1. Executive Summary
Global Village Academy’s (GVA) vision is to create a school with a challenging, internationally grounded liberal arts curriculum, including bilingual education in a world language; develop strong critical-thinking skills in students; provide a safe environment where the potential of all students is encouraged; support character development, respect for diversity, and community responsibility; and promote international awareness and peacemaking.
GVA opened August 20, 2007 with grades K-5. GVA combines the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) with partial immersion (50% instruction) in Spanish or Mandarin, and, beginning next year, in French (grades K-3). Language arts and social studies are taught in English, while mathematics and science are taught in the world languages. Next year, GVA will begin a Middle School by adding 6th grade in Spanish and Mandarin. (The IBO application will be submitted in November 2007.)
On October 1, 2007, GVA had 226 students (203 FTE of a cap of 250 FTE): 120 students in Spanish and 106 in Mandarin. Approximately 11% of GVA’s students have special needs, at least 25% are F&RL, and at least 15% are ELL. (GVA is working to implement a hot lunch program based upon APS/federal guidelines, and supported by FR&L funding through APS.) GVA is a uniform school in order support classroom discipline and character development.
GVA’s facility at 403-A S. Airport Boulevard currently consists of 25,000 square feet with 14 classrooms, a spacious multipurpose area, a reception area, an administrative wing, and library. The school was fully furnished through the use of CDE funds. The computer lab with 25 laptop computers on mobile carts was also funded through CDE funds.
GVA has 3 Mandarin teachers, 3 Spanish teachers, and 6 English teachers, along with two TAs. Teachers teach two grades: K-1, 2-3, or 4-5. GVA has two-teacher teams by grade level (i.e., English and world language), IBO grade level teams (i.e., four teachers), and vertical teams (Language Arts teams/English and Math/Science teams in Mandarin and Spanish). In addition, GVA offers PE and art, as well as two electives on Fridays featuring cultural explorations.
Professional development, funded in part through the CDE grant, has included Riggs, IBO Level I, Everyday Mathematics, Junior Great Books, DIBELS, Math manipulatives, CHAMPS (Sprick’s method for establishing expectations), and Harry Wong’s methods for establishing classroom procedures and communicating with parents.
GVA provides 6.5 hours of instructional time daily, for a total of 1,072.5 per year, which is 8.3% more hours than required. The school’s year-round schedule provides meaningful school breaks while reducing the loss of academic gains associated with a long summer vacation.