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LOWER SCHOOL, GRADES K - 5 In the lower school at New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math, a K - 12 college preparatory school in Roho, students will be engaged in pursuing knowledge through their interactions with other children and adults. They will be responsible for a comprehensive course of study that includes literacy development, social studies, mathematics, science, multimedia technology, the arts, and physical education in grades K - 5. Students will encounter experiences that are challenging yet attainable, progressing from a concrete understanding to one more symbolic. They will learn to describe, evaluate, and clarify their thinking as they develop the awareness of individual strengths, needs, and interests that instill the perseverance to pursue complex tasks.
LITERACY LEARNING Our balanced literacy program is designed to meet the needs of diverse learners, supporting them in the process of becoming literate. The reading writing classroom will provide rich opportunities to read and write in purposeful ways throughout the curriculum. The balanced approach is holistic, providing students with a range of experiences that build important strategies; ways of questioning, thinking, and talking about books to become proficient readers. Throughout the years a variety of genres are studied in literature and in conjunction with the classroom curriculum. Whole class investigations provide a model for children to focus upon and implement in their own writing while extending their knowledge and appreciation of the books they read. Children engage in reading for extended periods of time using strategies that develop their fluency and understanding. Through book partnerships, children respond to literature in several ways. The development of ideas evolves through their discussion and in relation to the text. Their comprehension and interpretation of books is also reflected in their written responses. Writing across the curriculum allows students to communicate for a variety of purposes and contexts, making learning experiences meaningful and connected to the larger world. Through process writing, students explore a range of essential elements that support the different stages of the developing writer. Over time as students become more proficient, their writing becomes more elaborate yet the basic process of producing a published piece of work is consistent throughout the grades. Students will publish work in many different genres including poetry, memoir, research, essays, and fiction among others. The writing program builds upon children's own choice of topics as well as develop their ability to respond to assigned writing. A variety of on-going assessment techniques are used to support and guide the organization of literacy development. With this information the teacher provides students with the kinds of experiences that enhance their growth as readers and writers. Regular conferring with the teacher allows students to develop strategies that enhance their literacy including the planning and implementing of goals that are mutually decided upon.
SOCIAL STUDIES The goal of the social studies program is to foster the development of student's skills, understandings, and knowledge that they may achieve a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them; enabling them to function effectively as individuals, community members, and citizens. In social studies, children develop an awareness of how diverse people live and master their environment. The background experiences children bring with them help them to connect to concepts they do not have direct experience with. Social studies fosters the development of relationship thinking and problem solving through in-depth topics of study and investigations where students raise questions, gather and interpret information, form opinions, evaluate and synthesize their findings in response to their questions. Topics of study are integrated with other content areas providing relevant and worthwhile projects, allowing for new understandings, and making learning as integrated whole. Students work with others, collaborating in the planning and execution of projects through research and multi-media communication of concepts. The social studies experience is an implicit part of the daily classroom. The organization and management of the classroom community reflects the important values shared by the school as a whole. Curriculum focuses on the following themes and concepts throughout the lower school: • Environment and Society; • Community from the family to the world; • Belief systems, exploring myth, religion, science and art; • Values, in the systems people develop; • Change as a basic fact of life
MATHEMATICS The goal for students at New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math is to learn mathematical concepts and processes with understanding and be confident in the communication, reasoning, and application of that knowledge to real-life contexts. Problem solving is the integrating principle that shapes and unifies the math curriculum at all grade levels and fosters the development of mathematical skills. It requires that children apply their understanding of concepts and procedures to problem solving situations. The teacher's role as guide and facilitator is to provide a range of carefully chosen tasks where children may take an active role in their exploration of mathematical ideas. The teacher supports students in generating, refining, and investigating their conjectures using a variety of strategies and reasoning to confirm their solutions. Working individually and collaboratively, children test multiple solutions. Through discussion and writing, they communicate their ideas and strategies with appropriate evidence. Classroom technology and manipulative materials are essential resources that increase student engagement and assist children in their understanding of mathematics. Assessment is part of daily classroom instruction. It supports and guides teachers to make effective decisions that enhance student growth and achievement. It helps students set goals in their own learning. As an on-going process, it includes individual student work, student projects, interactive journals, teacher observations, student interviews, homework, and tests. The following strands form the core of our standards based curriculum: • Number and Operations • Algebra • Geometry • Measurement • Data Analysis and Probability • Problem Solving • Reasoning and Proof • Communication • Connections • Representation
SCIENCE The science program will encourage students to raise questions about the material being studied and learn to frame questions clearly enough to begin their search for answers. They will be given problems, at levels appropriate to their maturity, that will require them to interpret the information. Analyzing information and drawing conclusions will be central to problem solving and will begin in the lower school. Students will be guided in learning to think scientifically. They will have many opportunities to make brainstorming, communication, and critical thinking relevant in the context of an investigation. Working groups and keeping science journals will enable students to apply their communications skills. As students identify patterns, measure, estimate, and use logical reasoning in the context of a scientific investigation, they will begin to see connections between science and other content areas, and they will build a deeper understanding of the world around them. The four categories of scientific knowledge will be • living things, • earth and space, • matter, and • energy
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS The visual arts curriculum will provide students opportunities to explore a variety of techniques and tools to implement through different art forms. Students will learn to organize and communicate themes through a variety of media. Both the acquisitions of artistic skill and self-expression will be developed through a supportive environment, inspiring students in the expression of their own ideas. Music education is a fundamental part of the lower school's art experience. Students will participate in chorus in the early grades and have the opportunity to take on a musical instrument in the fourth and fifth grades as part of the total music program.
MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADES 6 - 8 In the middle school, students will continue to undertake in-depth, interdisciplinary studies of topics selected for their richness and developmental appropriateness. Throughout these studies, students will increasingly rely on their developing capacity to see from multiple perspectives and to reason abstractly. Emphasizing communication and problem-solving skills, courses will be highly interactive and investigative. The arts, woven throughout the curriculum, will provide students with opportunities to develop their aesthetic sense and broaden their modes of creative self-expression. Students will participate in a variety of sports and physical activities aimed at developing teamwork, coordination, and motor skills. Students will undertake three years of rigorous study in social studies, English, mathematics, science, foreign language, and the arts. At each level, successful completion of these courses is required for promotion. All courses are designed to meet or exceed New York State and New York City curriculum requirements. Citywide assessments will be administered in math and reading in grades 6 and 7 and state assessments will be administered in math, English language arts, and science in grade 8. Passing scores on these standardized assessments are also required for promotion. Although middle school courses are segmented by department, at New Explorations, these courses will be closely integrated by a team of educators expert in their content area. Students will rely on the investigative methods of science, the analytical power of mathematics, and the collaborative tools of technology in all of their explorations. The curriculum will invite rigorous participation and develop agile, inquisitive minds primed for critical thinking.
HUMANITIES The humanities program for middle schoolers at New Explorations incorporates state requirements for social studies and the high city and state expectations for English and reading. While sixth grade students will continue the intensive studies they began in the lower school, by seventh grade they will be embarking on more extensive and wide-ranging studies of American history and culture. Assigned readings will illuminate American history and culture from the perspectives not only of Americans themselves but also of those watching the “experiment in democracy” from near and far. Middle School Humanities will continue to develop and refine students' communication skills. Students will be expected to read independently and to share the fruits of their reading with their peers through formal oral and written reports as well as more informal e-mail messages. The students will make their reading choices from a voluminous list of approved books provided by their teachers. This list will include models of writing of various genres, in each of which students will also begin to develop their own writing skills. Middle school students will have access to the school's Writing Center, to which they may bring early drafts of their work for individual consultations with writing experts. The formal conventions of writing – spelling, paragraphing, punctuation, organization – are emphasized in the middle school classroom and in middle school Writing Center consultations. The goals of the middle school humanities program are many:
It is in middle school that students will begin to understand that how questions are framed will shape the answers they find. In middle school, too, students will begin to recognize the impact of their own actions on the environment in which they live – most notably, on their school community. The faculty at New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math knows that how they organize and structure classrooms and classes and, indeed, the whole school sends a message to students about values and community. Middle School humanities classes will help students to decipher that message and to assess it.
MATHEMATICS Through the formal study of mathematics, students at New Explorations will develop the tools of symbolic representation, analysis, and rigorous proof they need to effectively explore their world. Meeting the challenge set forth by the NCTM in Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, New Explorations will provide “…a rich experience for middle-grades students that both prepares them to use mathematics effectively to deal with quantitative solutions in their lives outside school and lays a solid foundation for their study of mathematics in high school.” In a context of relevant, extended problem-solving experiences, students will develop skills, master meaningful concepts, and become adept at articulating their understanding orally and in writing. New Explorations will place particular emphasis on helping students make the transition from concrete to abstract modes of mathematical reasoning. Through a carefully designed sequence of experiences, students will move gradually from a reliance on hands-on manipulatives to more symbolic forms of representing and solving problems algebraically. Technological tools, in the form of calculators and computer modeling tools, will be readily available and we will instruct students in using them effectively. Advanced math classes will be offered. Academic Intervention Support will be available at all levels to ensure that students develop a solid foundation of skills and feel confident applying those skills to problem-solving.
