Students in the 9th grade will be assigned to houses in a student-centered learning environment. Within these small learning communities teachers will have autonomy over daily teaching schedule and grouping of students. Students will complete competency requirements (SOL, CTE Credentials) and participate in soft skill training (soft skills include creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, time management, communication) and career exploration. Teachers and students assigned to houses will share a large amount of common time which will allow the flexibility needed to address daily learning needs including, but not limited to, advisory, enrichment, and academic intervention.
For more information on the innovative practices being used at Jefferson Forest, click here
A major aspect of the Cavalier Learning Academy is easing the inflexibility of a bell schedule. Throughout the school year, class times will be adjusted based on student learning needs. On any given day, class schedules may be adjusted to allow for more time in one subject, based on the lessons and goals of the teacher. For example Health/PE and History may be shortened one day to allow for English to take an assessment which would have usually taken two days to complete under a rigid bell schedule. Weekly schedules will be posted on the Team 2 Home Page each week. On the Home Page, daily schedules will be listed as either NORMAL schedule or ADJUSTED schedule. When the schedule is labeled ADJUSTED a list of times and adjustments will be provided.
On Wednesdays of each week, students will be participating in what is known as a "CAV Day". CAV Days are designed to be used as a tool to foster in each of our Cavaliers, skills to prepare them to enter the 21st Century workforce, otherwise known as "soft skills". These skills will include (but are not limited to): public speaking, professionalism, using technology, interviewing, professional dress, making presentations, career exploration, etc. Additionally, CAV Days will be used to bring in various guest speakers from colleges and employers, be used for students to have Personalized Learning Time (PLT), receive extra help from teachers, meet with collaborative groups to work on projects, meet in advisory groups, and receive remediation for skills not yet mastered. Check the Weekly Update for more information about what your student will be doing each Wednesday.
The SABRE team was created to assist incoming freshman into the JFHS family. The SABRE team will be available to assist 9th graders in finding classes, and adjusting to the Cavalier way of life. The SABRE team is committed to the following core values:
Support - to be a support system for the freshmen as they transition to Jefferson Forest.
Accountability - to be consistently accountable to the freshmen and our Sabre team members.
Balance - to balance the role of Sabre advisor as well as peer to the freshmen.
Respect - to show respect to the freshmen and our Sabre team members.
Empowerment - to empower the freshmen and our Sabre team members to be an active member of the Jefferson Forest community.
Additionally, SABRE team members will be presenting to the class of 2022 at least once a month during CAV days. Topics will include: time management, getting involved, school spirit, etc.
One of the goals of the Cavalier Learning Academy, is to provide all students with more opportunities to engage in personalized learning. Personalized Learning affords students the opportunity to learn at their own pace, allow for them to choose assignments and projects according to their personal learning styles, and most importantly, enrich their educational experience with subjects, topics and research that appeals to their own personal interests.
Additionally, part of the personalized learning experience requires students to learn content and complete assignments on their own time. We will be working with your students in regards to skills such as time management, but will also use CAV Days to give students time in the building to work on their content. To learn more about personalized learning, watch the video below:
Each member of the class of 2022 has been assigned to an advisory group. Each advisory group is assigned to one of the Team 2 staff members. During CAV days, staff will meet with advisory groups to focus on grades, performance, student concerns, teacher concerns, career exploration, etc. The primary goal of the Cavalier Learning Academy Advisory groups is to allow each student to build a close relationship with a positive adult role model in the building. These relationships will continue to grow with each student during their tenure as a Cavalier at Jefferson Forest High School.
It is the expectation of the Jefferson Forest administration and the Cavalier Learning Academy that each student will come to class each day with their Chromebook fully charged and ready to learn. The Chromebooks are designed that they will maintain a full charge throughout the ENTIRE school day, provided that they are FULLY charged each night at home. Students who fail to maintain a fully charged Chromebook, or fail to bring their Chromebook to class will be subject to disciplinary consequences, which may include losing the right to take their Chromebook home, meaning they will have to checkout a Chromebook and return it each day.
While the courses your student will be taking in the Cavalier Learning Academy are NOT online courses, each class will require work outside of school using the Chromebook. We understand that Bedford County is a rural county in which affordable internet access is not available in all areas within the Forest zone. If internet access is not available, each teacher is prepared with means to modify assignments or instruct students how to prepare their work/Chromebook for offline use. With that being said, it is the STUDENT'S responsibility to notify their instructors (in private) of their situations. Students should notify instructors in private VIA a SIGNED parent note from home indicating a lack of internet access. At which point, assignments will be modified, extra time allowed before/after school and during lunch for students to complete online submissions. Failure to notify instructors does not excuse students from work. Teachers will accept this information privately and will never embarrass or penalize a student as long as this information is known.
When operating outside of a normal schedule, parents may be concerned as to how to contact or check out their child during the school day. The Team 2 home page will provided daily information as to your child's schedule. Additionally, main office staff will be apprised of this information on a weekly basis. When calling or coming in to interact or check your student out, simply inform the office staff that you student is a freshman on Team 2 or the Jones/Marano/Strassburg team and the will be able to locate your child promptly.