Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Professional Learning Opportunities

High School (Grades 9-12)

Noble Academy’s High School College Prep program prepares students for a range of post-secondary education options by offering both standard high school courses in English, math, science, history, physical education, and foreign language (Spanish), but also a mini-period called Seminar and a variety of electives and extracurricular activities.

Seminar allows students to develop relationships with an advisor and small group of peers while learning strategies to improve their executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, and study skills.

Electives can vary each year based on student interest, but always include options to develop students’ strengths in the arts and technology. Exercise and movement are available during a daily recess period as well as in physical education. Varsity athletics opportunities are open to every student in grades 9-12. In order to promote leadership and foster student engagement, Noble Academy also offers Student Council, National Honor Society, student-led clubs, and opportunities to participate in service projects.

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English

English classes are based on the NC Standard Course of Study and include remediation when appropriate. High school students are required to complete all four English classes to meet graduation requirements. English 12 focuses on the study of British Literature and an intensive, college-preparatory writing program. English 11 focuses on the study of American Literature and an intensive writing program. English 10 is a journey through world literature, which includes authors from cultures and countries all over the world. English 9 focuses on the study of various literary genres, including the short story, drama, poetry, biography, autobiography, and personal essay.

Mathematics

In order to meet graduation requirements, high school students must take four units of math, with at least one unit of Algebra. Students progress through the math courses beginning with Algebra I (which is often taken in eighth grade), Geometry, and then Algebra II. Students meeting the College-Prep diploma are required to take one math class beyond Algebra II. Offerings at Noble Academy include Advanced Functions and Modeling (AFM), Discrete Math, and Pre-Calculus. Students meeting the General Diploma requirements may need to take Foundations of Algebra prior to Algebra I. Consumer Math is also offered to students who will benefit from this course.

Science

High school students need to fulfill at least three science credits in order to graduate. At Noble Academy we offer earth/environmental science (typically a 9th grade class), biology (typically a 10th grade class), physical science, and chemistry as science classes that meet graduation requirements. We also offer anatomy, marine biology, or chemistry of cooking on years with enough student interest for students who wish to take a fourth science.

History

High school students need to fulfill three social studies credits at Noble Academy. We offer World History, US History and Civics and Economics. Dependent on student interest, geography and/or psychology may be offered as possible high school electives.

Physical Education and Health

High school students must complete one health/physical education credit in high school. PE/Health is typically taken in ninth grade, but is offered to older students who may not have already completed this credit. PE/Health helps students develop proactive health behaviors through exercise and healthful living. For students who have already completed this requirement, we offer Advanced PE classes. Advanced PE includes instruction in gym safety, basic muscular anatomy, weight-training principles, exercise routine design, participation and teamwork. The class goal is for students to have a greater respect for their physical well-being and to teach them the value of a sound and smart exercise program. All of our PE classes take place at the Spears YMCA.

Foreign Language

Students need two credits of the same foreign language in order to be considered for acceptance into a 4-year college. At Noble Academy, we offer Spanish as our foreign language option. Students begin in Spanish I and continue through Spanish II. Spanish III is offered in years where there is enough student interest. Accredited online foreign language programs may be considered for students who wish to take a language other than Spanish. Students earning a general diploma need one year of a foreign language or an administrative waiver.

Electives

The electives offered in the high school college-preparatory program at Noble Academy vary from year to year, depending on enrollment, student demand, and teacher availability. Some examples of electives that may be offered are Advanced PE (see above), Ceramics and Sculpture, Studio Art, photography, (see link under “arts”), drama, film appreciation, coding, IDEApath, psychology, and leadership. 

Athletics

Students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in varsity cross country, varsity girls volleyball, varsity soccer, varsity boys basketball, varsity cheerleading, varsity chess, varsity golf, and varsity flag football. Try-outs may be required for sports with a high turnout of athletes. We offer our students a sense of friendly competition with students from various other private schools. The object is to give our students a chance to enjoy athletic participation in the afternoons following school and to help them learn what it means to be part of a team, while encouraging hard work and competition.

Other Areas of Focus and Enrichment

• Skill Building/Seminar is our robust advisory program that is specially designed to directly develop academic, social/emotional, interpersonal, and executive functioning skills that need strengthening. Skill Building/Seminar content is directed towards strategies and skills that will help the student at their particular grade. Academic remediation, organization, community building, time management, self-advocacy, and postsecondary planning are all incorporated into our Skill Building program.

• Advisor/Advisee: All students are placed into an advisee group for the year. Students are arranged into advisee groups by grade. In most cases, the advisor teaches his/her advisees in at least one other class. Students report to their advisor for the first 15 minutes before school starts to ensure readiness for the day. Students also return to their advisor at the end of the day for checkpoint. Since advisors see their students so many times during the day, they get to know them very well and can often identify and address global emotional and organizational needs. Advisors usually act as advocates for their advisees and are also often the teacher who is in closest contact with the family.

• Executive Functions: Since students with ADHD and other learning differences often struggle with aspects of executive functioning, we have many strategies built into our program that reduce the executive functioning load or help develop those skills. Our specially designed notebook strategy is enforced across the board, as all teachers make sure that handouts are hole-punched, and they leave time at the end of class for students to file their papers before leaving class. At the end of the day, all students attend checkpoint, a seven minute period, with their advisor. The advisor’s job at checkpoint is to make sure that students review all posted homework assignments and that they have all the materials packed that they need to get their homework done. Once a week during Skill Building, advisors assist students in cleaning out their notebooks and lockers, tracking their grades, and turning in missing work. 

• Academic Profile: Each student at Noble Academy has an Academic Profile that includes a list of accommodations and modifications, along with the student’s most recent MAP scores. The Noble Academy WayⓇ, along with specific focus areas that pertain to that student's Steps to Academic Success, are reviewed within the Parent/Teacher/Student conferences that are held twice per school year. In addition, all involved address the student's Academic Profile, receive updated MAP scores, and discuss the student’s progress in each class.

• Technology Integration: Technology is integrated across many aspects of the high school program to develop students’ word processing, presentation and spreadsheet skills. Specific assistive technology programs are also used to help students with specific learning differences. Use of audiobooks, read-aloud within curricular materials, and Read&Write for Google Chrome are all built into instruction. High school students are required to have a laptop or Google Chromebook for use at school and for homework.