We have reached the halfway point for this quarter; it has been challenging but amazing to have the students in school. We realize it has not been an ideal year from starting at 9:30 AM, wearing masks all day and not having all our teachers in the building. All in all, we think we made the best decision for our students, and we appreciate your support.

The following students have PERFECT ATTENDANCE since we started school:  

Guillermo Galarza

Niem Robinson

Keep up the great work! We are so proud of you!

Everyone should be able to check grades on Gradelink and Google Classroom. Gradelink is the place to check overall grades and Google gives detailed information about assignments. Based on the number of missed assignments I received yesterday our students looked at both Gradelink and Google. If you need information on how to get into the Gradelink system please send me an email and we will have your credentials emailed to you.

Teachers are committed to get grades into the system within a week of the activity so you should see up to date information.

Each student has been assigned an advisor. The advisor will be the main point of contact for the student, teachers, and parents. Advisors will contact parents with issues or concerns, and we encourage you to reach out to them. We are hoping having an advisor will help our students in advocating for themselves.

You should receive an email from your child’s advisor later this week.

LGBT History Month was created in 1994 by a high school history teacher in Missouri called Rodney Wilson. The month, which garnered early support from organizations such as GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), was initially chosen to include the by-then well-established National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 and the anniversary of the first march on Washington by LGBT people in 1979 on Oct. 14. The month now also includes Spirit Day on Oct. 20, on which people around the country wear purple in support of LGBT youth; Ally Week, a week in which allies against LGBT bullying are celebrated; and the anniversary of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard’s murder on Oct. 12, 1998, which sparked the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Each year MileStone Academy focuses on the LGBTQIA+ community and their history. Our sustained dialogue transforms deep-rooted human conflicts, stigmas, and taboos.

MileStone applauds the efforts of organizations such as GLAAD, PFLAG, and the Human Rights Campaign. They each provide a platform, support, and resources accessible to LGBT+, locally and nationally.

You are invited to celebrate LGBT+ history with us by sharing your story. We will share your story with our students and supporters. Contact us to share your story and photographs or videos.

Watch this National Coming Out Day PSA Video by NFL superstars!

By:  Susan Levy, MileStone Academy, October 13, 2020

Teaching is always a challenging venture. Whatever your vision may be regarding the process of instructing a group of high school students, usually you will find at least one who needs a different approach or a more flexible schedule.

In the Age of COVID-19, this is especially so, particularly when it comes to keeping oneself and one’s students healthy and focused, despite all the obstacles and distractions that come with the pandemic challenge.

Part of the responsibilities of teaching is preparing lessons that are interest based and success oriented. Unfortunately, planning has become much more difficult  because of ever changing schedules and health protocols that are regularly being updated. Nevertheless, educators are more than adept at adapting and adjusting and will continue to do so, no matter what they face.

Written By:  Michele Hewitt-Webster from MileStone Academy

Posted:  September 11, 2020

Classes began September 8th, but are still accepting enrollment applications and scheduling tours. We will be using for both virtual and in-person classes.  We updated our program and the classes we are offering this year.

MileStone Academy has decided to in-person classes Monday – Thursday 9:30 AM -4:30 PM and Fridays we will be virtual from 8:45 AM -2:00 PM.  We are excited to launch our Friday virtual program which will feature: Current Events,  Reflective Journalism, Life Skills Job Readiness, and our weekly Seminar. The weekly seminar will feature Career Conversations with different professionals, Financial Literacy offered by BB&T, and Kahoots which will give us an opportunity to evaluate what students are learning in class and a way for them to compete.

We made our decisions based on the numbers of students we have enrolled. Our small classrooms allow us to offer in-person safer classes. 

MileStone and SDP have made changes in our transportation process. We believe these changes will enhance our ability to socially distance.

In addition, we know being in school is better for students, especially ours. We asked. We listened. We adjusted. Our parents really wanted their kids to be in school to help take the pressure off them and they know they are safe. They trust MileStone to continue supplying a preventative safer environment.

If necessary, we are prepared to go completely virtually. We have made major investments to our online systems.

MileStone’s 2020 course description is available to download or click here to view online. 

Have questions about admission, enrollment, or tuition? We would love to hear from you! Give us a call at (215) 663-1160 or send us an email and a MileStone Academy Admissions Director will contact you as soon as possible. 

Written By:  Susan Levy from MileStone Academy

Posted:  August 13, 2020

At the conclusion of this most unusual school year, MSA Teachers were asked to assess the school’s response to the COVID-19 “virtual” instructional program. More specifically, teachers reflected on their own learning as they navigated the intricacies of online Instruction and on the positive instructional outcomes for their student’s vis a vis this mode of teaching.

Here is a summary of the comments the teachers shared regarding their professional growth, the delivery of instruction and the opportunities for high school students who often benefit from accessing information via atypical learning situations.

