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Freshmen Academy
Freshmen Academy
Bloom High School, like many area schools, is creating a freshmen academy to help ensure that the students who enter our school acquire the tools necessary to continue to enjoy success

What is a Freshmen Academy?
  • A Freshmen Academy is a smaller learning community.
  • It helps students adjust to high school.
  • Students will be linked to specific core teachers in English, math, social studies and science.
  • Teachers work together to assist students with their progress in school.
  • It creates a sense of community for the students.
Mission
The Bloom High School Freshmen Academy creates a caring and supportive environment that eases the transition into high school while encouraging students to value academics and life-long learning.

Program Goals
  • Increase academic performance as evidenced by reduced failures in core areas
  • Increase collaboration between teachers, students, and parents
  • Increase student attendance rate
  • Decrease the number of discipline referrals received by freshman
Why create a Freshmen Academy at Bloom High School?
  • A Freshmen Academy helps students reach their full potential.
  • Students do better as freshmen if the school offers them greater assistance.
  • Students who do well in their first year are more likely to succeed throughout high school.
Academics in the Freshmen Academy
Students enrolled in the freshmen academy will be enrolled in the same curriculum as the rest of the student body. However, these students will be assigned to a core group of teachers in their main academic areas. The teachers will be able to work together to plan lessons and to monitor student achievement.

Academic Highlights
  • Goal setting at the start of the year to focus students
  • Thematically based units to make learning meaningful
  • Teachers collaborating to address student needs
  • Emphasis on organization and study skills
  • Tutoring services specifically for freshmen.
Parent Involvement
Another aim of the Freshmen Academy is to reinforce collaboration between the school and our parents. Keeping parents informed about and inviting their input into the program will ensure that it is as valuable to students as possible.

Parent Information
  • Introductory letters home from teachers
  • Informational meeting Tuesday, August 21
  • Parents forums throughout the year
  • A newsletter to keep parents informed
Building Community
One of the factors that makes the transition into high school difficult for many students is the loss of the sense of community and belonging they had at their former school. Therefore one aim of the Freshmen Academy is to give the students opportunities to quickly start to build that sense of community at Bloom. Freshmen Academy students will have special programs, events, speakers, and field trips that will give them opportunities to build friendships, get involved in school activities, strengthen self-esteem, and explore possibilities for their future.

Special Events
  • Freshmen Open Gym Friday, September 14
  • Special Homecoming Events/Tailgate party
  • Anti-bullying program
  • Peer-mentoring from senior class and National Honor Society
  • Community Service projects for the winter holidays and Earth Day
FRESHMEN ACADEMY DATES TO REMEMBER
Motivation Meetings-Mondays
 
  • 1 st period August 27 th (GPA and promotion)
  • 2 nd period October 15 th (Anger Management)
  • 4 th period November 26 th (Drug Awareness)
  • 1 st period January 28 th (Motivational Speaker)
  • 2 nd period March 10 th (Test-taking Skills)
  • 4 th period May 5 th (Job and Interviewing Skills)
Parent Meetings
  • Tuesday, August 21 st 7pm- Auditorium
  • Tuesday, September 4 th (PAC meeting) 7pm- Library
  • Tuesday, October 9 th (Family Reading Night) 7pm- Library
  • Tuesday, February 5 th 7pm- Library
  • Tuesday, April 1 st 7pm- Library
Special Events
  • Friday, September 14 th- Open Gym held after school
  • Friday, October 19 th- Tailgate Party (at Bloom)
1 st Semester Dates
August
  • Tuesday, August 21 st- Parent Meeting
  • Monday, August 27 th- Motivation Meeting (period 1)
September
  • Tuesday, September 4 th- PAC/FA Parent Meeting
  • Friday, September 14 th- Open Gym
October
  • Tuesday, October 9 th- Family Reading Night/FA Parent Meeting
  • Friday, October 19 th- Tailgate Party
  • Monday, October 15 th- Motivation Meeting (period 2)
November
  • Monday, November 26 th- Motivation Meeting (period 4)
  • November/December- Service Project (TBA)
For further information please contact:
Elizabeth Orr: 755-1122 ext. 2167