73%

20

82%

100

80

83%

100

70%

7 TH GRADE

20

MATHEMATICS

0

WRITING

80

60

60

60

40

40 20

0

0

READING

40

76%

86%

20

63%

100

80

90%

100

80

93%

100

81%

8TH GRADE

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SCIENCE

IDEA Public Schools

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SOCIAL STUDIES

Texas Schools Statewide

*The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is Texas' testing program and is based on state curriculum standards in core subjects including reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.

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IDEA’S MIDDLE SCHOOL CORE COURSE SEQUENCE is specifically designed to prepare scholars for college.

It includes the following Pre-AP courses:

ENGLISH & LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA)

*SPANISH

MATHEMATICS

SCIENCE

SOCIAL STUDIES

*Most campuses begin their Spanish program in 8th grade with Spanish I.

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6th grade scholars engaged in class at IDEA Rio Vista

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MISSION 1: Be Ready — What to Expect

Great ‘IDEA’ For a Fresh Start.

Patience Banks first heard about IDEA Public Schools from Texas relatives who said that enrolling their kids at IDEA was the best decision they ever made. Banks was living in Lafayette, Louisiana with her husband and family at the time, and says their move to Baton Rouge was for a better opportunity.

The family could not afford the city’s private schools, and Banks admits there were few suitable options in the area. Still, she was determined to find a school that would challenge her son Joshua and keep him interested in learning. “Joshua is a talented, bright kid who can get bored without a challenge, and IDEA’s record and academic programs are why we chose this school for him.”

Since starting at IDEA, Banks says her son is excited about several opportunities available to scholars including the Royal Reader program and school sports teams.

IDEA is offering me the chance of a lifetime. I really want to go to college and be great at anything I want to do. The people at IDEA are inspiring, imaginative, and compassionate, and they will help me become who I am going to be.”

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MISSION 2: Be Curious — Exploring Academics What are Pre-AP Courses?

Pre-AP courses prepare scholars for Advancement Placement (AP) courses in high school and ultimately improve college readiness. Through these courses, scholars learn to master content and skills that prepare them for the next phase of IDEA’s college preparatory program—high school. Pre-AP courses are the first step toward ensuring scholars are ready for the AP courses in high school.

AP courses provide opportunities for scholars to earn valuable college credit by taking an end-of-year exam based on the knowledge acquired in that class.

By the end of a scholar’s senior year at IDEA Public Schools, they will have taken at least 11 AP courses or a variety of International Baccalaureate* classes that prepare them for college!

What are AP and IB Courses?

The International Baccalaureate (IB)* program is a challenging and balanced two-year international curriculum that begins in 11th grade and that leads to the award of the IB Diploma and potential college credit. The IB program gives scholars the skills necessary for success in higher education and in employment. *IB is offered at select IDEA schools 12

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Academic Model at IDEA Our academic model at IDEA ensures scholars are preparing for college at the start of middle school. Pre-AP course topics include:

PRE-AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS Scholars develop rhetorical skills via novel studies, seminars, expressive and informal essays, and group projects.

PRE-AP HUMANITIES Scholars read primary source documents, conduct research, and write research essays as they study history, geography and cultures around the world.

PRE-AP MATHEMATICS Scholars develop conceptual and applied mathematics skills while supplementing learning with adaptive math software in the iLearning Hotspot.

8th grade science teacher Yesenia Martinez teaching anatomy to Seth Perez and Angeles Villareal

PRE-AP SCIENCE Scholars apply critical thinking skills as they read, write, solve problems, and perform laboratory experiments with state-of-the-art equipment.

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A LEADER’S PERSPECTIVE

MR. ADRIAN HERNANDEZ Principal, IDEA Rio Vista College Preparatory

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Meet Adrian Hernandez Adrian is a native of El Paso and has been with IDEA Public Schools since 2010.

He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University and has a passion for inspiring all scholars to succeed.

At IDEA, we fully commit ourselves, our resources, and our curriculum to supporting every scholar’s dream of earning a college degree. We offer a challenging but nurturing learning environment for middle school SCHOLARS where each has access to Pre-AP coursework. This lays the foundation for success in college-level coursework from middle school through college.�

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MISSION 2: Be Curious — Exploring Academics

Sixth grade is a pivotal year for IDEA scholars.

This marks the transition from Academy to College Preparatory. At the College Preparatory level, further responsibility is placed on 6th graders to become resourceful learners who take initiative.

