ACADEMICS AT

CAST Charter School will provide a college prep curriculum with an international focus. In practice, this means that all students will take a sequence of rigorous core courses in English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, and in addition become multilingual learners. Arts and Arts focused technology will be integrated into core curriculum.
CAST is developing strong supports for students coming from underserved, unstable audiences providing them with path to successfully accessing the curriculum through personalized scaffolding and focused instructions.

SCHOOL DESIGN ELEMENTS

College & Career Prep

Our curriculum will prepare students not merely to graduate high school but to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. We will offer systematic sequences in core subjects for students to excel in Math and English Arts, as well as opportunities to study Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Languages and Arts. In addition, CAST offers number of selective Advance Placement courses. In addition, CAST develops relationships with selected institution of higher education as Sarah Lawrence College and Westchester Community College Film Club to enrich the depth of scholar curriculum.

International School

CAST brings students with all cultural backgrounds including migrants to unite them under one roof.

Arts & Tech Education

The arts and arts supporting technology will be integrated and infused into core humanities subjects as well as studied in stand-alone courses. The visual art, music, film, theater and dance will provide inspiration for students’ imagination, innovation, developing focus on individual achievements, hard work and building strong learning character. In addition, the courses and afterschool activities will respond to Yonkers new growing film and entertainment industry providing jobs opportunity for CAST students from technical support to performing and production.

Exceptional Teachers

Dedicated, qualified teachers empower students to become top achievers.

Production & Performance

CAST building on natural talents let students flourish in Arts production and performance.

School Culture

CAST will focus on building a positive, tightly knit family-like environment that recognizes and rewards productive behaviors and uses restorative justice practices to address negative behaviors. We implement learning mediation techniques to resolve personal conflicts.
We foster respect, empathy, cooperation within small groups and school at large. We use diversity in students’ backgrounds to create a vibrant successful school community. CAST is giving back to Yonkers community by providing community outreach activities, performances and festivals for local public. In addition, we will be cooperating with the other public schools, supporting them and sharing our achievements.

Time for Learning

CAST will offer an extended school year and school day to provide our students with adequate time for learning. Peers support, scaffolding activities and specialized extracurricular workshops, clubs, seminars and camps will help bridge curricular deficiencies and boost individual students’ skills.

Individualized
Supports

CAST will provide robust RTI, Special Education and English as a New Language programs. A dedicated enrichment periods, programs and interventions are built into our schedule to accelerate all students allowing them to achieve the highest possible standards at the conclusion of the four years of CAST education. Individual care and equity support is provided for students with special needs, English language learners and migrant children to help them successfully bridge the achievement gap.

A DAY AT CAST

This is a sample schedule and is only a portrayal of a suggested standard day in our program.

START

PERIOD 1

English Language Arts

We always start class with a 5-minute grammar lesson. You study original poem and analyze its context within the historic period it was written, dig into social and geographical connection of the poem and its author, cross check influences. Write a composition on ideas in the poem in relation to your own life.

PERIOD 3

Foreign Languages

As you are in an international school you will have fun to learn foreign languages and cultures selecting two foreign languages. If you speak Spanish at home you can take Spanish and opt for another language like Polish or Mandarin. You will have a chance to connect for chat with your peers from other countries over the internet.

PERIOD 4

Electives

Physical Education. We take advantage of a big gym. Doing gymnastics, fencing, stretching, and playing games. Or taking a Music class with learning notes writing, from music history learning about famous composers, come up with your own mini composition and playing it on the keyboard or your favorite instrument.

Art Lessons. Or taking Art class with learning pencil drawing, recognizing graduation of tones from light gray to black, doing quick sketches of still nature composition or in good weather going out to draw Philips Manor building and learning its significant role in Yonkers history.

Film Class. Another option is participating in film class where you can learn what is involved in directing a movie or become a cameraman with hands-on exercises and in connection with Westchester Community College Film Club.

PERIOD 5

Lunch/Advisory

Possible quick meeting with peers to discuss student’s government issue,
meet your teacher, interest group or club members.

PERIOD 6

Enrichment

Enrichment period to receive individual support for speed reading or refine composition skills.

PERIOD 7

United States History

You spend time looking at historical documents of the Civil War, searching on the internet, and understanding history through primary sources. You will be looking for answers Why, Who, and with What result? Plug in your critical thinking in the assessment of this historical event.

PERIOD 2

Mathematics

Math class always starts with a recap, to check retention from previous material. Then you dive into resolving a new calculus problem. In the end, have fun with math tricks or numerology. Always remember to write out the limits! Class is ending with a mini quiz to allow for assessment in material absorption.

PERIOD 8

Science

During Science class, you analyze gravity theory and relation among planets in the Solar system, translated to gravity formula. For double period, you might be excited with a visit to Planetarium at Hudson River Museum or to Science Barge at Hudson River to discover details of a hydroponic plantation.

PERIOD 10

FLEX Hour

Scaffolding, SPED, Peer support, Enrichment in languages, Research, Talent development for advance students

After School Activities

These activities will include extra peers support, additional scaffolding activities, and specialized extracurricular workshops as Dance Studio, Film Club, Music and Orchestra studios, sport clubs.

END

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