A Glimpse at our XQ Super School Submission

Over the past few months a team of staff and students have been working together to draft our submission for the XQ Redesign High School project. We made it past phase one and we submitted our phase two proposal last week. We will hear if we have made it to the final phase on April 1st. There was a lot of great conversations that came from this work. The recurring theme over and over again by the students is that they want to see their education have meaning to them and their life after high school.

Even if we don't win the $10 million through the XQ project to rebuild our facility and build our Super School from the ground up, we can still fundamentally shift our approaches to instruction. It will take courage, collaboration, out of the box thinking, and most importantly commitment. Below you will see excerpts from our submission and "student voices," so that you can start thinking about how you can be part of the change.

A bold and compelling idea will be at the center of our school:

A school designed around vibrant participation in a student interest themed environment. We will empower our students to access pathways through exploration of different fields. This access and exploration will allow our students to engage in learning that will prepare them for a life of learning and career opportunities. Each Pathway would have a direct connection with the industry. Senior year they take a cap stone course. If they are working directly with industry they may leave high school with a job or an internship while they are in college. Student choice, relevance, community engagement and an empowered student body; welcome to Fairfield High School Discovery Academy.

Two Virtual Student Experiences: 

Our students awake to their school text wake-up service of choice. Their electronic assortment of assignments and announcements are organized with an elegant app. They arrive at the Cognitive Cafe on campus and select their healthy smoothie and warm sandwich.

They reach their “Learners Choice” session just after the ambient music starts on the PA, no jarring bells of old. Subject Matter Experts (SME) from the community start their workday as guides in the multiple career and project-focused Choice sessions.

Jose heads for the Health & Wellness Wing after his Learner’s Choice surgical simulator session. He finds his integrated team of Language Arts and Science teachers are finalizing the setup for the UCLA Medical Center videoconferencing session with Residents regarding their lessons learned in their journey. He already checked his blog post on his expectations and planned questions for today. He had a few tips from his Integrated English teacher and his Science teacher suggested further inquiry and refinement of a question he posted.

The English teacher departs the Health Wing and strolls past the dirt and native plant exhibition of the Landscape Architecture class and drops in to see Jasmine in the Service & Industry Wing. Jasmine’s capstone project was both her Learners Choice project and a major part of her Integrated Design class. The entrepreneurship module of her class was 20% online with her nearby community college. Her required community service led her to the Rotary Club where she met her mentor who advised her on her capstone project. Her effort was a comprehensive website and promotional plan matching local volunteers with local events. Jasmine has to take care of her grandmother three times a week, so she has taken advantage of the evening classes her school now offers.

Student choice, relevant learning, community engagement and an empowered student body. Welcome to our Super School.

Video Conversations with Students: 

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 

Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!