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MISSION 2: Be Curious — Exploring Academics

6th grade scholars in class at IDEA Bluff Springs

6TH GRADERS PIQUE THEIR CURIOSITY WITH WIT & WISDOM Wit & Wisdom is a comprehensive English Language Arts curriculum for 6th grade scholars that inspires curiosity and takes them on a journey through authentic literature and discussion of big topics like the Great Depression, ancient and modern mythology, and courageous people throughout history. Scholars engage in deep study of important topics while taking ownership of their own learning and deepening their knowledge of the world.

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BOOKS

KNOWLEDGE BUILDING

INTEGRATED, NOT ISOLATED

PROGRAM DESIGN

In 6th grade at IDEA, scholars read books they love in order to build knowledge of important topics and master literacy skills. There is a careful balance of literary, informational, and fine arts texts. This learning is supplemented by the independent reading scholars complete in the Accelerated Reading (AR) Zone.

In 6th grade, scholars focus on building background knowledge, vocabulary, and writing skills. For example, scholars learn about Jamestown—the first permanent English settlement in North America. After learning the history of this historic Virginia town, the scholars analyze whether it was considered a failure and why.

Scholars practice reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language in an integrated way in the 6th grade.

This integrated approach enables scholars to be more successful as they build on their developing background and vocabulary knowledge.

Sixth grade scholars engage in intensive study of four different topics during the academic year. Through the use of carefully selected texts in these topic areas, scholars engage with in-depth text analysis and cross-curricular activities that reference literature, visual media, art, social studies, and science.

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MISSION 2: Be Curious — Exploring Academics

7 GRADE Seventh grade will allow IDEA scholars to rise to the challenge of increased academic rigor as they continue taking Pre-AP courses.

Through these courses, scholars learn to master strategies that prepare them for the next phase of our college preparatory program — high school — and ultimately college.

WIT & WISDOM

PLANNNING AHEAD

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Wit & Wisdom is also taught in 7th grade. Scholars will read and learn about periods of history like the Middle Ages from 500 AD to 1500 AD and World War II and investigate interesting topics like the power of language through well-known American speeches, poetry, and propaganda. Scholars engage in deep study of important topics while taking ownership of their own learning and deepening their knowledge of the world.

Scholars continue planning their pathway to college and research necessary coursework for college acceptance. For example, a university may ask that a scholar have five years of math for an engineering major applicant. By exploring and understanding what colleges look for early on, scholars can plan ahead and complete necessary credentials.

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MISSION 2: Be Curious — Exploring Academics

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GRADE

Eighth grade scholars will experience an increase of Pre-AP coursework as they prepare to enter the next level of IDEA’s College Preparatory program — high school.

While the academic rigor rises, they also enjoy more College Field Lessons, an incredible experience of traveling to universities across the country.

(Read more about College Field Lessons on page 33)

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MATHEMATICS

A clear distinction at IDEA is that every 8th grade scholar takes Algebra 1. Scholars will be challenged to learn advanced content and skills that prepare them for success on AP Calculus and AP Statistics exams in high school.

PLANNNING AHEAD

In the 8th grade, scholars focus heavily on writing—a skill necessary for college and in life.

They practice using teacher and peer feedback by using the “RRR” model, which stands for read, revise, and rewrite.

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SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING at IDEA Middle Schools

IDEA is committed to providing every scholar with the support they need to succeed at IDEA, in postsecondary programs, and beyond. With innovative and progressive service delivery models, ongoing and specialized professional development for support teachers, and excellent teacher coaching, we are committed to offering the highest quality of services for our scholars.

Scholars receive individualized support through scaffolding, accommodations, and access to resources so they can follow the same rigorous curriculum as their IDEA peers.

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How do special education scholars receive specialized instruction at IDEA Public Schools?

Scholars in special education are serviced via their IEP (Individualized Education Plan). Additionally, IDEA Public Schools initiates a service delivery approach that offers targeted intervention to all scholars who need extra help to reach grade level academic proficiency.

IDEA always seeks to provide scholars instruction in the least restrictive environment, but support services are provided across the continuum from being fully mainstreamed into general education classrooms to a self-contained classroom with low scholar/teacher ratio based on each scholar’s individual needs per their IEP.

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MISSION 2: Be Curious — Exploring Academics

Changing Lives as an IDEA Special Education Teacher.

Meet William Pierce, 7th grade special education teacher at IDEA San Benito. He has enjoyed nearly a decade of teaching at IDEA College Preparatory San Benito. His joy for teaching is infectious, and his passion for teaching middle school scholars stems from his own middle school days when he was introduced to a buddy at a special education campus in his hometown.

