During every child's elementary years, it is imperative that they be challenged academically so they can be prepared for their Middle School years. Our teachers are dedicated to giving every child the opportunity to be the best that they can be academically, socially and emotionally. Highpoint Academy’s elementary and middle school teachers are dedicated to challenging each student not only academically, but also by providing them with multiple opportunities to grow socially and emotionally. Teachers are provided all necessary resources to meet the school’s academic goals and students’ needs. In addition, classroom ratios are purposefully maintained low in order to better provide individualized instruction as needed.
Highpoint Academy blends Savvas Realize’s core curriculum (formerly known as Pearson Realize K-12) with Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) and (CPALMS) to offer advanced academics tailored to meet each student’s individual needs. Students in Kindergarten thru 8th Grade enjoy a digital curriculum (iPad program), including standards-aligned content, resources, and assessments. A variety of tools/resources/experiences are employed by teachers and students to enhance learning including, but not limited to, the following: • Savvas Realize Curriculum program (teacher resources) as well as other supplemental program resources used as part of the curriculum (see below). • Access to SmartBoards/ClearTouch screens, computers and iPad technology is required (i.e. digital coursework and interactive program resources on the iPad) for both On Campus and Virtual Learning curriculum needs. • Social, emotional and physical growth is attained through numerous social and physical activities. Some suggestions include: weekly BM Sessions, monthly Character Education presentations, school performances (i.e. Christmas Show; Mother’s Day), and school-wide physical activities events such as Family 5K Runs and Field Days.
Savvas Realize and CPALMS provide teachers and students with support in a variety of ways including providing resources and tools engineered and optimized for distance learning. Our Curriculum incorporates fun-based learning that seamlessly integrates the components of STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math - with the 4C skills of Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity to real world applications. Teachers are provided all the necessary guidance and support to ensure they have the tools needed to instruct students effectively and lead a highquality program. Highpoint’s individualized curriculum covers eight content areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, World Languages (Spanish), Fine Arts, and Health Education. Each content area has state standards and benchmarks outlining specific content, knowledge, and skills that students are expected to learn in school by the end of every grade level. Teachers plan lessons providing students with multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery of these standards and benchmarks throughout the year.
The Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) are broad statements that describe the knowledge or ability that a student should be able to demonstrate by the end of every grade level from first through twelfth grade. These standards cover eight content areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, World Languages, Fine Arts, and Health Education. The standards are subdivided into “benchmarks,” which outline the specific content, knowledge, and skills that students are expected to learn in school.
CPALMS is Florida’s collaborative platform that connects education stakeholders, researchers, subject matter experts, practicing professionals, and professional organizations to Collaborate, Plan, Align, Learn, Motivate, and Share(CPALMS)instructional/educational resources and interactive tools that support standards-driven instruction. CPALMS is Florida’s official source for the standards, course information, assessment information, and serves as the dissemination platform for professional development and digital resources. Some of the existing and planned standards-based tools within CPALMS include: an interactive lesson planning tool, a peer and subject matter expert review process and system, a dynamic and interactive curriculum planning system, an interactive learning progression mapping tool, a formative assessment task builder tool, digital resource recommendation and authoring tools, a differentiated instruction tool, a professional development system, a lesson study support system, and many others. In addition to the CPALMS website, the system disseminates tools and content through mobile applications, email services, SMS, Widgets, an extensive API, and a just-in-time reporting and notification services.