SCIENCE At New Explorations, the science classroom will be a living, working laboratory in which students learn to approach investigation methodically. Through direct observation, research, collection and analysis of data, students will explore the Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, as well as Earth and Space Sciences. New Explorations science classes will emphasize identification of the “big ideas” and unifying concepts that tie these fields of inquiry together. Students will be expected to formulate increasingly complex questions, develop and test hypotheses, and justify conclusions. They will use technological tools for observation and measurement as well as for collaboration and communication of their findings. Advanced science classes will be offered. Academic Intervention Support will be available at all levels to ensure that students master foundation concepts and feel confident in the laboratory.
THE ARTS Integral to the instructional program will be a comprehensive arts program designed to develop artistic talent and aesthetic sensibility. The arts program will include studio art, museum experiences, instrumental and vocal music, dance, theater arts. New Explorations will collaborate with the many arts and cultural institutions in New York City. Increasing the level of skills and exposure to the arts among early adolescents enriches their lives and gives them a deeper understanding of the world around them. Their increased critical awareness prepares them to study composition and color as well as techniques of observation that they will use for drawing, painting, clay, collage, printmaking, and woodwork. Experimentation and self-discovery are supported by the introduction of new materials and techniques that are more sophisticated.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE At New Explorations, formal study of foreign languages will begin in the middle school. Initially, students will gain exposure to a variety of languages with an emphasis on engaging in conversation and exploring the cultural roots of languages. Through this experience, students will select a foreign language for further study in seventh and eight grade. New Explorations will offer a range of classes leading to oral and written fluency and to an acquaintance with culture and literature. Students will be required to successfully complete three years of foreign language study. FRAMEWORK OF COURSE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS The requirements for high school graduation established by the state are listed below. New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math expects that its upper school students will go beyond the minimum criteria established by the state to pursue interests and knowledge and to participate fully in the life of the school and the city. To qualify for a high school diploma in New York, students must successfully complete the following: English* 4 years Social Studies* 4 years Mathematics 3 years Foreign Language 1 year Science 3 years Arts 1 year Health Education ½ year Physical Education 2 years Elective courses 3 ½ years In addition, the state requires that students successfully pass the following Regents Exams: Global History and Geography American History English Language Arts Math A Laboratory Science. ------------------------------- * English and Social Studies will be offered through fully integrated Humanities courses.
To qualify for a diploma from New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math, students must ALSO pass the following Regents Exams: Foreign Language Math B 2 nd Science Exam. In addition, they must fulfill the following non-credit requirements: • 60 hours of community service; • Demonstration of technological competency – each student must demonstrate the ability to use a wide array of technological tools. The graduation requirements provide for a balanced academic program. However, at New Explorations, students will be encouraged to look beyond the requirements in order to take additional, more advanced classes or independent studies in areas of special interest. A wide range of advanced and college-level courses will be available for students choosing to do so. A full, well-rounded program will help the young person begin to make career choices and will make a favorable impression on a college admissions officer. Colleges tend to look positively on students who demonstrate their seriousness of academic purpose through the advanced courses they have selected. Students will also be encouraged to begin to plan their academic programs before they enter the upper school. During their spring goal-setting meetings with their advisors and their families, students will review their program choices to determine whether their program conforms to their interests and career goals. The last two years at the upper school of New Explorations will afford students the opportunity both to branch out and to focus more deeply on a particular discipline. Students will submit their program choices to their advisors and the guidance counselor.
SERVICE REQUIREMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICE AT NEW EXPLORATIONS INTO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MATH The Community Service requirement at New Explorations offers students the chance to give back to the city for their education and the many wonderful experiences the city has provided. Students will help others either directly, through activities like tutoring, or indirectly, by serving as interns at community institutions and programs. The service program will support the school's academic program by enhancing students' self-and-social-awareness and their communication and problem-solving skills as well as building respect for ethnic and cultural differences. It will also assist students' career explorations and increase their knowledge of social needs and ways to meet them. Students will work in programs involving health services, tutoring, companionship activities, the arts, and recreation programs. Each student is expected to complete at least 15 hours of community service each academic year until the minimum of 60 hours is achieved. Students may choose the type of service they wish to perform. The Community Service Coordinator will try to arrange times of service that are convenient for the student. Once the student has chosen an area of work, the Placement Coordinator will set up an interview with the agency. The agency may then make a formal offer of internship to the student. Upon the student's acceptance of the offer, the internship begins. At the end of the internship, the agency and the Coordinator will assess the work of the student. The students will have the opportunity for self-assessment, reflection, and discussion of their experiences in their advisories. All students who complete their service requirement must submit a final project before receiving service credit. The project options include the following: a journal detailing the service work and the student's response to it; a reflective essay of 500 – 1000 words analyzing the service experience and what the student learned; or some other project to be created by the student and approved by the Coordinator. Once the final project is complete, credit for community service will be recorded on the student's transcript.