During his first year at IDEA, William worked with a 7th grade scholars who had not previously passed the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) or Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exam and struggled with how he could improve the educational experience for this child. “In order to interact with this kiddo—he was a scholar with autism—I had to try and find out what he liked. He was really into the card game Magic: The Gathering,” William said. “I learned how to play, and we turned his math work into a card game – we turned everything into a game.”

After learning the needs of his scholar, William said it confirmed his choice to teach special education. His goal is not only to make sure his scholars are successful in the classroom, but to also assist them in becoming functioning members of society.

At IDEA, we fully commit ourselves, our resources, and our curriculum to supporting every scholar’s dream of earning a college degree. We offer a challenging but nurturing learning environment for middle school scholars where each has access to Pre-AP coursework. This lays the foundation for success in college-level coursework from middle school through college.”

William loves the classroom and plans to spend many more years as a teacher at IDEA. When asked what his professional goals were, he simply said that he wants to continue to improve his role as a special education teacher.

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7th grade special education teacher, William Pierce, helping a scholar.

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A LEADER’S PERSPECTIVE

MR. JOÁN ALVAREZ Principal, IDEA College Preparatory McAllen

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Meet Joán Alvarez Joán is a Texas native and first-generation college graduate. He joined the IDEA Team & Family in 2011. He strongly believes in a vision where everyone has high expectations, and everyone holds a strong conviction of COLLEGE FOR ALL.

Our AP/IB for all model challenges SCHOLARS and teachers to engage in a rigorous, fun, learning environment. We work as a team and family to help every scholar achieve success by design.”

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MISSION 3:

Be Prepared — Planning for High School Middle School at IDEA may seem hard— taking Pre-AP courses and engaging in more comprehensive areas of study, but IDEA provides scholars with the support, guidance, and instruction they need to ensure each scholar reaches their highest potential. Together with the support of parents and teachers, IDEA middle school scholars will have the resources they need to succeed and prepare for high school and college.

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College Counselor Jenice Garza and scholars at IDEA Montopolis

COLLEGE COUNSELORS IDEA College Counselors go above and beyond for IDEA scholars.

Support starts early at IDEA. Beginning in 6th grade, college counselors work with scholars to teach them entry-level skills, with a focus on time management and organization.

EXPERT TEACHERS IDEA’s expert teachers are critical to ensuring scholars are prepared for college and life. Our teachers invest time and effort into each scholar’s success, working day in and day out to make sure that they are set on the path to success.

COLLEGE FIELD LESSONS College Field Lessons, which begin for our scholars as early as 3rd grade, are just one of many ways we strive to create an environment that teaches scholars to dream big and understand that they can attend the college of their choice. You can learn more about College Field Lessons on page 33.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM At IDEA, scholars have the opportunity to explore a wide array of extracurricular opportunities including participating in community service projects, leadership experiences, spelling bees, science fairs, and much more to help them discover their best selves. IDEA offers numerous extracurricular activities across our campuses, including flag football, basketball, volleyball, chess, mariachi, robotics, and the school yearbook and newspaper. You can learn more about our extracurricular activities on page 37.

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MISSION 3: Be Prepared — Planning for High School

The Road To and Through College Lessons Scholars begin having monthly lessons for The Road to and Through College in the 6th grade and continue the coursework until their high school graduation. In this lesson, scholars begin discovering their passions and interests and explore which colleges or universities best align with their goals.

The Road to and Through College lessons focus on the following four areas:

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ACADEMIC READINESS

2.

COLLEGE GRADUATING IDENTITY

3.

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE

4.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND CITIZENSHIP

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College Field Lessons College Field Lessons are just one of the many ways IDEA strives to create an environment that teaches all scholars to aim high and understand that they can attend a college of their choice. Teachers and staff further emphasize College Field Lessons, taking middle school scholars to universities across the country so they can experience campus life for themselves. It’s never too early to dream big!

A sample college field schedule for Rio Grande Valley scholars:

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MISSION 4:

Be You — Joining Extracurricular Activities

IDEA Judson middle school volleyball team

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IDEA Team Serve Aces In Class and on the Court Sports enthusiast and IDEA Judson 8th grade scholar, Annette Guajardo, was inspired to join the volleyball team in 6th grade after watching her older sister play.

“I used to go to my sister’s games, and I want to be like her.

After watching her, I knew i had to go for it.”

