Health Science Academy
Student Handbook
Health Science Academy Staff:
HPE: English: PLTW:
Michela Anderson
Jessica Stamler Cook (9)
Zach Murphy (PBS) mranderson@mcpsmt.org jcook@mcpsmt.org
zmurphy@mcpsmt.org
Edie VanBuskirk
Michael Webster (10)
Kate Lindner (HBS) evanbuskirk@mcpsmt.org
mwebster@mcpsmt.org
Science:
Craig Messerman (Int 1)
cmesserman@mcpsmt org
Social Studies:
krlindner@mcpsmt.org
Kathleen Kennedy (MI)
Nicole Sarrazin-Strong (W Geo) kkennedy@mcpsmt org
nsarrazinstrong@mcpsmt org
Hannah Houser (BI)
Academy Coordinator: hhouser@mcpsmt.org sruby@mcpsmt org
Sydney Ruby (Int 2)
Jenn Keintz
jkeintz@mcpsmt org
It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the Health Science Academy (HSA) at Big Sky High School. We are a professional community that extends beyond the walls of our school. The purpose of the following document is to articulate the expectations for students in the HSA.
Mission: Provide Relevancy
The Health Science Academy’s mission is to provide students with an intellectually challenging and relevant education in a small, supportive environment. Every student enrolled will not only complete high school, but will do so with the knowledge and skills to be successful in a post-secondary educational program or workforce
The Academy’s teachers and administrators will work with parents and community partners to develop opportunities through which students can become exceptional and well-rounded scholars, citizens, leaders and volunteers The curriculum will be college-preparatory with a focus on careers in the medical health sciences
Vision: Develop Young Professionals
The Academy is supported by a vision that all students will develop into thoughtful, responsible, and confident adults who are prepared to excel in both their post-secondary education and careers. Utilizing professionals in local medical centers, health clinics, educational institutions and businesses as integral partners, the Academy will motivate students to continue their education in pursuit of their dreams, and inspire them to work in and contribute to the Missoula community.
Responsibilities and Code of Conduct for Academy Students
In conjunction with the expectations of Big Sky High School, Academy students will adhere to the following guidelines:
● Respect yourself, your peers, academy staff, your teachers, your family, and your school Remember you represent the Health Science Academy, Big Sky High School, your family, and your community
● Respect space, property, and privacy
● Practice safe behavior in all settings
● Respect equipment and facilities at all times
● Be punctual, prepared, and professionally dressed
● Productive dialogue is expected.
● Honor, accept, and protect the diverse group of people, ideas, and beliefs in the Health Science Academy and beyond.
● Leadership, service learning, and sharing knowledge are the responsibility of each student.
● Become informed about appropriate cell phone use for each situation.
Curriculum
During the freshman and sophomore years, the Academy functions as a smaller learning community within Big Sky High School: one group of teachers shares all Academy students each year. In order to graduate with the Health Science Academy designation at graduation and have it noted on the official student transcript, students must pass all academy classes in the sequence outlined below.
● Freshman
○ English 1
○ Principles of Biomedical Science
○ Integrated Science 1
○ World Geography
○ Health Enhancement 1
● Sophomore
○ English 2
○ Human Body Systems
○ Integrated Science 2
● Junior
○ Medical Interventions
● Senior
○ Biomedical Innovations
Note: Certain classes can be taken concurrently with counselor/coordinator permission. Refer to credit recovery flow chart for additional information.
ALL ACADEMY CLASSES ARE YEAR-LONG. STUDENTS MAY NOT TRANSFER OUT MID-YEAR.
Early Graduation
The Health Science Academy is a 4-year program There is no option for early graduation
Standards-Based Grading
The Academy uses a standards-based grading system. Evidence shows that this model promotes authentic learning and moves students’ focus away from a narrow emphasis on grades. The system allows students time to practice skills prior to the demonstration of mastery.
