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SAT School Day at Excel Academies North and South

On October 12, almost 300 high school students from both Excel Academy North and Excel Academy South in Philadelphia sat for the SAT and PSAT exams. The College Board, the organization that administers the exams, launched SAT School Day as a way to help students who may have difficulty making a standard SAT/PSAT test time and location. Having the option to take the SAT and PSAT – standardized tests that are intended to assess students' readiness for college – during the school day helps eliminate any worries or barriers a student may have with getting to a testing location [...]

SAT School Day at Excel Academies North and South2022-11-22T13:25:23-05:00

High Road School of Southern York Receives ‘School of Distinction’ Honor

The High Road School of Southern York was recently named a 2022 School of Distinction for excellence in education by Cognia, a global nonprofit school improvement organization. As part of the School of Distinction program, Cognia identifies pre-K–12 education institutions that exemplify excellence in education and service to learners. Cognia selected High Road School of Southern York as one of 96 K-12 schools out of more than 1,500 institutions worldwide that were eligible for the 2022 recognition. “We are proud to work with Cognia and even more proud that our curriculum, passionate staff, and classrooms stand out on the [...]

High Road School of Southern York Receives ‘School of Distinction’ Honor2023-03-08T12:20:28-05:00

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

For National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), students at the Excel Academy of South Shore, part of the Chicago Public Schools’ Options Network, studied the contributions of Hispanic Americans to our culture and society. The month culminated with an assembly where students showcased what they learned about Hispanic culture throughout the month. The lively event included song and dance performances and presentations on notable persons, food and historical events. “What a fantastic job students did in presenting various topics celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Principal Shani K. Hawkins, M.A. Ed. “They exceeded expectations and made us [...]

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage2022-11-14T16:33:02-05:00

Annual College & Career Fair

At Philadelphia’s Excel Academy North, staff know it’s never too early for students to start thinking about their career and post-secondary plans. Held during College Awareness Month, the school hosted its fifth annual College & Career Fair on October 7. During the on-campus event, students had the opportunity to connect with alumni, admission counselors from local colleges and universities, entrepreneurs running successful businesses, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Presenters from Temple University, Penn State, Clemson University and Jefferson University spoke to students about college and career possibilities. They also heard directly from individuals working in the arts, [...]

Annual College & Career Fair2022-11-14T11:44:20-05:00

Excel Academy South Student Named Senior of the Month by School District

It is always a privilege watching Excel Academy South, an Opportunity Network high school that partners with the School District of Philadelphia, students shine. Our team couldn’t be prouder of Jerusha Nelson for being named Senior of the Month by the District. Nelson’s family immigrated to the U.S. five years ago from Pakistan and they appreciate the educational opportunities afforded to her since they arrived in the Philadelphia area. Nelson came to Excel Academy South after a recommendation from her principal at another school, who suggested an educational program more closely aligned with her goals. “I’m so grateful that [...]

Excel Academy South Student Named Senior of the Month by School District2022-11-17T09:26:45-05:00

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

Students at Sierra Schools of California celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) with a classroom decoration contest. The friendly competition took place at the school level, with winning classrooms competing region-wide for the top honor. Teachers used the contest to help students learn about and honor the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Students in each participating classroom decorated a large bulletin board or wall space paying homage to the Hispanic Heritage Month theme. Each decorated area had to include relevant and interesting [...]

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month2022-10-31T09:22:59-04:00

New Outdoor Play Space at High Road School of Peoria

Movement and physical activity are critical for students' overall well-being and now students at the High Road School of Peoria have a new outdoor space perfect for a range of activities. Recently the school community celebrated the opening of the new sport court with a ribbon cutting, balloons and cake. “Our goal is to make learning fun and the addition of the sport court provides another opportunity for students to enjoy themselves while learning new skills,” said Theresa Mortl Smith, regional vice president. According to the CDC, regular physical activity can help young people improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones [...]

New Outdoor Play Space at High Road School of Peoria2022-09-28T16:11:34-04:00

A Decade of Service

This month marks Ashanti Brooks’ 10th year as an employee at the Excel Academy of Roseland, part of the Chicago Public Schools’ Options Network. As a member of the school’s founding team, Brooks has witnessed Excel Roseland’s growth and impact on students. Her role and reach as school clerk extends far beyond the school day. A familiar face known by students and staff, Brooks says the impact she makes on young people keeps her motivated year after year. It also keeps her answering texts from students after hours and ensuring she is a continuous source of support. A decade [...]

A Decade of Service2022-09-22T12:52:06-04:00

Excel Academy South Shore hosts Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS leaders for back-to-school press conference

The first day of the 2022-23 school year had all eyes on the Excel Academy of South Shore, as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot selected the school, part of the Chicago Public Schools’ Options Network, as the location for the city’s back-to-school press conference. Members of Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) executive leadership team including CEO Pedro Martinez and CEdO Bogdana Chkoumbova also participated in the press conference. Excel Academy South Shore Executive Director Dr. Anthony Haley kicked off the event with a warm welcome and introduction of the mayor. The visit to Excel was one stop on Lightfoot and CPS’ [...]

Excel Academy South Shore hosts Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS leaders for back-to-school press conference2022-09-16T11:46:58-04:00

Responding to Appropriate and Inappropriate Student Behaviors  in the Classroom

 By Dr. Diane Myers, SVP, Special Education—Behavior at SESI For many educators, late summer feels more like the beginning of a new year than the first of January. Hopefully the summer provided an opportunity for rest and rejuvenation given the unique challenges we all faced last year. As we begin the 2022-2023 school year, we want to create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for our teammates and our students; we also want to lay a solid foundation so the positive culture maintains and strengthens throughout the year.    How [...]

Responding to Appropriate and Inappropriate Student Behaviors  in the Classroom2022-08-01T17:44:12-04:00

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