Now a three-year veteran of the sport, Annette Guajardo is proudest of her striking serve and powerful spike. But as the saying goes, there is no “i” in team. She stresses the importance of team connection.

“You have to communicate really well in volleyball. The better we communicate, the better we play.”

Teammate and fellow 8th grader, Nina Guastafierro, shares the sentiment of the importance of teamwork: “The best part of being on the team is getting to know the girls and connecting with them.”

The girls believe they will play better than ever this year because of their team bond.

Extracurricular activities at IDEA are not simply about competition.

They are also a means to creating a fun and active environment for learning. Annette thinks volleyball has made her a more well-rounded person. “I think playing volleyball makes me a better scholar. It shows me that I’m a good learner, whether it’s in a sport or a class.”

The IDEA Judson Jaguar volleyball players often spend extra time outside of regular practice to enhance their skills. It’s this type of effort—going the extra mile without being asked or told—that will manifest far beyond athletics. It’s a form of character-building inherent in the IDEA culture.

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IDEA’S ATHLETIC SUCCESS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE OUR TALENTS, NOT JUST IN THE ACADEMIC LIGHT, BUT ALSO OUR ABILITY IN SPORTS COMPETITION. WE ARE FOSTERING WORLD-CLASS SCHOLAR ATHLETES.”

SPORTS

CLUBS

Basketball

Academic University

Cheerleading

Arts & Crafts

Cross Country

Ballet

Flag Football

Chess

Soccer

Cooking

Tennis

Drumline

Track & Field

Folklórico

Volleyball

Guitar

And many more!

Violin Hip-Hop Interscholastic League Junior Master Gardeners Lego League Newspaper & Yearbook Piano Scholar Senate Tae Kwan Do Karate

*This list is not inclusive of every activity offered. Sports and clubs vary by campus.

With enough interest expressed, additional extracurricular activities are considered and added as appropriate.

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MISSION 5:

Be Healthy ­— Activating Body and Mind

In 2018, IDEA Public Schools were ranked among “America’s Healthiest Schools” by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Healthy bodies lead to healthy minds! We firmly believe that good nutrition and wellness are essential daily ingredients for scholars to achieve their academic and physical potential. This is why we launched the Healthy Kids Here initiative in 2014.

Healthy Kids Here is designed to provide a healthy and active lifestyle for our scholars, increase their access to healthy and nutritious foods, and educate IDEA on health, wellness, and nutrition.

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8th Grade scholars exercise at IDEA San Juan

HEALTHY KIDS HERE HAS 3 FOCUS AREAS: NUTRITION

Our Nutrition Team prioritizes serving quality ingredients to our scholars.

Each campus receives organic, locally-grown produce—often harvested from one of our farms.

FITNESS

Healthy Kids Here increases scholars’ active minutes throughout the school day. All scholars participate in short bursts of moderately vigorous activity multiple times each day outside of physical education (PE) class and recess. To engage our scholars and monitor success during PE classes, scholars wear Interactive Health Technologies (IHT) heart rate monitors on their wrists to track their heart rates and physical fitness over time.

FOREVER

To support a lifetime of healthy habits, we teach our scholars health-related topics through a combination of on-the-ground efforts and resource sharing.

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TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

ALETHEA BARRERA

6th Grade ELA teacher at IDEA College Preparatory Donna

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Meet Alethea Barrera She is a dynamic 6th grade English Language Arts (ELA) Pre-AP teacher and 6th grade Team Lead at IDEA College Preparatory Donna.

She is a University of Texas Rio Grande Valley alumna and is entering her fourth year as an IDEA teacher.

How does middle school at IDEA stand out from other schools?

Teachers and leaders set high expectations at IDEA and not only do we maintain them, we strive to exceed them. We believe all our scholars are capable of excellence. They are expected to achieve more, and I have no doubt they have the ability to rise to the occasion.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I truly enjoy my career because of my time with scholars. Every day is a new adventure with them. It fulfills me to see my scholars excel in my classroom. One of my favorite things about working at IDEA is having the opportunity to watch their future accomplishments, including college acceptance.

How do you motivate your scholars?

My goal is to make each of my lessons fun and engaging. I strive to incorporate what I call the “joy factor� and aim to make them laugh every day. I want my scholars to feel safe and comfortable in my classroom so they are able to truly enjoy the process of learning.

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FINAL MISSION: Be Successful

MEET MARIO 6th Grader at IDEA Edgemere

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A Future Robotics Engineer The support of a community makes all the difference when it comes to success, and no one believes that more than Mario Marquez.