Each teacher provides students with a breakdown of standards into smaller objectives (learning targets) using a detailed rubric. Students are regularly assessed to see if they are exceeding, meeting, approaching, or below the standard
Those initial assessments are known as formative assessments and are considered “practice ” Formative assessments are a means to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback regarding standards Formative grades can be improved upon until the summative assessment for that unit
Summative assessments take place once students have had sufficient practice as determined by the instructor The summative assessment seeks to evaluate student learning by comparing it against the standard which has been addressed through the formative teaching cycle The summative assessment is the final assessment of student learning
Standards-Based Grading uses a four point scale.
4 point = mastering standard
3 point = meeting standard
2 point = approaching standard
1 point = below standard
0 points = no evidence of learning
The letter grade scale with percentages is as follows:
A=85-100%
B=70-84.9%
C=50-69 9%
D=35-49.9%
F=34.9% OR Less
*Teachers will notify students if a different grading scale is used
Attendance
It is expected that the Academy students will have exemplary attendance and punctuality at school and all Health Science Academy events Some academy events will require students to miss class time in their academy and non-academy courses When absent for any reason, Academy students are responsible for communicating with their teachers and/or classmates and promptly obtaining and completing missed work. A pre-arranged absence form is required for all events.
Academic Performance
Reaching academic potential is an expectation for HSA students. Students are expected to take an active role in their learning by recognizing they are accountable for their academic success. Students are responsible for making choices and taking actions which lead them toward their educational goals.
Students who are failing classes and are struggling to achieve their educational goals are expected to follow these guidelines:
Credit Recovery
Students who fail a class will have one opportunity to take the class again the next time the class is offered Failure to complete a required course will prevent a student from graduating with an Academy designation
Uniform/Personal Appearance
Health Science Academy students are ambassadors of Big Sky High School and the Health Science Academy Students are expected to follow the dress code established below when on hospital visits, field trips, job shadows and at other HSA events:
● Students should present a clean, neat, and professional appearance
● Students should wear their school-provided HSA shirt (Shirts should be washed in cold water, air dried, and worn only during academy events ) Students are responsible for lost, stolen or stained shirts.
● Khaki or black (full length) pants are required.
● Closed-toed shoes are required.
Ed-Ventures
The Health Science Academy provides students the unique opportunity for grade-level field trips known as Ed-Ventures These are scheduled to minimize disruption of non-academy classes; however, occasionally absences cannot be avoided Ed-Ventures relate to curricular and Academy goals and therefore are not optional Participation will be reflected in the citizenship standards Ed-Venture expectations are as follows:
● Students will meet deadlines for returning a signed, pre-arranged absence form if the Ed-Venture requires them to miss a non-academy class
● Students will follow Uniform/Personal Appearance guidelines
Community Service
Within the Health Science Academy there are opportunities for community service. These service learning activities build solid relationships and create outreach within our community. Attendance is required when they coincide with an academy class. Outside volunteer experiences can also come from job shadows, EdVentures, and other educational opportunities. Enjoy this opportunity to help others, make connections, and support our local community.
Academic Integrity Guidelines
These guidelines outline expectations for student academic conduct. Personal integrity is emphasized as a primary reason for promoting the academic honesty guidelines for teaching, learning, and assessment.
● All of my work will be my work.
● I will show respect to others.
● I will accept the consequences for my actions
● Participation in the academy is a privilege: act accordingly
Academic Malpractice
The following is based on the Big Sky International Baccalaureate Academic Honesty Guidelines (IBO). In the IBO publication “Academic honesty: guidance for schools” (IBO, 2003), malpractice is defined as “behavior that results in, or may result in, the candidate or any other candidate gaining an unfair advantage in one or more assessment components" (IBO, p. 2). Malpractice includes the following:
● Collusion: “supporting malpractice by another candidate, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another” or taking work from others without permission (IBO, p 2)
● Duplication of work: “the presentation of the same work for different assessment components and/or diploma requirements” (IBO, p 2)
● Intellectual Property: Thoughts, words, expressions of creativity that are protected under copyright, patent, trademark or other laws
● Plagiarism: “the representation of the ideas or work of another person as the candidate’s own” (IBO, p 2) This is not limited to text; it also applies to works from the arts (including music, film, dance, theater arts), math, science, computer science, etc (IBO, p 3)
● The definition of malpractice also includes “any other behavior that gains an unfair advantage for a candidate or that affects the results of another candidate…” (IBO, p. 2).
