Curriculum Choices 6-8 | Page 7

EXCEPTIONALITY AND EXCELLENCE Steve Jobs challenged his company and, through the many sources that have quoted him, the world, to “ be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” Can a school teach students the practice of excellence through example? In our leadership role as teachers and behavior models for the innovators and world- changers of tomorrow, we are committed to doing just that: finding teachers who understand that outof-the box thinking is as important as understanding core principals, and who are continually challenging themselves to learn and grow. A school is a community of people who come together in the understanding that excellence is possible, that learning is important, and that an amazing future does not drop itself, fully-formed, into anyone’s lap. In “How to lose a million dollars” the authors contend that “smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from somebody else’s mistakes. Anyone reading this has a chance to REQUIRED TEXTS become wise because I am now very, very smart”. When we ask ourselves what we want in life: physical health, strong ties to friends and community, a lot of money, a very nice car: all of these are tied in with ongoing academic success. People who attend University, on average, live longer, have better relationships, and are more likely to be employed at a high income level than students who do not continue their education. Our students are too important for us to let their work slide, and it shows! 7TH GRADE: CANADA NELSON LITERACY 7 NELSON MATHEMATICS 7 GAVIN ACADEMY SCIENCE TEEN HEALTH (DIGITAL) EASTERN HEMISPHERE: GEO DISCOVERING WORLD HISTORY