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connections
News and campus highlights connecting the New Way Academy family. Spring 2017 | Volume 1 | Issue 3
Transition at New Way
CORE Students have explored some various options this year through field trips to nearby programs and colleges: •U niversity of Advancing Technology • Grand Canyon University •U niversity of Arizona and their SALT Program •N orthern Arizona University • Scottsdale Community College • Paradise Valley Community College • Maricopa Skills Center While many of trips have revolved around college campus tours, our programming and high school culture are designed to support students in any and all pathways, without ever placing one above any other.
At New Way, our goal is to support students throughout their educational career while preparing them to be successful adults. Our Senior CORE programming aims to prepare each high school student for their unique path after graduation. In the fall, every senior enrolls in the Career CORE program. Students participate in career exploration, job simulations, and internship opportunities, while developing skills for success as an independent adult. This year, Career CORE explored various opportunities for job skill development at New Way and in the community. Students created and refined their resume and cover letter skills and explored how their strengths could be applied to careers of interest. At mid semester, The “Bulldogz Jolt” coffee business debuted and was a huge success. The students planned every detail including choosing labels, preparing drinks, creating sales projections, and marketing. Students noted that they loved delivering the morning coffee to their favorite teachers each week. Career CORE also partnered with SMILE Biscotti to learn about running a business from creation, packaging, and sales perspectives. They visited the SMILE office and participated in mock job interviews with the team. Students shared that they learned a lot from the SMILE team about patience and creativity within their business. Both projects required teamwork and independent growth as students used their strengths and abilities to see an idea grow from a vision into actual products.
by Laura Keathley & Laura Morgan
In the spring, students transitioned to the College CORE program where they enrolled in a community college success course. Students gain the valuable experiences of registering for accommodations with Disability Resource Services, navigating the enrollment process, purchasing school materials, and adapting to the college environment, all while receiving instruction and support from New Way. Mrs. Morgan’s CORE students are enrolled in Introduction to College Success at Paradise Valley Community College. Students attend class off campus where they learn note taking, self-advocacy, accommodations and more! Mrs. Keathley’s CORE students enrolled in a Math or English class through Rio Salado Community College. In transitioning to an online curriculum, the students practice self-monitoring, task initiation and organization skills. This proves to be a positive and growth-producing experience. During the 3rd quarter, both classes participate in a financial literacy curriculum in which they play an extended game of “Life”. Students are assigned a job, receive monthly paychecks, plan a budget, buy a car and find an apartment. They explore credit, debt, the importance of a high credit score and the value of informed financial decisions. Our goal is to support 100% of our students as they identify their unique pathway rather than encouraging all of our students to follow a predestined pathway that might not be right for them. We continue to support our seniors as they finalize their post-secondary plans for next year. We have students transitioning into professional settings, attending public or private universities, transition programs, and community colleges.
5048 E. Oak Street | Phoenix, AZ 85008 | 602.629.6850 | newwayacademy.org