Safety Rules For All Laboratory Classes
● No eating or drinking in the laboratory-including gum chewing.
● Keep pens, pencils, laboratory tools and fingers away from your mouth. Do not rub eyes with fingers or hands.
● With the exception of your lab manual, notebook, and pen/pencil, no personal items may be placed on the lab bench Aisles between the benches must remain clear
● Wash hands with soap and water after each lab session and each time you accidentally touch a chemical or microbial culture
● Working alone with dangerous (e g flammable, toxic, or caustic) chemicals or procedures is strictly forbidden in the laboratory
● Safety Apparel
○ Eye Protection: Depending on the nature of the procedure, safety glasses may be required Typically if we are using fluids and/or scalpels eye protection is required
○ Lab coats or aprons are strongly recommended to protect your clothing
○ Closed toe shoes are required for some labs – no sandals or flip-flops (take note during warm weather)
○ Gloves should be worn when working with hazardous chemicals and body fluids.
● In the event of fire, inform the instructor immediately.
● Personal accidents, especially those resulting in injuries such as cuts and burns, must be reported immediately to the lab instructor so that you can be treated by the school nurse.
● If you break glassware, do not pick it up! Simply report to the instructor.
● Right to Know: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals are available in the classroom
● Laboratory time is a privilege Failure to listen to the safety briefing before the lab will result in the student’s removal from the day’s lab In the event of unsafe behavior, students are removed
from the lab for the day In the event of repetitive unsafe lab behavior, the students will be given alternate assignments outside the lab
Entering the Academy
● Future 9th grade students need to fill out the application form along with one reference and turn completed form into Jennifer Courtney-Principal or Jennifer Keintz-HSA Coordinator.
● Transfer students need to fill out the application form and supply one reference.
● All academy students need to complete the appropriate coursework to satisfy the grade level requirements.
● Each year Academy students will need to read the Big Sky Health Science Academy Handbook and sign the Receipt of Handbook page.
Exiting the Academy
● Students can only exit the Academy between grade levels Students are not permitted to leave the Academy at any point during the academic year
● In order to exit the Academy, guardians must schedule a meeting with the HSA Coordinator Jenn Keintz
● The purpose of the meeting:
○ Discuss academic progress
○ Discuss pros and cons of remaining in the Academy
○ Make a plan of action
○ Set a follow up meeting and appropriate placement determined
Health Science Academy Job Shadows
All Academy students will participate in job shadows during both their junior and senior years. Eligibility will be determined by the HSA Ed-Venture and Job Shadow standards
In order to participate in job shadows most students are required to have a TB test. In addition, an influenza vaccine and Covid vaccine may be required for certain sites Therefore, ALL Academy students will be required to have a TB test prior to participating in job shadows For student convenience, the school will provide the opportunity to have the TB test done on school premises at reduced cost.
Junior job shadows will take place in both the fall and the spring. An additional senior job shadow will take place during the fall of the senior year. Students are encouraged to choose different areas of interest for each job shadow. Job shadow requests will be made by students and every attempt to place the student in that area will be made
It is unacceptable for a student to miss a scheduled job shadow
Failure to attend a job shadow reflects poorly on the Health Science Academy and Big Sky High School as a whole Having healthy relationships with our community partners is vital for the sustainability of our job shadowing and certification programs A student who misses a job shadow must repair the relationship with the job shadow host by doing the following:
● Write a letter of apology to job shadow host that explains the situation
● Hand deliver letter to host
If a student fails to adhere to these guidelines they may lose the opportunity to participate in additional job shadow experiences and/or certification opportunities.
