Vision
TRANSFORMATION ACADEMY FOR LEARNING AND LIFE
The Transformation Academy for Learning and Life is an alternative learning community that is committed to support students academically and socially to maximize and release their potential.
The mission of the Transformation Academy for Learning and Life is to support students academically and socially through alternative opportunities that will assist them in becoming college and career-ready and productive citizens.
T.A.L.L. Goals
• Provide students with an alternative educational opportunity that will accelerate their learning in an effort to assist them in transitioning back to their appropriate grade level
• Increase the district’s graduation rate
• Decrease the district’s dropout rate
• Reduce the district’s overall truancy rate
• Provide students with wrap-around support services that will address their social, emotional, academic, and behavioral needs
MIDDLE GRADES MATTER (MGM) & JUMPSTART
The MGM and Jumpstart programs are designed for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who are overage. Students are referred to these programs based on the following:
• overage students who have passed at least two of the four core subjects in the previous school term
• have minimal to no discipline referrals
• possess a strong desire to advance their education
• missed no more than 10 days of school the previous year, and are able to read at or above the 5th grade level
These students are required to attend summer school. The middle school department will also receive students referred through the discipline hearing process on a short-term basis.
REFOCUS ACADEMY
The Refocus Academy is designed for 9th and 10th grade retention students and over-age students who did not initially earn enough credits to receive promotion to grades 10 and 11. Students would work through summer school 2021 at no cost for content/credit recovery. Upon completion, 9th grade students would be promoted to grade 11 and 10th grade students would be promoted to Grade 12. Refocus Academy will also educate students who have been referred by a district hearing officer for a disciplinary infraction in lieu of expulsion per the Orangeburg County School District Code of Conduct.
BEYOND THE BELL ACADEMY
Beyond the Bell Academy is a high school evening program that provides a flexible learning environment for 11th and 12th grade students between the ages of 16 and 20 years old. It is not an alternative setting for students with chronic discipline problems. It is a program designed to help dropout students or students with extenuating circumstances to obtain a high school diploma. Students earn credits by taking courses on Edgenuity Online Learning Curriculum with academic support from certified content area teachers.
• Students must be referred and complete an intake process to be eligible for participation.
• Long-term students remain in the program until they complete the requirements to receive a high school diploma.
• Short-term students must complete all requirements necessary to transition back to their home school.
Mission & Vision For The Star Center For Learning
The mission of The STAR Center For Learning is to prepare students academically and socially through intervention programs to become successful, productive citizens in their perspective communities in an ever-changing global society.
Additional Services Provided
The STAR Center for Learning is a place of endless possibilities where we work daily to provide emotional, social, and academic support to students. Our Mental Health Facilitator and Behavior Specialist provide early identification and interventions to students and families while assisting the school staff with students experiencing emotional and behavioral disturbances ultimately leading to an increased mental and behavioral health awareness and knowledge to better navigate through life and school. Each student has a personalized plan that is designed to assist them in being successful in Middle Grades Matter and Jump Start to High School programs.
Mission & Vision For The Refocus Academy
It is with great pleasure and a honor that I serve as the Director of Refocus Academy. Our goal and top priority is doing what’s best for our students and producing productive citizens and lifelong learners. We serve the eight feeder high schools in Orangeburg County School District as we offer various support services to our students. We serve 9th and 10th grade students throughout our district that may have been retained in grades K-8 as we will strive to promote these students to their appropriate grade level.
Additionally, we offer services to students grades 9-12 who has been referred upon a district level hearing for disciplinary infractions. At times, students may get off track academically, behaviorally, and socially. We are committed to getting this targeted student population back on track, refocused, and in a better place before returning back to their home schools.
Academically, we will begin with a learning style assessment to identify the type of learners that we have within the learning environment. We will use blended instruction along with Edgenuity as instructional resources for our students. We offer smaller classroom sizes which will allow more one on one instruction for our students while ensuring that rigor is evident while our certified instructors present instructional content. We accommodate identified students with IEP/504’s, in addition to offering emotional/social support to our students by offering our Overcoming Obstacles curriculum through our licensed social worker.
We have also partnered with various state and local agencies to ensure that our students and parents receive the support they need to identify any potential barriers or concerns. Additionally, we offer daily mentoring sessions and guest speakers to motivate, encourage, and help students with positive decision making. Here at Refocus Academy we “MEFI”-Make Everyone Feel Important. We are one, and we are ready!
Respectfully,
Craig James, Director