Q - How many Freshman Academies
will there be?
A - There will be two, one at Central Campus
and one at West Campus.
Q - How will students be placed in honors or college prep classes?
A - JT will still use EXPLORE scores, honors test scores and eighth grade teacher recommendations.
Q - Why is JT starting Freshman Academy?
A - Nationwide, schools with large enrollments have seen their students' academic performances improve and behavioral problems decline when they have restructured their school populations into smaller communities and raised academic expectations. We want JT students to experience these benefits.
Q - Will the curriculum change?
A - Course content is not changing. The number
of academic levels or tracks is changing. JT is
eliminating a track so that all students will receive at least the college preparatory designed to prepare them for college, work force or military success.
Q - Does this mean JT freshmen, sophomores,
juniors and seniors will eventually
have only two academic levels?
A - Yes, honors and college prep. Regular level
will end with the graduation of the freshmen who
entered JT last fall, the Class of 2008.
Q - Will freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors eventually have the same eight-period school day?
A - There are no plans to extend the day for sophmores, juniors or seniors at this time.
Q - What other schools have a Freshman
Academy?
A - In our area, Lockport and Plainfield have
Freshman Academies. Nationally, hundreds of
high schools do. JT staff members have visited
some of these schools.
Q - Exactly how will freshmen be
scheduled in an extended day?
A - The following is the tentative schedule:
Period 1- 7:40 - 8:30
Period 2 - 8:35 - 9:25
Period 3 - 9:30 - 10:20
Period 4 - 10:25 - 11:20
Period 5 - 11:25 - 12:20
Period 6 - 12:25 - 1:20
Period 7 - 1:25 - 2:15
Period 8 - 2:20 - 3:10
NOTE: Freshmen begin their day at 7:40. All
other students begin at 8:35.
.
Q - Will JT busing change?
A - Yes, in the morning. There will be two bus
runs to bring students to school, one for freshmen
and one for other students. There still will be one
bus run to bring all students home from school in
the afternoon. Activity buses will still run.
Q - Will Freshman Academy students be able to participate in after-school activities?
A - Yes, because the school day will end at the same time for all students, freshmen through seniors.
Q - How will this affect the honors and
college prep programs?
A - The programs will remain intact; extra support will be available for students who need it.
Q - How will students formerly in regular
level be supported in the college prep
level?
A - In three ways: summer transition programs
to prepare students for college prep classes;
double periods of math and English during the
school day for students who need them; and after-
school tutoring by professional tutors.
Q - Will Freshman Academy students be
able to take elective courses which combine
freshmen through seniors, such as band?
A - Yes, however, any entering freshman whose test scores indicate he or she
needs extra help will be automatically placed in a English and/or math support class rather than in an elective.
If your question was not addressed, please send your question to:
Central Campus: Mrs. Robin English
West Campus: Mr. Shad Hallihan
OUR ONE REQUEST:
Parent support is crucial to the success of the
Freshman Academies. Join us in our effort to
assist every student to meet or exceed state
standards.
FIND OUT MORE:
West Principal s Office: 727-6940
Central Principal s Office: 727-6740
District Website: www.jths.org
Board of Ed. E-Mail: Board@jths.org.
