Thank you for your interest in Accelerated Schools of Overland Park!

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2 1 Mission Accelerated Schools provides an environment where all students will develop a positive self-image, a sense of personal responsibility and good citizenship. Through intensive individualized instruction and effective reward management, students will attain their highest level of academic potential and will develop stronger independent study habits and appropriate study behaviors.

3 2 Dear Parent: Thank you for your interest in Accelerated Schools of Overland Park! For over 40 years, concerned parents have turned to Accelerated Schools for individualized learning programs that help students overcome challenges and excel academically. If your student is facing problems in school, excelling may seem entirely out of reach. Rest assured, it s not! The fact is, the traditional school system is not designed to meet the needs of every child. When the student is not being successful --- or is not thriving in the traditional environment --- parents must often look elsewhere for a solution. That s where Accelerated Schools of Overland Park comes in. We begin by creating a learning program designed specifically for your student. We work to change the ratio of success to failure to cultivate an environment of accountability to create attainable goals and to celebrate accomplishments. Once students start experiencing success, their attitude, motivation and effort improve dramatically. This ends the negative cycle and leads to positive academic progress and a more positive self-esteem. I hope you ll take a few minutes to read more about our approach in the following pages. Please call me at to find out more, schedule a time for free standardized achievement testing or make an appointment to visit the school. I m confident we can work together to find the best solution for your student. Sincerely, Jane Curran Director, Accelerated Schools of Overland Park [email protected]

4 3 Education is not the filling of the bucket, but the lighting of a fire. W.B. Yeats

5 4 Why Accelerated Schools? At Accelerated Schools of Overland Park, the reasons for enrollment are as diverse as the students themselves. Gifted & Talented Issues Some students are very bright and highly motivated to succeed at school. They need to be sufficiently stimulated with a challenging curriculum. Average Student Issues What s wrong with being average? Strictly speaking, nothing. The danger is the average students may settle for lower expectations and poorer performance doing enough to get by without ever reaching their potential. Learning Issues Some students have problems learning at the traditional school pace, missing critical fundamentals. Students who are performing below average or have a learning disability want to succeed. If allowed to fail, they will become defeated, stop trying and never catch up unless the pattern of failure is reversed. Motivational Issues Some students are capable academically, but lack motivation. They fail to turn in homework assignments or engage in the classroom learning process. Their grades suffer, and their motivation continues to spiral downward. Study Skills Issues Some students have not developed the necessary study skills to function effectively in the classroom. They lack organizational and time management skills. They have not developed the study skills that enable them to competently and confidently handle their assignments. Emotional, Social or Mental Health Issues Some students face issues such as anxiety disorder, stress, attachment disorder or low self esteem. They may be diagnosed with conditions like ADD, ADHD, bipolar, social phobia, OCD, or on the autism spectrum. Students with these challenges are capable of success if the school is knowledgeable, understanding and willing to provide a program that addresses their needs in a positive way. Behavior Issues Some of the students with any of the above mentioned issues have developed or are at risk for developing behavioral problems. Many behavioral issues become non-existent or very manageable once students begin to experience success and no longer need to protect their self-image by acting out.

6 5 Thank you for the great six weeks of learning our son experienced at Accelerated this summer. He has commented several times how much this summer helped him have better study habits, take better notes, write better compositions and feel better about himself. Accelerated Schools Parent

7 6 About Us History Accelerated Schools of Overland Park is a private, nonprofit school, accredited by the State of Kansas and by AdvancED. Educational services have been provided in the greater Kansas City area for over 40 years. Originally under the direction of Carl Peterson and Roxanna White, in 2006 longtime Accelerated Schools teacher and administrator Jane Curran took over the leadership of the Overland Park school. She is committed to continuing the long tradition of providing an educational program dedicated to excellence. Program Accelerated Schools of Overland Park offers a full-time school for students in grades 4 12 and part-time tutoring instruction for students in grades In addition, we provide the following services at no charge or obligation: eight-week full tuition scholarships for reading instruction standardized achievement testing for any student in the community using the NWEA (MAP) test private and group consultations to discuss educational and motivational concerns with parents, psychologists, psychiatrists, school counselors, teachers and other parties interested in promoting educational success with students All programs are available 12 months of the year, and students may start any day of the year. Graduation requirements are aligned with those of the State of Kansas for earning a high school diploma. Faculty and Staff Accelerated Schools employs trained professionals in every area of instruction and administration. Our dedicated faculty and staff average more than 10 years teaching experience. Teachers regularly participate in continuing education courses, in-service training and teacher mentoring programs. All teachers are certified.

8 7 Full Day School Curriculum As a private school, without the restrictions and pressures most public schools face, we are able to discard ineffective methods and adopt materials and procedures that efficiently solve educational problems. We apply predictable solutions to problems through custom-tailored instruction and ongoing evaluation. Our full-day curriculum covers the core subject areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary development, English grammar, composition, math, science, social studies and Spanish. We also offer instruction in physical education, health, art, music, drama, yearbook, computer graphics, coding 1, digital photography, animation and video production, and ACT/ SAT preparation. All programs are custom designed to meet each student s unique learning objectives and academic needs. Developing strong study skills is an important component of our program. Woven into our courses is the Accelerated Thinking procedure, which dramatically improves students ability to listen think read speak write as well as organize and retain information. We also teach students how to be more active and effective listeners, take meaningful notes, communicate both orally and in written form, study for tests and manage their time throughout the process. In addition, Accelerated Schools helps students develop better social skills by guiding them through more positive interactions with other students and teachers. All classes at the Accelerated Schools are teacher lead; they are not on-line curriculum. Field Trips In addition to classroom instruction, we schedule a wide

