BEDFORD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM BEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL/HESKETT MIDDLE SCHOOL 2015-2016 OVERVIEW Bedford s Alternative Education Program is designed to help students succeed through the use of a twocomponent, nontraditional program. Our online component is PLATO, a fully approved Internet-based curriculum. PLATO employs rigorous course work that challenges students and helps them develop strong creative and critical thinking skills. Our face-to-face component is our own on-site teachers. Our teachers give students individual assistance, monitor student progress and grade student performance. The Alternative Education Program spans the school year. The high school program is divided into five 8-Week Sessions. The middle school program is ongoing with no sessions. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Is the program full time or part time? 2. When can I access the program? 3. Can I work on my courses outside the classroom? 4. What tests will I take? 5. How is my grade determined? 6. How do I know how I m doing? 7. How can I be successful? 8. How much time do I have to complete a course? 9. What is the structure of the high school 8-Week Session? 10. What courses are offered? 11. Who are the teachers? 12. How do I enroll in the Alternative Education Program? Is the program full time or part time? Some students are in the program full time (no day courses), and some are part time (a day schedule plus Alternative Education courses). Your principal and counselor will decide which is best for you.
When can I access the program? PLATO is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the Internet. Teachers are accessible in the classroom on their assigned days as well as via email (messaging) through the PLATO program. The classroom is open almost every day that day school is in session. Classroom hours are 2:45p.m. - 5:15p.m. for the high school and 2:30p.m. -5:00p.m. for the middle school. Can I work on my courses outside the classroom? You can work on your courses any time and any place you can access the Internet. In fact, success in this program requires much more work than just during time in the classroom. And regarding work, in the classroom or elsewhere, you are always required to do your own work. What tests will I take? In each semester of most courses, you will first study tutorials and complete modules as preparation for taking module Mastery Tests. You may take the Mastery Tests anytime, anywhere using notes. When you have mastered all the Mastery Tests in a Unit, you then take that Unit Test. And when you have completed all the Unit Tests, you then take the Semester Final Exam. You must take the Unit Tests and the semester Final Exam in the Alternative Education classroom without notes or any kind of assistance. And remember that you must always enter your answers to the Tests and Exam yourself. (Teachers may assign additional activities.) How is my grade determined? Your course semester final grade is determined by combining the average of the Mastery Tests (50% of grade), the average of the Unit Tests (25% of grade), and the Semester Final Exam (25% of grade). The final grade for a course that is composed of two semesters is obtained by averaging the final grades of the two semesters. (Teachers may assign additional activities.) How do I know how I m doing? You can monitor your progress in detail through PLATO by using two reports the Learner Portfolio Report and the Learner Progress Report, which includes the Graphic Progress View. You (and parents) can contact your teacher directly using the Message feature in PLATO, and can leave messages for teaching staff by standard email: bfleming@bedford.k12.oh.us. How can I be successful? Success in the Alternative Education Program requires study, doing it now instead of later, working outside (in addition to) the classroom and asking your teacher for help. (See Tips for Student Success )
How much time do I have to complete a course? The middle school program is ongoing. The high school program is divided into 8-Week Sessions. You must complete the course(s) assigned to you for a particular Session by the end of that Session. FIRST SESSION 8/31/15 to 10/26/15 AUTUMN SESSION 10/27/15 to 12/18/15 WINTER SESSION TBA SPRING SESSION TBA LAST SESSION TBA What is the structure of the high school 8-Week Session? You can take no more than two courses per session. Additional courses you are required to take are assigned to future sessions. You will most likely have a weekly seat time attendance requirement. Your principal and counselor will determine which course(s) you will take and the order, and what attendance standard you must meet. Failure to meet assigned seat time attendance is addressed in progression. 1 st Absence (Step 1) You are reminded of the attendance policy and your parent is contacted. 2 nd Absence (Step 2) You are suspended from PLATO and your parent is contacted. You must meet with your principal. Your principal will decide if you are allowed to continue. 3 rd Absence (Step 3) Your principal files truancy. The course(s) you take in each session must be completed by the end of that session. Each course you fail to complete by the end date will result in an F and 0.0 credit for the course. You are welcome in the classroom every day (not only on an assigned day) to receive teacher assistance, use the computer and take tests. What courses are offered? Career Career Explorations, Work Study English English 7 & 8, English I, II, III and IV, Structure of Writing Health Mathematics Math 7, Math 8 (Pre-Algebra), Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, *Consumer Mathematics, *Personal Finance [*Elective credit only cannot be used for math credit] Science Middle School Life Science, Middle School Earth Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry Social Studies Middle School World Studies, Middle School U.S. Studies, African American Studies, American Government, Art History, Economics, Geography, U.S. Studies, World Studies
Who Are The Teachers? Program Coordinator Bob Fleming Bedford High School English Juliana Nahra Health Bob Fleming Mathematics Tricia Mencin Program Manager Felicia McMiller Science Amy Hujarski Social Studies Denise Alfred Special Education/Careers/Work Study Laura DiTurno Substitute Rachel Cottrell, Chris Hershberger, Amber Holt, Leigh Potapenko, Krista Thomas Heskett Middle School English Kelly Spivery Health/Careers Bob Fleming Interventionist Cheryl Goldstein, Theresa Spisak Mathematics Brandon Milne Science Arrione Gilmer Social Studies Crystal Brooks Substitute Trish Duncan, Greg Roberts, Debbie Vovk How do I enroll in the Alternative Education Program? If you want to enroll in the Alternative Education Program, you and your parents must discuss your request with your principal and counselor. Your principal and counselor will then decide if Alternative Education is appropriate for you and if it is, whether it should be full time or in combination with your day school classes.
TIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS Set aside a time each day to work on your PLATO courses. You must study outside the classroom as well as inside. It is easy to put off studying, and easy to get behind. Schedule studying first; build your other activities around it; develop a routine. It is easier to study some each day than a whole lot at the end. Read all the material carefully. Read and study the tutorials and other teacher assigned activities. Complete the assigned interactive exercises. Proceed carefully and patiently. Racing and impatience will result in not learning and in failing. PLATO is designed to force you to focus, study and learn. Take notes. Keep a notebook for each PLATO course you are taking. As you read the material, identify key points and write them in your notebook. This serves two purposes. (1) You will have notes to study for exams. (2) Writing what you are studying helps you retain the information. Develop a schedule and stay on it. The Syllabus for each course contains a Course Pacing Guide which shows you what activities you must complete each day in order to complete the course in a certain length of time. Adjust this pacing guide to the number of days you have remaining until your completion date. No Answer Websites In the classroom you are not allowed to use answer websites to find answers to test and exam questions. And if you truly want to learn, you should not use such sites for that purpose outside the classroom. You learn by studying, not by just looking up answers. Ask Your Teacher Above all, when you do not understand something in your lesson, when your test grade is not to your standards, or whenever you have any question, be sure to ask your teacher for help. You can email (message) your teacher through PLATO, or, probably better, speak to your teacher in the classroom. Even though you may not be required to be in the classroom every day, you are welcome every day.