Certification Program
The HSA facilitates certifications in various programs including Personal Care Assistant (PCA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician(EMT),and phlebotomy These opportunities provide students with hands-on experiences and move students in a career direction of their choice within the medical field Available certifications vary year to year The HSA may provide scholarship assistance based on the cost of the course and on student need
Citizenship
Citizenship includes the duties and responsibilities that come with being a member of the Academy as well as those behaviors expected of students working in peer teams and with community members Citizenship scores will be monitored in individual classrooms and may be used to determine eligibility for jr/sr level job shadows, externship qualifications, and certifications
Following are three individual rubrics you will be responsible for understanding. The first is the citizenship rubric, which teachers may use for evaluating behavior during classroom time and/or during community service projects; the second is the job shadow rubric used exclusively during job shadows and which job shadow mentors will complete; and the third is the ed-venture rubric which teachers will complete after each ed-venture. Grades from these rubrics will make up a varying percentage of final grades at the discretion of each teacher.
Health Science Board Representation
AHEC (Area Health Education Center)
Community Medical Center
Clover Creative Consulting
Element Physical Therapy
Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Job Services
LifeLong Learning Center
Missoula Aging Services
Missoula Chamber of Commerce
Missoula College
Missoula Economic Partnership
Missoula Job Service
Missoula Pediatric Dentistry
Monida HealthCare Network
MT Digital Academy
Providence Health & Services
Science Refinery, LLC
Providence St Patrick Hospital
The University of Montana
The United Way
YMCA
Academic Conduct
Citizenship and Employability Skills Rubric
(Based on Rethinking Grading: Meaningful Assessment for Standards Based Learning by Cathy Vatterott 2015)
Exceeding
The student Arrives on time, prepared for class.
· Participates consistently, actions drive instruction forward.
· Consistently does what is expected and helps others to do the same
Work Completion The student Completes work as assigned every day.
·Always submits work on time
Takes full advantage of retake/redo opportunities
The student Generally arrives on time, prepared for class.
· Participates in class, actions benefit instruction
Accepts responsibility for actions, rarely requires redirection
The student Arrives on time, prepared for class inconsistently.
·Participates in class, but becomes distracted sometimes.
· Generally follows redirection and changes actions
The student Rarely brings materials to class, even with teacher coaching.
· Rarely participates, comments often distract from instruction Does not follow redirection to change actions
Even with help, the student Does not bring materials or participate.
·Does not follow directions Escalates the situation when given redirection. Or
The student violates the Academic Integrity Guidelines defined in the HSA handbook
Working with Other Students
The student Effectively works with different groups of students
Can help resolve conflicts
Seeks out different points of view.
·Embraces diversity
The student Consistently completes work assigned.
· Generally submits work on time
Takes advantage of retake/redo opportunities and support
The student Effectively communicates with other students
Does not participate in conflicts.
· Accepts different points of view
Accepts diversity.
The student Inconsistently completes work as assigned.
· Inconsistently submits work on time
Occasionally takes advantage of retake/redo opportunities and support
The student Occasionally communicates effectively with other students
Does not escalate conflicts.
·Occasionally accepts different points of view
The student Rarely completes work as assigned.
·Rarely submits work on time
Rarely takes advantage of retake/redo opportunities and support
The student Does not communicate effectively with other students
Escalates conflict
Does not accept different points of view
Does not accept diversity in others.
Even with help, the student Does not complete work as assigned.
· Does not submit work on time
Does not take advantage of retake/redo opportunities and support
The student Initiates conflict
Even with help, the student Does not communicate effectively
·Does not accept different points of view or diversity
Working with Adults
The student Assumes responsibility for learning by seeking help and promptly asking questions
Consistently listens and follows suggestions
Consistently demonstrates effective communication skills and willingness to work with adults
The student Generally assumes responsibility for learning by seeking help and asking questions when needed Generally listens and follows suggestions given by adults
Generally demonstrates effective communication skills and willingness to work with adults
The student Occasionally seeks help and asks questions when needed
· Inconsistently listens and follows suggestions given by adults.
· Sometimes demonstrates effective communication skills and willingness to work with adults
The student
Rarely seeks help or asks questions when needed
· Rarely listens and follows suggestions given by adults
Rarely demonstrates effective communication skills and willingness to work with adults.
Even with help, the student Does not seek help and ask questions
· Does not listen and follow suggestions given by adults Does not demonstrate effective communication skills or a willingness to work with adults.
Online Learning and Engagement
The student · Assumes responsibility for learning by logging in when necessary.
· Attending all online meetings with the camera on and microphone off Engages in meetings and discussion forums by answering and asking questions
Clearly communicates with teachers if there are technological issues
The student · Generally assumes responsibility for learning by logging in when necessary. Generally attends online meetings with the camera on and microphone off.
· Generally engages in meetings and discussion forums by answering and asking questions Communicates with teachers if there are technological issues
The student
· Occasionally logs into the online classroom and attends meetings.
· Inconsistently engages in online meetings and discussion forums.
· Sometimes communicates with teachers regarding technological issues
The student
· Rarely logs into the online classroom or attends meetings
Rarely engages in online meetings or discussion forums
Rarely communicates with teachers technological issues.
Even with help, the student
· Does not log into the online classroom and does not attend meetings.
· Does not attend online meetings or participate in discussion forums.
· Does not communicate if technological issues are occurring
Professional Dress Student wear their school provided HSA shirt, and khaki or black full length pants Students are not wearing leggings, tights, hats, or yoga pants
Student is wearing closed-toed shoes
Clothing is clean, neat, and professional in appearance
Job Shadow Skills Rubric
Student may have their Academy shirt on with dress jeans that do not have holes and closed toed shoes.
Student has professional dress on either top or bottom, but not both
Student arrives without any evidence of professional dress.
Student does not arrive to job shadow
Professional Timeliness
Student arrives at least 5 minutes early at the appropriate location
Professional Conduct Student safely and actively engages and participates in all activities. Uses respectful and appropriate manners with peers and adults.
Student refrains from using cell phone during activity.
Student arrives on time at appropriate location
Student is late to job shadow
Student is brought to to job shadow by someone after a reminder call from HSA
Student does not arrive to job shadow
Student safely and actively engages and participates in activities most of the time Uses respectful and appropriate manners with peers and adults most of the time. Student refrains from cell phone use during activity
Student safely and actively engages and participates in activities sometimes Uses respectful and appropriate manners with peers and adults sometimes. No cell phone use during activity
Student rarely practices safety; Rarely engages in activities Student rarely uses respectful and appropriate manners with peers and adults
Student uses cell phone during activity.
Student does not arrive to job shadow
Engagement
Asks meaningful questions Comes prepared with questions specific to particular host and job Consistently uses time appropriately Appears prepared and interested for the duration of shadow
Arrives with several prepared, thoughtful questions Generally uses time appropriately Generally appears prepared and interested
Asks prepared questions with little enthusiasm Occasionally uses time appropriately Shows interest in a job occasionally
Has not prepared questions for the host Does not use time appropriately Appears unprepared and disinterested
Student does not arrive to job shadow
Online Learning and Engagement
The student Assumes responsibility for learning by logging in when necessary
Attending all online meetings, from start to finish, with the camera on and microphone off Engages in meetings and discussion forums by answering and asking questions
Clearly communicates with teachers if there are technological issues.
The student Generally assumes responsibility for learning by logging in when necessary Generally attends online meetings with the camera on and microphone off Generally engages in meetings and discussion forums by answering and asking questions Communicates with teachers if there are technological issues
The student Logs into the meeting with 5 minutes of starting time
Inconsistently engages in online meetings and discussion forums
Sometimes communicates with teachers regarding technological issues
The student Logs in 10 minutes after starting time.
· Rarely engages in online meetings or discussion forums
Rarely communicates with teachers technological issues
Even with help, the student Does not log into the online classroom and does not attend meetings. Does not attend online meetings or participate in discussion forums Does not communicate if technological issues are occurring
Professional Dress Student arrives with all appropriate gear as described by academy instructors.