10.13.08

Greetings from Mrs. Goodsell

Dear Students:

I would like to share with you some of the exciting opportunities that are occurring on our campus this year. More importantly, we want to share our vision for the 2008-2009 school year and beyond.

In 2007-2008, Bryan Adams established Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) in order to ensure 9th grade students' academic success throughout high school. SLC's allow teachers and administrators to be more focused on student's academic growth and personal development. SLC's provide smaller numbers of students in classes so that teachers can more effectively individualize instruction and intervene in areas of academic challenge. SLC's provide teachers and administrators the opportunities for building academic relationships with students. Because our efforts have been successful, our goal is to implement SLC's for our 10th grade students in the 2008-09 school year!

This year, Bryan Adams has implemented a Human Development & Social Services Career Path. Because of our success, Bryan Adams is planning to add more opportunities with additional Career Pathways in the upcoming years. Surveys reflecting students' career interests have been taken and research is underway to determine the best course offerings. It is the goal of this school to make learning relevant, motivational, and interesting so students will be excited about planning I for their future.

Our vision for the future of Bryan Adams includes the development and implementation of Career Pathways based on students' interest. Students make decisions in 8th grade about their career paths. Core courses would be taken with emphases on the direction chosen by our student's choices. This exciting new direction could lead students to see the purpose and outcomes of their learning. We are planning to institute a dual credit program earned through a relationship with Eastfield College. Career paths being researched and reviewed are Business, Marketing, & Management, Health Services, Arts, Communication and Media and a general course of studies. Under each pathway will include options that will lead students toward lifetime careers!

Students assigned to Bryan Adams are eligible to receive SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (SES)-extra assistance to help improve their academic performance-free of charge. This is over all above the additional tutoring that Bryan Adams offers on a continuing basis. While there is no obligation to enroll, parents and students will be able to choose among different types of services, given by different providers at different locations, to best meet the students' needs.

Our goal at Bryan Adams is to continue to improve, and we cannot do this without your continued support! Come to school dressed according to the DISD dress policy, come to school every day, be on time to class, behave in class, and perform the tasks assigned by the teacher in each classroom.

Be proud of being a Bryan Adams Cougar. Bryan Adams High School, will always be part of your life-even when you leave here. Take pride in it now. Help make it a better place, day-by-day, through the better ways you do things, the better ways you act. Our school should be a community where people offer strength and support to each other. It should be a community that offers personal growth to everyone, a safe place to learn, to work, and to self-actualize.

As you know, Bryan Adams has a proud history.' The history must continue as there is much more to be written. Watch for updates through the school and the District on the new Career Path initiatives. We look forward to sharing these new opportunities with you and your family.

Respectfully,

Cynthia Goodsell
Principal