9 8 variety of weekly educational field trips throughout the metropolitan area. By integrating community events and places of interest, we provide the students with real-life, engaging experiences to tie to information learned in class. Among our regular destinations are: Nelson Art Gallery, Truman Library, Liberty Memorial, Science City, the Kansas City Zoo, American Royal, Snow Creek, Lakeside Nature Center, Ernie Miller Nature Center, Negro League Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum, Louisburg Cider Mill, Coterie Theater, Kaufman Center of the Performing Arts, and Missouri Repertory Theater. Learning Center Since 1969, our Learning Center has offered individualized tutoring instruction throughout the year. Students can receive tutoring in reading comprehension, vocabulary development, word attack skills, math, English grammar and composition, study skills, Accelerated Thinking study procedure and supervised homework for those in grades Students from a wide range of other private and public schools, as well as home-schooled, work on an individualized curriculum, with daily report cards to ensure good communication. In the Learning Center our average teacher/student ratio is 1:3. Improving motivation is essential for students to make the fastest possible progress. We use a motivational reward system along with specialized teaching materials to encourage our students and to build confidence. The Learning Center is open after school from mid-august until the end of May, with extended hours during the summer. Eight-week Reading Scholarship Program. Scholarships for eight weeks of free individualized reading instruction in the Learning Center are available. Scholarships may be obtained by contacting your student s school or other professional individuals or organizations.

10 9 Summer School Curriculum There are three options available during the summer for students: 1. Summer High School programs are held from 9 am to 1 pm, Monday through Friday. Students can earn up to 1 ½ credits of high school credit during the summer. Each ½ credit equals 60 hours (or three weeks) of instruction. (Instruction does not have to be in consecutive weeks.) 2. Summer Camp programs for elementary and middle school students in grades 4-8 are available. Students spend part of the time in individual academic tutoring based on their specific needs. They also spend time in creative activities such as art and computer. These programs are held from 9 am to 1 pm, Monday through Friday. Students must sign up for a minimum of three weeks of camp. Camp programs do not have to be in consecutive weeks. 3. Learning Center. Students can also attend the Learning Center for individualized tutoring. See the previous section on the Learning Center. Reading Problems Reading problems are one of the main reasons parents turn to Accelerated Schools, and rightfully so. The development of reading comprehension skills is the foundation of our educational curriculum and one of the most important functions of life. Learning, by its very nature, is based on the ability to read. The inability to read in early grades creates an enormous gap in learning rates. Children who have difficulty learning to read for any reason may well avoid that task for the rest of their lives. Many students give up and believe reading well is not possible. Telling these students, you can do better may only add to their sense of defeat and frustration. IF students are behind in the development of their reading comprehension skills, the problem must be swiftly addressed. It will not go away without intervention. Educators at Accelerated Schools are specifically trained to recognize reading delays and work with students individually to overcome the problem. Our proven educational methods help students improve comprehension and retention and perhaps just as important, increase reading confidence. The Learning Center has demonstrated again and again

11 10 that students do not have to fail! Success Rates Accelerated Schools has repeatedly demonstrated that the majority of students can achieve a full grade level gain in a subject in an average of 40 hours of individualized instruction. These dramatic gains are achieved through an educational program developed over many years of research, testing and experience. Here are some of the key elements of this proven approach: Diagnostic Testing: To determine students strengths and weaknesses To prescribe appropriate materials for advancement To eliminate unnecessary hours of instruction Intensive individualized instruction: To allow students to advance academically at their own pace To allow students to master each step in the sequence of learning before proceeding To consistently challenge students to achieve with success Structured classroom: To minimize distractions for relaxed, efficient learning To create a safe and predictable environment Low student teacher ratios (1:7): To foster positive interactions To provide close teacher supervision To keep students actively engaged throughout the class Strict accountability for work completion: To help students manage their time To eliminate procrastination To require students to be active participants in class Immediate feedback on performance: To correct mistakes before forgotten To receive positive comments on a job well done Daily report cards: To let students know how they are doing every day To provide essential communication between the school and the parents

12 11 Realistic homework expectations: To review and reinforce skills and concepts taught in class To develop personal responsibility outside of direct supervision To work independently with less parent involvement Effective reward management system: To provide tangible, meaningful rewards to the students To motivate students to realize their maximum learning potential Computers as a classroom tool: To complement teacher-led instruction To increase focus, concentration and work production Parent support: To work as a team to help students be successful in school and in life To teach parents how to create a home environment that reinforces positive performances

13 12 I can t thank you enough for all you have done for our son these past two years. He has gained selfesteem, improved his study habits and really matured. Accelerated has helped him accomplish his goal of getting into his desired high school. We can t ask for more than that. Now it s up to him. Accelerated Schools Parent

14 13 Tuition Please call to request a schedule of fees for our full-time school or part-time tutoring instruction at the Learning Center. Tuition is paid at the time of enrollment, or a payment plan can be arranged. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Educational bank loans with extended terms are also available. Directions Accelerated Schools of Overland Park is located near I-435 and Metcalf. Transportation Daily transportation, to and from school, as well as, from many parts of the city, is offered for full-day students only at an additional charge. Next Steps Call us at to Find out more information Schedule a time for free standardized achievement testing Make an appointment and visit the school Just a note of thanks for all that you do to academically challenge your students and for inspiring them to be responsible, respectful men and women. Accelerated Schools Parent

15 14 A year ago my son was a scared, sad and unhappy child, whose self-worth was at an all-time low. Today his self-confidence has returned; he is loving school again; he is happy. The difference one year can make is unbelievable. Accelerated Schools Parent Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy Accelerate Schools admits students of any race, color, religion, sex, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarships and loan programs, athletic and other administered programs.

16 At Accelerated Schools of Overland Park, we are committed to developing students who are Academically prepared Independently responsible Personally motivated Highly self-confident Barkley Overland Park, Kansas P: F: