About our school
Bay County Public School Academy
is a Michigan public school academy chartered through Bay
Mills Community College and managed by Mosaica Education Inc.
Bay County Public School Academy’s educational goal is to prepare students
to be creative, intuitive, and analytical thinkers with a solid understanding
of the history of ideas.
The Academy began operations in 2001-2002
with an enrollment of 211 offering grades K-5. The Academy
has added an additional grade in each year of operation
and expanded its grades until it became a K-8 grade school
in the year 2004-2005.
As of August 2008, Bay County Academy
features:
- There are 13 classroom teachers, one special needs teacher,
a food service director, three special teachers (Art, Music,
and PE) and a program
facilitator. For more information
visit us In
The Classroom.
- An extended school
day
(seven and a half hours per day) and an extended school
year (185 school days.)
Longer
time on task will
result in improved achievement of our students.
- Art, Music and Physical
Education are offered
to all students.
- Our students wear Uniforms.
- Besides
featuring Everyday
Math, Harcourt
Science, Scholastic
Reading and Four Block Instruction, Bay County Academy offers
one of the most exciting social studies programs in the country,
entitled Paragon.
- We are a full-service public school, offering
one classroom of Special
Education.
The local intermediate school district provides
physical, occupational, and speech therapy, a school psychologist,
and a school social worker.
- Extensive technology is another hallmark. All teachers have
laptop computers, and all classrooms are linked to the Internet
via a T-1
line. Each classroom has computers for student use, and
has computerized one-on-one tutoring. Technology
is also used to create
a safe and secure environment with security cameras
in each room and in our
school
parking lots.
- Parent involvement is mandatory (as well as student
uniforms) at the Academy with parents required to
spend two voluntary hours per month
assisting the school. For more information visit our
PTO page.
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Curriculum
Bay County Academy offers a complete
and rigorous curriculum featuring Everyday Math, Harcourt
Science, Scholastic Reading and Four-Block Instruction, Paragon
Social Studies, CCC integrative tutoring system, Music, Art, Physical
Education, and Special Education. Teacher assistants are present
in some rooms and speech therapy and psychological
testing services are available on a needs basis. Most instructional strategies
stress
minds-on and hands-on activities with problem solving and independent thinking.
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Paragon
The Paragon social studies curriculum
is the cornerstone of Bay County Academy. The unique Paragon
Curriculum is predicated
on the idea that we must impart
to all children the content knowledge and academic skills that will provide
them with the necessary intellectual capital to succeed in mainstream culture.
Rather than teach history in bits and pieces in arbitrary sequence, Paragon’s
fully integrated, chronological approach demonstrates to students how one
idea builds on and evolves into another. The curriculum illustrates how
sweeping cycles of conflict and resolution repeat themselves and leads
students to
understand
how and why various world cultures have risen to power and prominence,
only to be supplanted by new precedents set by others.
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School Day
The school day begins promptly at 8
a.m. and teaching instruction begins immediately, so it is
important that students arrive
on time. Unless participating in the
Oasis program or school breakfast program, students should arrive at the
school no sooner than 8 a.m. and will be allowed in
the building at that time. The school
day ends at 3:30 p.m. and unless students are participating in the Oasis
after school program, they should be picked up no later than
3:40
p.m. Students arriving to
school later than 7:45 a.m. are asked to check in at the main office. Students
arriving later than 8:30 a.m. are recorded as one-half day absences. Students
who are not picked up by 3:40 p.m. will be asked to go to a designated
area to await the arrival of their parents.
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School
Calendar
Bay City County Public School Academy will operate
on a school calendar of 185 student days and 15 additional
professional development days for teachers
and related staff. The school year will begin after Labor Day, take the
standard school holidays, and will close mid-June. The school
day for students will be 7.5 hours per day. Students are dismissed
for Early Dismissal Days at
11:30 a.m. The regular school day will begin at 8 a.m. and end at
3:30 p.m. Parents will be given
advance notice of any changes to the calendar. For a detailed calendar
list see our calendar page.
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Office Hours
School office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. Monday through Friday. We may be reached by phone at 684-6484.
The school fax number is 684-6202. Mr. Smith, the school
principal, may be contacted by email at dsmith@BayCountyPSA.org.
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Student Assessments
Bay County Academy students
are assessed daily by their classroom teacher. Assessment
is a vital part of learning and instruction.
Besides teacher assessment,
Bay County Academy students will participate in State assessments such
as the MEAP. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills will be given
once a year to all
academy students. Student assessment and achievement plays an important
part in evaluating academy teachers and administration.
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Special
Services
Bay County Public School Academy offers a complete
special education program and is obligated by state and federal
laws.
Special education students will
have an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) written for them annually.
This plan must be implemented in a least restrictive environment. A special
education parent handbook will be provided to all parents whose child
participates in the program. Please contact the school social
worker, the special education
teacher or CAO for further information.
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Title 1 Services
Bay County Public School Academy
offers Federal Title 1 services, which are designed to assist
student in achievement of skills and knowledge. These
federal funds are based on the free and reduced lunch counts data obtained
when parents register. Title 1 monies may be used for teacher assistants,
curriculum supplies, and professional development. The Title 1 program
is available to eligible students in areas of mathematics and reading/writing instruction.
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Tech Report
The purpose of the Mosaica Education Technology Plan is to provide a coherent long-range direction for the organization as it envisions how technology can enhance the teaching and learning process. The plan formalizes and documents how Mosaica Education and Mosaica managed schools will provide access to modern technology for instructional use and to support student achievement. The planning process included surveys, interviews, examination of school planning documents from across the country, staff development with specific technologies and their application in the school environment, and collected usage and trend data from the network environment. Based upon this comprehensive data, findings and recommendations are prepared. Bay County PSA’s Technology Plan takes the basic structure of the Mosaica Education Plan and customizes
it to meet the needs of staff, students, and parents at Bay County PSA.
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Testimonials
“BCPSA has been a positive learning and social experience for our children. We appreciate the hard-working dedicated staff & teachers.”
“I love this school. Teachers are awesome. I’m so glad my kids are able to fo here.”
— Dawn Weller parent of 2 students at the Academy Grades 2 & 4
“I am so pleased with my sons’ educational experience that our second child will also be attending the Academy next year. I would not send my children to any other school. I tell everyone I know what a great school it is.”
— Melissa Lauria parent of now 2 students K & 4
“I am very satisfied with all the effort from this teacher and overall education plans of this school. My daughter is benefiting greatly from all this effort. Thank you. Greatly appreciated.”
— Bridget Bellhorn parent of Grade 2 student
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