College: Mission Possible

As soon as our ninth graders arrive at ACC, we begin exposing them to colleges and universities in and around Boston.  Our freshmen have already toured B.U. and Northeastern this fall.  The sophomores traveled to Salem State and visited the campus for a day.  Our juniors split into teams and participated in a college scavenger hunt (pictured above), learning about thirteen schools in total.  Twelfth grade students engaged with college admissions representatives at a college fair held at ACC in collaboration with Boston Community Leadership Academy.  We believe it necessary to explicitly review throughout a student's high school career what is required to be accepted to the college of one's choice, as well as what is required in order to graduate from there.  High school is the tool to equip our young people with the critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to succeed in a post-secondary environment.

Halloween at ACC

Student Government held its first annual Halloween bash after school this past Thursday.  Students enjoyed goodies to eat, played Guitar Hero, danced to the latest tunes, and watched a performance by ACC's Step Squad.  We are excited by the initiative that our students are taking to organize fun activities to build our school community.  There is a lot of academic work to be done at ACC, which is why it is so important to take time every once in a while to unwind and laugh.

ACC After Hours

We are very excited by the number of extra curricular opportunities in which our students are participating this school year. Last week, we elected our student government after a spirited round of campaigning. In addition to our student Senate, faculty advisors have been started the Chess Club, Recycling Club, Community Service Club, Knitting Club, and others. There are also groups that students themselves have founded, such as Anime Club and Step Squad.

Pictured above are a small group of students from the Running Club, along with Ms. Simpson and Ms. Conklin. Our students have participated in three road races already (including the Tufts Women's 10K Race this past Monday), and run twice a week after school. We are thrilled that they are taking the opportunity to increase their physical fitness. Thanks to Ms. Brewer and Ms. Waldman for getting this group off the ground.

Back to School Night

We held our first Open House of the school year this past Monday, September 22.  What a wonderful event!  Over eighty families attended, following their children's class schedule, meeting teachers, and learning how to access grades online.  ACC faculty were able to share their course syllabi and expectations, and parents had the opportunity to ask questions and share strategies to maximize student success.  Pictured above were our welcoming team of ACC students, who signed parents in and made sure that the evening went smoothly.  

Our next event for parents is our Parent Council meeting this Thursday, October 2.  We will create goals for the year, and elect a parent representative to the Governing Board.

Friday Night Lights

I had a wonderful time this past Friday evening at White Stadium, watching the Brighton Bengals defeat Trinity Catholic in convincing fashion.  The Bengals team consists of Brighton High School, Boston Community Leadership Academy (BCLA), and Another Course to College.  I'm thrilled to have several ACC young men playing on the team this year, including a few freshmen, such as Varsity player Jonathan Rosa.  Last year, the Bengals took home a Superbowl Championship, and we're hoping for a second victory in 2008.

We encourage our students at ACC to get involved in the athletics offered at Brighton High School.  This fall, our girls are playing Volleyball and Soccer.  Also, ACC teachers Ms. Brewer and Ms. Waldman have started a Running Club for any interested ACC boy or girl, regardless of experience.  

Off to a Great Start

School began on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. At 8:10, I walked the hallways to make sure that all of the new students had found their way to first period. You could have heard a pin drop. Students were already hard at work in their classrooms, eagerly getting started on their lessons: setting up binders, reviewing course expectations, engaging in a debate about the beginning of civilization. I smiled, and thought to myself, "This is the ACC way."

We had an extremely smooth opening, with excellent attendance on the first two days of school. Last year, we collected data about our students, and found that our students who consistently made the honor roll were those with the fewest absences and tardies. As was witnessed on the first day of school, we get right to learning at 8:00 a.m., and you miss important information if you arrive late. This is why we are beginning a Recovery period this year. If a student is late to school, he/she will have to make up the missed time doing homework at the end of the day.

By now, all students should have received an agenda book in which to record their homework assignments, project due dates, and other appointments. As early as freshman year, we emphasize the importance of staying organized. Our seniors are balancing five rigorous academic courses with the college application process, and they truly appreciate the necessity of good time management.

From the smiles on the faces of our staff and students (including Cherisse and Jazmynn, pictured above), I know that this is going to be a fantastic year.

ACC Keeps Busy Over the Summer

Our ACC students and staff had a fantastic July and August, utilizing the summer months for extra learning and exciting new challenges. Here are just a few of the wonderful things that members of our school community experienced:

- Members of our 2007 Travel Club hosted students from the Achimota School in Ghana, as the second half of an exchange program that took ACC students to West Africa one year ago:

http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/node/796

- Seniors prepared for Calculus at Northeastern's summer math program; ninth graders brushed up on basic Algebra skills at our own ACC Summer Math Skills program; fifteen students did the Summer Bridge program to prepare for Advanced Placement Physics; eight students, along with Mr. Foy, participated in the A+ Summer Academy at Boston University (pictured above).

- Juniors and seniors had amazing domestic and international trips where they were mentally and physically challenged through the Summer Search Program.

- Five faculty members traveled to Orlando to receive training in the national AVID program.

We have been enriched and rested, and are now excited to return to ACC. Opening day for students is Thursday, September 4 at 8:00 a.m. sharp! I can't wait to see new and returning students, as they are the reason we come in and give our all each day.