Unity MCHS will implement early career coursework and experiences through: Career Pathway Courses, Creation & Innovation Labs, Internships, 21st Century Skills and Personalized Learning.
Career Pathway electives are offered each semester through high school and/or college courses and include (but are not limited to):
Once a week, students will engage in a two-hour session to plan, develop, and solve semester long, student-driven complex problems within their chosen career pathway. In the 9th grade students will experience weekly Creation and Innovation Labs in all career pathways prior to choosing a career pathway at the end of 9th grade.
Students will engage in:
- The maker movement each week having time to create, tinker and play
- Examinations of patterns, structure and connections
- Discussions with guest speakers, working professionals, and current graduate students
- Creating a student developed output in a career pathway of interest and talent
At the end of their 11th grade year, students will engage in internships that will offer direct or indirect experience in their chosen future career. By providing authentic learning opportunities, these internships will help 12th grade students decide which major to choose for admission to colleges.
All 11th grade students will:
- Be responsible for identifying and securing placement at a company or organization that is or will be thereafter screened and approved by Unity MCHS
- Participate in a 2-4 week internship in their career pathway of interest and talent
- Write and present at end of their internship a detailed summary of their experience and learning.
Unity MCHS conceptualizes 21st century skills using Michael Fullan’s six Cs (2014):
- Character
- Citizenship
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Collaboration
- Creativity and imagination
The six Cs are known as the “new entrepreneurial spirit” which is characterized by innovation, risk-taking, commitment, and skilled problem solving. To achieve these skills, Unity MCHS will implement personalized learning concurrently for all students.
The school will strive to provide each student with a personalized educational plan that fits his/her unique learning style and interest. This will be:
- Driven by each student’s paths with flexible-learning environments
- Where students construct and produce knowledge, rather than consume information
- Implemented using proven web-based programs and 1-to-1 chromebooks
- Facilitated through rotational stations each day allowing students to circuit through:
- Explicit direct instruction
- A collaborative problem-centered experience
- Independent web-based practice experience
Upon starting school, the students will be divided into several “ student families” , each consisting of 20-25 same grade students with same teacher to guide them for the ensuing 4 years. Members of each student family meet four times per week and participate in structured opportunities for the development of personal relationships with each other under the supervision of their assigned caring adult advisor.
Typical weekly “Student Family” schedule:
Monday: Weekly grade checks
Tuesday: Journaling
Wednesday: TRIBES community circle
Thursday: Flex day
Friday: No Family class
The student family curriculum is heavily focused on developing positive social skills, self-esteem, and increased student-agency, thereby overcoming risks of isolation and negative behaviors that can impact the academic growth of a child. Some of the activities that the members of each student family will participate in include:
- Annual community service projects
- Quarterly Creation and Innovation Lab Challenges
- School wide events including: 30 Days of Gratitude, Career Day, & Spring Day at the Park
In addition, the student family members will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with Unity MCHS community Members and qualified volunteers in activities such as:
- Expert-In-The-Field panels to judge and provide students with real world feedback
- Creation and Innovation Labs serving Field Experts
- Individual and group mentoring
- Unity MCHS internship placements
Finally, parents and caregivers of the members of the student family will have an opportunity to participate in:
- Monthly parent education meetings
- School site council
- Parent advisory council
- Planning of school wide events and fundraising
Students will be assigned to after school tutoring, four days a week, on a monthly basis when any grade in any subject is less than 74% at the last Monday of each month. Monthly formal grade checks will occur each month during the academic year and be communicated directly to the students and families. In addition, all students can self-select into tutoring.
Each October, Unity MCHS students will establish and join Clubs during Club Rush Week. Students can establish Academic, Service and Social Clubs with the approval of a teacher and school administration. Students who have already enrolled for the 2017-18 school year have already shown interest in establishing the following clubs:
- Anime Club
- Bible Club
- Chess Club
- Cooking Club
- Cycling Club
- Dance
- National Honors Society
- Red Cross
A variety of after school sports will be offered to ensure students have a balance between academics and fun. More sports will be offered in the future as determined by student interest. The following sports are planned to be offered in the 2017-18 year:
Basketball
Cross Country Running
Golf
Soccer
Surfing Club
Volleyball
