What is the VikingSuccessAcademy?

The VikingSuccessAcademy was implemented at SouthIredellHigh School to help the rising ninth grade students transition to high school.  Students are part of an Honors focused learning community where there is an emphasis on personalization, relationships, rigor, and relevance. There is also more individual contact with teachers, counselors and the principal. Honors English and Civics are paired in 45 minute year long combo classes to rigorously challenge students and prepare them for the 21^st Century. The Viking Success Academy also focuses on character development by having students take either Leadership Class or JROTC to prepare our freshmen not only for the remainder of their high school career, but also for the challenges of becoming productive members of our community.

Mission:

The mission of the SIHSFreshmenSuccessAcademy is to guide, nurture, challenge, and educate ALL students through high expectations to become highly skilled citizens.

Vision:

All students will be Valued, Inspired, and Known! 

Failure is NOT an Option!

Goals and Objectives:

·All 9^th Graders will academically graduate to the 10^th grade including success in core academics courses without lowering standards.

• Catch them before they fail
• Intervene early
• Decrease the rate of retention in the 9^th grade
• Reduce the gap in retention subgroups
• Reduce 9^th grade drop outs
• Increase attendance rates in 9^th grade
• Focus on Data
• Establish comprehensive support mechanisms for all students
• Provide successful transitions for students from middle school to high school
• To teach students to be successful and be self advocates
• Improve academic skills and understanding

VikingSuccessAcademy Components of Success:

• Personalization
• Relationships
• Rigor/Relevance
• Unity of Purpose
• Mission
• Vision
• Core Values/Rules
• Goals

• Students learn because of teachers
• Universal belief that ALL students can and will learn
• Culture of high expectations for ALL students. (encourage not demand high expectations)
• Strong mutual respect
• Culture of continuous improvement among staff
• Early and ongoing interventions
• Culture of celebrations
• Teachers
• Teacher of the Month, High Fives 
• Students
• Student of the Month, Student Success Positive Postcards 

SIHS Commitment to 9^th Grade Success:

• School wide understanding of need for Freshmen Academy
• School wide agreement that a better student comes to them because of the Freshmen Academy
• Teacher Developed Program
• On-going campus overview of program
• On-going review of data for continuous improvement of program
• Early response when students are not learning
• Focus for ALL students learning at high levels
• Climate of mutual respect
• Work to change instruction, not the structure
• Focus on one student at a time
• Model of high expectations and personalization of education

Core Values/Rules:

Students in the VikingSuccessAcademy are part of a Community of Respect. They are excepted to uphold the values of the community of respect by saying “yes,” “no,” “tank you,” and “please.” 

Along with the community of respect concept ALL freshmen are expected to follow the five SIHS School Rules.

VikingSuccessAcademy Values/Rules:

1. BE ON TIME

• Entire body must be in the room or you are TARDY

• Must have ALL necessary class materials: pen or pencil, agenda, homework, book etc…

• Respect peers, teachers, materials and self

• No Agenda Hall Pass = Not allowed to leave

Lunch Detention Procedures:

·Any 9^th grade student may be assigned to lunch detention for not being prepared for class. This may include not dressing out, not having homework, not having textbook etc… Teachers will post a clear definition of being prepared for their class! Lunch detention will be given instead of Before or After School Detention due to 9^th grade transportation issues. All other Level I misbehaviors will follow the SIHS School Discipline Plan outline in the Student Agenda. Upperclassmen will receive Before or After School Detention for not being prepared for class!

·Lunch Detention will be held in Room A-118 during all lunch periods. Students will NOT be given a choice of when they will serve Lunch Detention. Lunch Detention will be assigned during the next day’s lunch period. 

Example: unprepared on Monday = Lunch Detention on Tuesday!

·The Lunch Detention Coordinator will contact students during their first or second period on the day that they are assigned Lunch Detention. Students will have a choice of whether they want lunch from the cafeteria or not. If a student orders a lunch their account will be charged even if they fail to attend Lunch Detention.

·If a student does not attend Lunch Detention they will be assigned SaturdaySchool!

·Students who receive 6 or more Lunch Detentions in one school week (Monday – Friday) will be given SaturdaySchool for each additional assignment. Students who receive 2 or more Saturday Schools will receive 1 day of OSS.