Academic Transitional Academy

1520 Michigan Road, Port Huron, MI 48060 (Get Map)

Phone: (810) 364-3449

Fax: (810) 364-3347

The mission of the ATA

The Academic Transitional Academy of St. Clair County Front of ATA

creates an engaging and motivating academic environment that promotes self-confidence and responsibility for students

who have not succeeded in a traditional school setting. Courses are designed to help students meet the Michigan High School Course Expectations in science, math and English through the use of problem-based learning, curriculum integration and technology. Real-world learning experiences increase student awareness of opportunities beyond the school setting and prepare them for success after graduation.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences were held at the ATA on the evenings of November 10 and 11. There are a few daytime conferences scheduled for November 17 and 19. Conferences at the ATA are by appointment. Parents meet with all three ATA teachers together in one 15-minute block.

Parents or guardians who missed conferences and would like to meet with their child's teachers must contact the ATA to make an appointment for after Thanksgiving. ATA teachers will be glad to respond to parents via email or by phone if you do not want to come in for a meeting. Call (810) 364-3449 for more information about scheduling a conference.

Parent/guardian survey for student success

Parents or guardians of 9th- and 10th-grade ATA students, if you have not already completed and returned the green Survey for Student Success, please click here to complete an online version. The survey will provide us with information about your son or daughter to help us better design lessons and activities that will interest and motivate him or her.

'Tis the Season

Colds and the flu have found some of the students at the ATA. Like most schools in Michigan, we have at least one student who has contracted the H1N1 flu virus. Based on recommendations from the local and state health departments and the Center for Disease Control, we are treating H1N1 cases like cases of the regular seasonal flu. We will be extra vigilent in trying to keep surfaces at the ATA as clean as possible. Remind your child of the importance of frequent handwashing.

We ask parents to keep students with known cases of the flu or flu-like symptoms to keep their children home until the symptoms have been gone for 24 hours.

For information on both seasonal and H1N1 flu, including a listing of H1N1 vacination clinic dates and locations, visit the St. Clair County Health Department's website.

ATA students to be published in new Danica McKellar book

Approximately 20 ATA students will have comments included in the upcoming book, Algebra Doesn't Suck, by Danica McKellar. McKellar, an actress and accomplished mathematician, has written two books for teenagers about math. The books describe math concepts and skills in a fun, entertaining way. Last spring, ATA students responded to a survey from McKellar on topics such as where they like to do homework and do they ever feel pressure not to do well in school. Several of our students had their comments selected to be in the book. We are not sure when the book will be published and available, but we are proud of the students for their part in it.

FORE!

If you have ever played miniature golf, you know that it's all about playing the angles. And if you've ever taken geometry, you know that it, too, is a lot about angles. So, Mr. Cavis and Mr. Sygit, the ATA's new project room facilitator, teamed up to combine mini-golf and geometry for learning and fun. The goal of the project is for students to learn about and practice measuring angles.

Student taking a shot The project room served as a nine-hole miniature golf course for 10th-grade students on Friday, October 2. Mr.Sygit helped 9th- and 10th-grade students construct the nine holes over the past two weeks. Before they could begin striking the balls, the students had to measure and predict the angles they think are needed to get the ball around obstacles and into the hole. There were no complaints as dozens of angles were measured and recorded. Then the fun began as they tested their angles.

Hole in one!

Hole in One!!! ------------>

Constitution Day 2009 - Live Streaming Presentation from the Front Office

On September 17, Mr. Spencer broadcast a short Constitution Day presentation live from his office to all six classrooms at the ATA. In the past, he went from classroom to classroom talking to the students about Constitution Day, which meant interrupting the lessons that were in progress.

With the live video stream, set up by Mr. Hard, the message was delivered to all at one time, minimizing disruptions to the classes. The teachers reported that the students were very engaged during the ten-minute presentation. We look forward to ATA students using this tool to share with others what they are creating and what they have learned.

Moodling and Googling

ATA teachers and support staff are using Moodle and Google, which are web-based computer application tools, to help students write more, collaborate, stay organized and demonstrate what they have learned among other things. Each teacher has a Moodle page that students can access any time of the day from home or their home school. Course assignments are available on the site along with helpful resources related to the current topic. Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the Moodle sites using their child's login information.

