The School Day at Valor Academy
Why our Students Succeed
Longer School Day: An extended school day is a key to Valor’s approach to educational success. The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, the academic school day ends at 2:30 p.m., allowing two and a half hours for teachers to take part in weekly professional development.
“College Prep”: Each of our homerooms are named after local universities, and students refer to one another as Valor Scholars, as every aspect of our school is focused on preparing students to pursue college and professional careers. We do not just talk about the ideals of college, but expose students to the tangible realities of what it will take to get there and how it will impact their future.
Students make trips to local colleges and are visited by local high school and college students who speak to their experiences. In partnership with Premiere America Credit Union each Valor Academy student is set up with a bank account to start saving for college, and by the 8th grade each Valor Academy student must fill out a full college application in order to graduate.
Heavy Focus on Math and Literacy: In the 5th and 6th grades our students receive two periods of Math and two periods of English each day, amounting to over two hours content in each subject matter. Students also receive a 30 minute “Drop Everything and Read” period in which all faculty, staff, and students, stop and read for 30 minutes a day. We focus intensively on math and literacy as research has proven them to be the core foundation of student success.
After School Supports: Free after school academic supports are offered every day until 5:00 pm. Our after school supports include:
Homework Center: All students who do not complete homework nightly must attend homework center to finish their work.
Tutoring Club/Literacy Support: Tutoring Club allows students who are having trouble with specific subject matter to have one-on-one help. Our three-pronged literacy support program gives reading and comprehension support to students who need it.
Character Development: We develop a strong school culture through character development activities in Community Circle every Monday and Friday, and advisory periods before and after each academic day. All aspects of our school are geared to be developmentally appropriate.
Exposure to the Outside World:
After School Program: Hands for Hope (www.hands4hope.org), a local non-profit organization, runs our after school program each day from the end of the academic day until 5:00 pm. In partnership with Hands for Hope, we offer music, dance, cooking, art, and sports activities to Valor Academy students at no additional cost.
Field Trips: Students take content driven field trips to local museums, colleges, and other exciting locations so that they are able to connect their everyday learning to real life examples and experiences.
Our Daily Schedule
Our daily schedule reflects our mission and our urgency in ensuring that every student at Valor Academy excels academically. Our focus lies rooted in the core subjects of Math and English Language Arts with a heavy focus on literacy.
Sample 5th Grade Schedule Monday through Thursday |
|
|||
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7:30-8:00 |
Arrival & Breakfast |
Arrival & Breakfast |
Arrival & Breakfast |
Arrival & Breakfast |
|
|
|
|
|
8:00-8:15 |
Community Circle |
Advisory |
Advisory |
Advisory |
|
|
|
|
|
8:15-8:18 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P. 1 - 8:18-9:13 |
Math Skills |
Math Skills |
Math Skills |
Math Skills |
|
|
|
|
|
9:13-9:16 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P.2 - 9:16-10:11 |
History / Science |
History / Science |
History / Science |
History / Science |
|
|
|
|
|
10:11-10:26 |
Break |
Break |
Break |
Break |
|
|
|
|
|
10:26-10:29 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P.3-10:29-11:24 |
Reading |
Reading |
Reading |
Reading |
|
|
|
|
|
11:24-11:27 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P.4 - 11:27-12:22 |
Problem Solving |
Problem Solving |
Problem Solving |
Problem Solving |
|
|
|
|
|
12:22-12:42 |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
|
|
|
|
|
12:42-1:02 |
Recess |
Recess |
Recess |
Recess |
|
|
|
|
|
1:02-1:05 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P.5 - 1:05-1:30 |
DEAR |
DEAR |
DEAR |
DEAR |
|
|
|
|
|
1:30-1:33 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P.6 - 1:33-2:28 |
Life Work |
P.E. |
Art |
P.E. |
|
|
|
|
|
2:28-2:31 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
P. 7 - 2:31-3:26 |
Writing |
Writing |
Writing |
Writing |
|
|
|
|
|
3:26-3:29 |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
Passing Period |
|
|
|
|
|
3:29-3:45 |
Advisory |
Advisory |
Advisory |
Advisory |
Pepperdine 5th Grade |
|
Friday |
|
|
|
7:30-8:00 |
Arrival & Breakfast |
|
|
8:00-8:15 |
Advisory |
|
|
8:15-8:18 |
Passing Period |
|
|
P.1 - 8:18-9:14 |
Math Skills |
|
|
9:14-9:17 |
Passing Period |
|
|
P.2 - 9:17-10:13 |
History / Science |
|
|
10:13-10:16 |
Passing Period |
|
|
P.3 - 10:16-11:12 |
Reading |
|
|
11:12-11:32 |
Lunch |
|
|
11:32-11:52 |
Recess |
|
|
11:52-11:55 |
Passing Period |
|
|
P.4 - 11:55-12:51 |
Problem Solving |
|
|
12:51-12:54 |
Passing Period |
|
|
12:54-1:50 |
Writing |
|
|
1:50-1:53 |
Passing Period |
|
|
1:53-2:25 |
End of Week Full School Community Circle |