HUMANITIES: ENGLISH Students must complete four years of English in the upper school. Ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade English courses will be fully integrated with the state-required social studies courses. In twelfth grade, students will choose from among senior English electives each semester. Included in these electives will be advanced and college-level courses. Writing skills will be a key component of all Humanities curricula and will also be included in other disciplines as New Explorations will continue to require writing across the curriculum in its upper school. Additionally, students will be encouraged and, in some cases, required to bring their writing to the Writing Center for review by peer and expert editors. Some English assignments will require the submission of different drafts, showing the stages through which projects have gone and how students were able to use editing to refine and improve their finished product.
SOCIAL STUDIES Students must complete four years of Social Studies in the upper school. At New Explorations, Social Studies courses will be fully integrated with English courses to form the Humanities core. The state mandates that Global History and Geography, from prehistory through the current day, form the subject of studies in ninth and tenth grades. Accordingly, the literature selected for English courses will be illustrative of the cultures and historical periods examined in Global History. The state-mandated American History course in eleventh grade will also be expanded and intensified by the study of American Literature in eleventh grade English Language Arts classes. Civics and Economics will be available as one-semester electives for twelfth-graders. Graduating seniors will also have the opportunity to elect advanced classes in the building or at colleges. The humanities core will emphasize reading, writing, research, and reflective skills. The textbooks and primary resource materials assigned in their classes will be only the starting points for student learning and reflection. Under their teachers' guidance, students will begin to ask some of the hard questions of the social sciences: • How can we know what happened in the past or in another country/society? • Why do wars and plagues, famines, and assaults on other human beings happen? • May we judge the events of the past and, if so, with which criteria? • Can we construct a better society in the future? Students will search for answers to these questions through research in libraries and museums, on computers and the internet, and by oral history interviews.
MATHEMATICS Mathematics at New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math is seen as a primary means by which students can investigate the physical and social world. The study of math in the upper school will, thus, continue to be integrated with that of the humanities and sciences. Students will recognize in math a way of thinking and communicating knowledge and truths they are grappling with in other classes. Teachers will focus on helping students develop ease and familiarity with the language, symbols, and tools of mathematics as well as sharpening students' problem solving skills and discovering practical applications for the mathematical concepts they study. Three years of math (Math A and B) will be required. Advanced math classes will be offered. As in the middle school, Academic Intervention Support will be available to assure that New Explorations students move confidently into the world that math, science, and technology are reshaping.
SCIENCE The upper school sciences at New Explorations will all be lab sciences. Ninth-graders will complete the two-year Life Science curriculum they began in eighth grade; tenth-graders will study Chemistry; eleventh-graders will study Physics. Each course will require students to perform substantial lab work, individually, in pairs, and in larger groups. New Explorations science classes will emphasize student – and historical – experimentation and direct observation. Students will be expected to gather and analyze data, draw conclusions, develop and test hypotheses, solve problems, and become adept in both the language of the sciences and the practice of the scientific method. Three years of science will be required. Advanced science classes will be offered. Again, as in the middle school, Academic Intervention Support will be available to assure that New Explorations students move confidently into the world that math, science, and technology are reshaping.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES The study of a foreign language is crucial in this world characterized by increasing globalization. The upper school foreign language program at New Explorations will provide oral and written fluency in the language along with an introduction to its culture and literature. New Explorations will require two years of foreign language study in upper school for a diploma. It will also require that students pass a foreign language Regents Exam. Advanced study is a language and its literature will be available.
THE ARTS New Explorations will offer studio courses in drama, visual arts, and music. Exposure to and knowledge of the arts helps students gain confidence and expertise in their own form of expression. Moreover, it contributes to the development of an aesthetic awareness that will become part of the students' personal style. Although the state requires only one year of arts for high school graduation, New Explorations will encourage upper school students to pursue the arts further through advanced classes, internships, and extra-curricular activities. It will work with major cultural institutions in the city to insure that its students become regular and knowledgeable visitors.
SENIOR YEAR MASTERWORKS PROGRAM As part of our K - 12 interdisciplinary and project-oriented curriculum, students at the upper school will have the option of participating in a senior year Masterworks Program. At the end of one or two semesters, s/he will receive academic credit for completing an independent study project. In defining their projects, students may build upon an area in which they already have some knowledge or they may reach out in an entirely new direction. Students must conceive, plan, and execute the projects. A project plan must be submitted in writing by the end of May of a student's junior year in order to be considered for the following fall semester. The faculty advisor and the principal must approve the plan before it can be accepted as part of a student's academic program. The student will be responsible for obtaining a faculty advisor who will meet at least four times a semester to review the progress of the project. Students will also be encouraged to seek sponsors outside of the school. Sponsors must be knowledgeable in the subject of the planned masterwork and willing to offer guidance and make an evaluation of the work when it is completed. The faculty member will take responsibility for assessing the work. As a culmination of the project for each student, the completed masterwork will be presented to a faculty committee and to an assembly at New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math.
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