GPS and a new ATA Parking Lot?

Geometry students have already been posed with a real-world problem to solve, during which they will learn an important geometry concept. Mr. Cavis told them that the ATA needs more parking and that they need to measure the current parking lot to help them plan for a new one.

Instead of using tape measures or pacing off the distance, students are using GPS receivers to get the coordinates of the corners of the parking lot. They then learn to use the distance formula to calculate the rather large distances involved.

Students using GPS receivers Students recording their coordinates

(Note: The ATA has plenty of parking and will not be adding spaces. But the problem is real-world and one they might face in the future.)

Connecting with parents and guardians

A close relationship between a school and the parents and guardians of its students is key to the success of its students. The ATA provides several ways of staying in contact with our parents and guardians.

Freshmen Orientation and 10th Grade Welcome Back Night are gatherings with parents before the year begins.

Parent Connection: The online way for parents to check their son or daughter's grades and assignments at any time during a marking period. Click here for more information on Parent Connection and how to access it.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Relaxed 15-minute conference appointments with the entire teaching team allows for the sharing of information and ideas to increase each student's success. (The 2008–09 conferences were held Nov. 3, 5, 11 and 13. Dates for the 2009–10 conferences are coming soon.)

Pre-arranged conferences with teachers: ATA teachers are also happy to meet with parents before or after the regular conference dates as long as the arrangements are made ahead of time. (Please call the ATA to arrange a meeting with one or more of your child's teachers.)

Phone, e-mail, and letter communications: ATA teachers frequently contact parents when they see a need or want to share some good news. That is often done with a phone call, although some parents like using e-mail for messages and updates. The front office staff also contacts parents when potential problems arise, such as attendance rates that could lead to loss of credit or poor marking period grades that could also lead to loss of credit. Such contact is made by phone or letter.

Newsletters: School newsletters are sent home with every progress report.

The ATA website: The website is updated at least once a month with new, timely information.

One of the benefits of being a small school is the ability to keep in close touch with its students' parents and guardians. Be sure to take advantage of as many of the above means as possible. Don't hesitate to contact us to ask questions about anything you want.

Interventions: What happens at the ATA when students aren't learning?

Click here for a description of some of the things that occur when students fall behind in their assignments or their grades. Some of them require help by a student's parents or guardians.

ATA technology use spotlighted

Several ATA students and teachers are highlighted in the St. Clair County RESA's video production: Capturing the Possibilities: Reaching All Learners. The video can be viewed online from the RESA website by clicking here. Look for the many ATA students and teachers included in the video with others from around St. Clair County.

The ATA uses technology for several reasons, including:

To research current issues and information as part of real-world problem solving
To gather and analyze data and report on what was discovered
To assist students in reading and writing
To motivate students who are using computers and other technology so often outside of school
To provide students with 24/7 access to their ATA assignments and learning resources.

We are continually looking for new ways for students to utilize technology to improve their learning and engagement in school.

Also, ATA staff members Traci Manley, Jennifer Richmond, Kit Hard, Valerie Turpin, and Pete Spencer along with several ATA students presented at the RESA's technology symposium, Preparing 21st Century Learners for a Global Marketplace: From Analog to Digital, that took place in August of 2008 at Port Huron High School.

ATA staff members will be presenting at two different technology-related sessions at the countywide professional development day on November 30th, 2009.

The ATA is clearly on the cutting edge of technology use in education. Technology not only engages many students, but there are many tools that make the curriculum more understandable to students who struggle with a more traditional approach to teaching.

Weather-related closings

If a student's school district is closed due to bad weather, they are not expected to report to the ATA that day. However, the ATA remains open for school unless all seven school districts in the county are closed. If your district is open, the ATA will be open.

If a student from a district that is closed wants to attend the ATA, they are welcome to do so. They need to arrange their own transportation to and from the ATA and should call ahead of time to be sure the ATA is open. Attending the ATA on a day a student's home district is closed would earn the student a bonus attendance day, which can make up for an earlier absence.

Special ATA closings

If a special circumstance arises that cause the ATA to close when other districts are open, the home high schools will be contacted and they will notify their ATA students.