This bright, articulate 6th grader at IDEA Edgemere loves the sense of community that IDEA affords scholars and is quick to tell you so himself. “Everyone is family here. Everyone on campus is here to support you and guide you to succeed.”

Just a few weeks into his first year at IDEA, Mario already sees a difference in the people and the culture that make IDEA schools unique. “We are the first generation, the first opening class. By coming to IDEA, you will ensure your future.” While he says the culture, core values, and commitment that teachers display to every scholar are his favorite things about IDEA, Mario says IDEA’s 100% college acceptance rate was the biggest selling point for his mother.

She chose idea because it has a 100% college acceptance rate, and that’s really rare. That’s not guaranteed anywhere else. But here, they give you that guarantee.”

Though he is just in 6th grade, Mario says that the excitement that builds around going to college begins early through college visits and wearing spirit shirts from colleges and universities on Fridays. The support of his campus family is also inspiring him to be a founding member of the campus robotics club.

With a budding interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), Mario plans to attend MIT someday and study robotics engineering. Though he may venture far from El Paso, his pride in being part of Edgemere’s inaugural class will stay with him for a lifetime.

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FINAL MISSION: Be Successful

An Aspiring Doctor At IDEA, there are no limitations for our scholars. We know that every child is capable of success in college, in a career, and in life, and we go the extra mile to help them succeed.

Just ask IDEA Eastside 8th grade scholar, Gabriella Flores. She aspires to be a doctor and won’t let anything get in her way.

Prior to attending IDEA, Gabriella was diagnosed with dyslexia, making it challenging for her to read and spell. But once she was enrolled at IDEA, she has flourished in her studies.

“At first it was hard to read assignments, but my teachers would really help me however they could. They would use pictures, help me pronounce words, and let me use the dictionary so that i understood everything.”

At IDEA Eastside, Gabriella was commended in math and now shares her new-found academic confidence and skills with other scholars. She proudly assists her classmates with algebra tutorials and is determined to help others as IDEA helped her. She is overcoming obstacles and believes she can do anything she sets her mind to.

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MEET GABRIELLA 8th Grader at IDEA Eastside

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BE INFORMED:

Frequently Asked Questions WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ATTENDING MIDDLE SCHOOL AT IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS? IDEA sets high expectations for every scholar and goes the extra mile to make sure every scholar realizes their own potential. Personalized learning, critical thinking skills, mastery of core subjects, and continued support through college is IDEA’s recipe for success.

In addition to high-level academics, emphasis is placed on every scholar at the IDEA College Preparatory level to become well-rounded, think independently, drive their own learning, and become culturally-aware citizens of the community.

WHAT IS THE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE AT IDEA? For 13 years and counting, 100% of IDEA College Preparatory graduates have been accepted to college. We firmly believe that college is for all.

WHAT IS THE COST OF ATTENDANCE? IDEA schools are tuition-free.

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS AT IDEA? Typically, scholars are in school from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. School hours may vary.

WHAT IS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL? IDEA schools grades 6-12 are known as College Preparatory schools as the curriculum is geared toward advancing our scholars to and through college.

HOW CAN I ENROLL MY CHILD AT AN IDEA SCHOOL? New scholar enrollment at IDEA Public Schools is based on the results of an annual lottery. All scholars are eligible to apply; however, the number of seats open for enrollment varies by grade level and campus each year. There are no admissions requirements.

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DOES IT MATTER IF MY CHILD DID NOT ATTEND AN IDEA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? No, it does not. A scholar can apply to IDEA at any age or grade level. Scholars are selected by a blind lottery when space is available.

WHAT ARE PRE-AP COURSES AND WHY ARE THEY REQUIRED? Pre-AP courses are designed to teach scholars the skills necessary to be successful in AP (Advanced Placement) courses in high school, which, in turn, prepare them for success in college-level courses. Read more about Pre-AP on page 13.

WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED? Extracurricular activities can include, but are not limited to, basketball, baseball, cross country, cheerleading, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field, among others.

In addition to sports, IDEA also offers a variety of clubs, which span many scholar interests—art, chess, cooking, dance, community service, farm and garden, languages, music, photography, politics, yearbooks, and much more.

The school makes decisions on which extracurricular activities to offer and scholar input is welcomed.

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Through challenging assignments, diverse course content, and college-level expectations, IDEA middle school scholars discover who they are as they prepare for the rigor of high school, and ultimately, for success in college and in life.

Alex Gonzalez, 8th grader at IDEA Brownsville 48

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