benson high school business & entrepreneurship academy parent informational meeting

Benson High School Business & Entrepreneurship

Academy

Parent Informational Meeting

Mission Statement

To establish a professional experience for students by using creativity in project-

based learning focusing on college credit and career preparedness through real

world experiences.

Steps taken to accomplish our mission -

• Teaming and Cohort Scheduling• Summer Training for Teaching Staff• Academy Team Plan• Career Specific Advisement Activities• Formation of Advisory Board• Establishing Future Course Offerings

Teaming & Cohort Scheduling• Team includes teachers from all content areas

• Team provides contextualized learning for students• Team plans cross-curricular, multi-disciplinary projects• Students are scheduled in classes with other members of their academy; about 85% of the time• All students still have the opportunity to receive Honors and AP credit

Summer Training for Teachers

June 17-18, 2015 at the Federal Reserve

Why Teaming?• Team Building Activities• Creating a Mission Statement• Academy-wide Procedures and Routines• Long-term Planning

Academy Team Plan• 45 minutes; every other day• Focus Areas:• Curriculum• Data• IEP/504/SAT• Student Concerns/Expectations• Celebrations

Career Specific Advisement Activities

• 41 minutes daily• Activities Include -

• Guidance Activities• Business concept of the month• DECA and FBLA• Collaboration with Business community• Guest Speakers• Academy Assemblies• Content Specific Tutoring

Formation of Advisory Board

• Monthly Meetings from September – May

• Current representation includes -•Centris Federal Credit Union

•UNO Center for Economic Education

•Gallop

•Nebraska Credit Union League

•Security National Bank

•First National Bank

•Federal Reserve

•OPS Career Center

Course Overview

• As 10th graders, Business & Entrepreneurship students –

• Six course sequence featuring the High School of Business™ curriculum.

• High School of Business™ is a complete program of accelerated business administration courses.

• The design is similar to that used in many colleges (courses include marketing, finance, management, etc.).

• The purpose of the program is to prepare students to excel in college-level business administration programs and careers beyond.

• The courses are written using a heavily project-based pedagogy.

• Students work on real projects through which they learn standards.

• Courses added 2015-16 –

• Principles of Finance (1 sem.)

• Principles of Marketing (1 sem.)

How you can support the Benson Business &

Entrepreneurship Academy

• Encourage your student to participate in activities• Communicate with your student’s teachers• Provide contacts in the Business & Entrepreneurship field• Consider serving on Advisory Board• Consider volunteering in areas of need as they may arise

Questions??

Contact Information:

Jan Zanders, Academy Specialist

jan.zanders@ops.org, 402-557-3035

Francis Szynskie, Academy Administrator

francis.szynskie@ops.org, 402-557-3011

Synetra Toney, Academy Counselor

synetra.toney@ops.org, 402-557-3024