The following is a summary of the comments the teachers shared regarding their professional growth, the delivery of instruction and the opportunities for high school students who often benefit from accessing information via atypical learning situations:

1. Connecting with new modes of instruction and helping students adapt to virtual lessons provided challenges at the outset. It did not take long, however, for the challenges to be viewed as opportunities for providing meaningful, captivating and interest-based instruction to students.

2. In planning for the delivery of instruction, teachers learned about online tools to facilitate that effort. They also realized the opportunities for individualizing and differentiating learning events and for encouraging student involvement towards completing assignments in unique and very personal ways.

3. Helping students connect to the curriculum through the incorporation of interactive modes of learning reinforced what good teachers have always known – that there are many strategies for connecting students to curricular goals / objectives and for building a foundation that ultimately results in concept mastering.

4. In learning the technology, this teacher came to realize the importance of peer collaboration for support and curricular goal setting. Additionally, this person found it helpful for sharing effective techniques that engaged the students as they transitioned to home instruction activities.

5. Using a theme-based approach, the blending of subject matter (such as Math and Reading) engendered interest and commitment on the part of the learners who saw connections to information not previously realized. Parent involvement and fewer distractions may have also helped the students focus on more challenging assignments.

6. Increasing teachers’ comfort level with online instructional tools required dedication, focus and determination. Peer engagement was essential in learning how to use the system overall and how to use it specifically for improving student achievement. Student response to these efforts was very encouraging as indicated by the assignments they completed and submitted.

7. Offering virtual learning provided the opportunity for continuing instruction; however, the most effective learning environment should include a combination of classroom instruction with online learning activities. In this way, students will surely receive the best of both worlds. Until that can happen, teachers should continue their collaborating efforts to increase student involvement and enhanced skill acquisition.

Ultimately, teachers and students learned an important lesson from this experience – there are no limits to our creativity and our ability to adapt and move forward if we set our sights on doing so.

Have questions about admission, enrollment, or tuition? We would love to hear from you! Give us a call at (215) 663-1160 or send us an email and a MileStone Academy Admissions Director will contact you as soon as possible. 

ENROLL NOW FOR THE UPCOMING 2020 SCHOOL YEAR!

IT’S NOT TOO LATE.

CLICK HERE TO START OUR ENROLLMENT PROCESS.

Written By: Susan Levy from MileStone Academy on August 15, 2020

Until 2020, most students looked upon the month of August as a time to recalibrate their summertime habits of late nights and carefree days. They knew and understood that they would soon be facing the reality of September and all that that refers to – namely, going to school, completing assignments, meeting responsibilities and seeing people who have temporarily been missing from their lives.

This year WILL be different. Students may, in fact, be returning to school although the instructional setting they have been used to will noticeably be different. So will the necessary adjustments they will personally have to make to keep themselves safe and healthy. They will be required to social distance when they sit in their seats, converse through a mask and demonstrate affection for others through words, not deeds.

It will take all their creative energies and proper coaching from dedicated teachers to figure out how to make the best of a situation none of us could hardly have imagined only eight months ago. On the other hand, there are opportunities for students who grasp the seriousness of the pandemic to learn how to be responsible citizens and thoughtful partners in managing this crisis.

As students try to meet these new challenges, there may be setbacks as well as success stories. But we, as adults, have an obligation to encourage them to use their problem solving skills to work together in pursuit of ideas that will help us all understand how the world has changed.

The MileStone Academy Team just want to remind you that we are still here to provide our community with emotional support and resources. In addition, we will provide with important updates regarding the 2020 school year.

We would love to hear from you! Call us at (215) 663-1160 or send us an email.

Stay safe everyone! 🤗

PS:  Follow MileStone Academy on Facebook for immediate updates.

Our school year ended on June 11th; it was bittersweet because we could not have our Graduation / End of the Year Celebration. Our annual celebration is usually a day we show off all the hard work our staff and students do through the year – artwork, science projects, and student writings.

COVID-19 made it impossible for us to have the big celebration, but we needed to find a way to celebrate this unusual year. We kicked around a few ideas, but we agreed we needed to see our kids, so we decided on a Drive Thru Diploma pickup.

One at a time, our graduates drove through the car drive up lane to the cheers of our staff and Board Members, pomp and circumstance playing, and Ms. Hall announcing their name. The graduates dressed in Caps, Gowns and face masks got out of the car and were presented with their diploma while I cried telling them how proud I am of them. Yes, I hugged them and took pictures standing closer than 6ft, but it was worth the risk to let them know I believe in them and will be here in the future if they need me.

Our students completed all the state requirements for their diploma but more importantly they leave us understanding how they learn, confident they can succeed and knowing we are here if they need anything, including a hug.

Good Luck to all the 2020 Graduates.

Sincerely,

Carol Seiger-Wolf, Michele Hewitt-Webster and the entire MileStone Academy Staff