2015-16 - Aced It - LHS
ACED IT!
Student Success Program
Introduction:
What does it mean to “Ace” something? To a golfer, it may mean a hole in one. In tennis or volleyball,
it may mean a great serve. In school, it may mean a great grade on a test or assignment. What does it
take to get that point? The Aced It Program in Lennox High School is designed to teach, reinforce,
support and encourage students as they are learn the skills necessary to have more Ace’s in school and
beyond.
Secrets of Successful Students Revealed
Have you ever wondered what successful students do to set themselves apart from the rest? The key is
simple: successful students take charge. There is no magic trick, power drink, or special gadget to
help students excel in the classroom. Students stand out because they take charge of their time and their
tasks, without relying on anybody else to tell them what to do.
Successful Students Control Their Calendars
Successful students don’t rely on parents or teachers to tell them when assignments are due or when test
dates are approaching. They mark special dates in their calendars and keep track of commitments and
schedules. Successful students don’t sit back while parents take charge of their lives.
Successful Students Prioritize
Do you like to stay out late with friends? Do you like to go to parties? Do you like to watch TV or play
video games all night? Well, who doesn’t? Successful students take charge of their lives and balance their
time between fun and work. They know that there is a time for sleepovers that keep them up all-night, and
it’s not during finals week.
Successful Students Take Care of Themselves
Do you live on junk food and lay on the couch watching TV every night? Students with poor physical
habits probably don’t feel very energetic in the mornings, and they probably don’t feel good sitting in
class, either. Good food and a little exercise will clear your head! Students who eat junk in moderation
(you really don’t have to cut it out completely) and work out in some way are more likely to participate in
sports. That means they have more balance in their lives, feel better in the mornings, and are more alert in
class.
2015-16 - Aced It - LHS
A Closer Look at Assessment Types
Formative Assessments (homework, quiz, practice, writing drafts) – The goal of formative assessment is
to monitor student learning to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their
teaching and by students to improve their learning. More specifically, formative assessments help
students identify their strengths and weaknesses and target areas that need work. They also help teachers
recognize where students are struggling and address problems immediately. Formative assessments are
generally low stakes, which means that they have low or no point value.
Summative Assessments (chapter, unit and semester tests, final writing drafts, projects) –. The goal of
summative assessment is to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it
against some standard or benchmark. Summative assessments are often high stakes, which means that
they have a high point value.
The Aced It Program:
A – Accountable – Accept responsibility
C – Creative - Make new things or think of new ideas
E – Efficient – Produce desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy
D – Disciplined - The ability to make yourself do the things that need to be done
I – Inquisitive – Showing curiosity, Eager to acquire information
T – Tenacious – Persistent, Never give up, Grit
The Aced It Program seeks to support students in the development of 6 attributes that will lead to student
success in school and beyond. These concepts will be reinforced during SRB/Homeroom and during
regular classes.
AcedIt Attribute Descriptions:
Accountable: To be accountable means to be responsible or answerable to someone for something. It
involves taking responsibility for your own actions and being able to explain them. Being accountable for
our own actions means that we would be able to explain to someone why we did something. We would
also take responsibility for the outcome.
Creative: Being creative means solving a problem in a new way. It means changing your perspective.
Being creative means taking risks and ignoring doubt and facing fears. It means breaking with routine and
doing something different for the sake of doing something different. It means mapping out a thousand
different routes to reach one destination. It means challenging yourself every day.
Efficient: Efficient students prioritize, stay organized, don’t procrastinate, are good note takers, and they
make every second count. Prioritization is a skill that will benefit you for the rest of your life. As a
student, you’re constantly bombarded with assignments, due dates, and upcoming exams, but in all
honesty, some obligations are more important than others. Organization is an essential element of
efficiency, and, although it may initially be time-consuming to organize your notes and computer files, in
the long term, it will benefit you immensely to do so. Procrastination is one of the world’s biggest
productivity and efficiency busters. By giving in to procrastination, not only do you risk failing to
complete assignments on time, but you also risk stressing yourself to the point where your workload
becomes overwhelming. If you resist the urge to put assignments off until the not-so-distant future, you
guarantee that you will be able to remain calm, even in the face of looming deadlines. By becoming a
better note taker, you serve to maximize the time you already spend in the classroom, thereby making you
much more efficient as a student. One great way to become a better note taker is to actually complete the
2015-16 - Aced It - LHS
assigned reading before coming to class. By doing so, you arrive prepared to have what you’ve already
learned through the book reinforced by your professor, so when it comes time to study for exams, you’ll
have a definite advantage over your cramming classmates
Disciplined: If you’re like most students, you probably spend a large amount of time on tasks that are
truly very meaningless, such as social networking, watching television, playing video games, or
mindlessly surfing the internet. Disciplined students identify productivity busters and reduce the amount
of time wasted on them each day. Although taking breaks from schoolwork is extremely important for
reducing stress, improving your mood, and giving your brain a chance to recharge, if you spend too much
time avoiding your work, you risk getting nothing done. One great way to avoid wasting too much time
on unimportant activities is to set a concrete limit on the amount of time you allow yourself to devote to
these activities each day.
Inquisitive: Inquisitive students are curious and eager to acquire information. They are inclined to ask
many questions or seek information. They are active participants in classroom discussions. Inquisitive
students are intellectually, emotionally, behaviorally, and physically engaged in the learning process.
Tenacious: Tenacious students are very determined and do not give up easily. Grit, tenacity, and
perseverance are skills that can be developed. Tenacious students accomplish long-term or higher-order
goals in the face of challenges and setbacks. Successful students marshal willpower and regulate their
attention during such tasks and in the face of distractions.
General Requirements of all Students/Teachers
Redo’s and retakes are required on formative assessments until students reach a pre-determined level of
proficiency.
Study sessions are assigned by the teacher and are required for students with formative work that does not
meet proficiency levels. Study sessions will be led by the teacher during a before school session, after
school session or during a “working lunch.” Study session times will be set at the teacher’s discretion.
Failure to attend a study session will result in detention, in-school suspension, and can impact activity
eligibility. Students with missing work will be required to attend a lunch work session on a weekly basis.
Students will not be able to test until they have completed their formative assessments at the determined
proficiency level.
Students will only be allowed to retake a summative assessment one time each semester in each class.
Incentives: All conditions must be met
1. Students on “A” Honor Roll 1st and 2nd semester. (3.334 or higher)
2. Students have zero missing assignments
3. Attendance: 2 or fewer tardies each semester, 2 or fewer absences each semester (other
than school sponsored activities). Administrator approval for special circumstances may be
granted.
Semester Test exemption – Students meeting all 3 conditions will be exempt from Spring Semester Tests
and will not be required to be in class at the time of testing. All Students will take 1st Semester Exams.
This will reset each year – Conditions do not carry over from one year to the next.