The School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville

SILSA creates rigor, relevance and relationships in a learning environment that fosters academic, technical and interpersonal skills, allowing students to explore post-secondary education and employability through a commitment to innovation and creativity with a clear vision of the future.

SILSA Mission

The SILSA faculty promises that we will empower our graduates to:

➢ Care for themselves, one another, and the Earth;➢ Contribute to their community with collaboration,

leadership, and respect;➢ Direct their own learning throughout their lives;➢ Ask good questions, solve complex problems, and think

critically;➢ Create meaning from numbers and text;➢ Communicate clearly and elegantly;

➢ Use technology ethically and skillfully.

SILSA Outcomes

� Grades 9-12� Currently 278 students � Prepares all students to be college ready� All core courses are Honors or AP level� All courses are year-long on an A/B schedule� Inquiry-driven core courses � Located on 1st floor of main building� Typical class sizes 9th –26 10 and 11th—25� Students are cross-enrolled in AHS and AB-Tech

for some electives

School Profile

� Hard Workers who are willing to spend two hours a night on school work

� Good work ethic� Independent and intrinsically motivated � Willing to volunteer for your community � Successful 8th grade EOG scores� Able to meet the academic expectations of an all Honors/AP

course load� Flexible� Willingness to learn new technology

Characteristics of successful students in SILSA

➢ Consistently recognized for school-wide academic achievement

Recognized for Student Achievement

➢ Family-like atmosphere➢ Annual Team building with 9th & 12th graders

Community/ Family Design

➢ Core courses are taught at Honors or AP level

➢ For students wishing to attend a college or university

➢ Rigorous coursework

➢ AVID courses available

Developing Rigor

Advanced Placement core courses offered in SILSA:

� AP Biology and Biology II� AP Calculus AB � AP Calculus BC� AP Language & Composition

Other elective AP courses are available in Asheville High

Advanced Placement

➢ SILSA juniors and seniors have access to college credit through the new College & Career Promise

➢ Any AB Tech course is available to SILSA students who are at least 16 yrs. old and have a 3.0 and meet any prerequisite requirements

FREE of charge!

College Credit at AB Tech

SILSA has its own: ➢ Student Government Association➢ National Honor Society➢ Math Honor Society➢ Applied Natural Sciences Club

Extracurricular Activities& Leadership

SILSA students participate in Asheville High athletics & other clubs

Extracurricular Activities& Leadership

➢ SILSA students volunteer in the community and work with younger students.

➢ Community Service Requirement

➢ 9th & 10th graders—at least 10 hours per year

➢ 11th&12th graders—at least 25 hours per year

Contributing to Community

➢ PBL school-wide project integrates curriculum through

essential questions such as ➢ “How can we make our

campus more sustainable?”

➢ “How do our food choices affect our health and our future?”

Asking good questions, solving complex problems, and thinking critically

Asking good questions, solving complex problems, and thinking critically

2013 Essential Question: “How can we build a healthier community?”

➢Healthcare➢Housing➢Culture & Relationships➢Environment➢Food Access➢Youth ➢Energy➢Community planning &

infrastructure

Asking good questions, solving complex problems, and thinking critically

This year’s essential question is “How should biotechnology shape our future?”

Students frequently conduct labs both inside and outside the classroom

Developing Relevance

Taking learning outside of

the classroom

Developing Relevance

9th graders take Survivor, that teaches students how to:

➢ Use hardware & software that is used in SILSA classes.

➢ Properly use the internet for research (Digital Information Fluency).

➢ Establish a positive “digital footprint”

➢ Use effective note-taking strategies.

➢ Use effective study strategies.

➢ Develop electronic Portfolios.

➢ Utilize independent study time

effectively.

9th Grade Survivor Class

➢ All SILSA students are issued a Dell or Lenovo mini laptop for the school year and use instructional technology on a daily basis

Using technology ethically and skillfully

➢ Students create 4-year eportfolios that highlight best samples of academic work, community service, awards, jobs, resumes, etc.

➢ Many classrooms are equipped with digital writing pads and Smart Boards for interactive learning

Using technology ethically and skillfully

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

English I Earth Science English I Earth Science

World History Math II World History Math II

Spanish I Spanish I Spanish I Spanish I

Survivor PE Survivor PE

Yearlong (A/B) Schedule and Semester Schedule

Monday Tuesday

English I English I

World History World History

Spanish I Spanish I

PE PE

Yearlong:May have a semester elective Aug.-Jan, then another Jan. -June

Semester Schedule: 4 classes Aug.-Jan4 new classes Jan.-

June

� English I, II, III, IV� World History, Civics & Economics, American History I & II� Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, and Physics or

Chemistry� Math

◦ Math I, Math II, Math III, + 1 more math (Discrete Math, Pre-calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics)

� Health & PE + 1 more PE (or ROTC)� Career Cluster or Concentration (4 courses)� Electives

◦ Survivor◦ 1 Art course◦ 1 Career Technical course

City & State Graduation Requirements

� Architecture and Construction

� Arts Education

� Arts, Technology & Communications

� AVID

� Business Management and Administration

� College Level or Advanced Placement

� Finance

� Foreign Language

� Health Science

� Hospitality and Tourism

� Human Services

� Information Technology

� Manufacturing

� ROTC

� Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Career and Technical Education

Where are our SILSA graduates being accepted? (not

comprehensive)

AB Tech NC Central

Appalachian State NC State

Berea College Rotary Foreign Exchange in Brazil

Clark University SCAD (Savannah College of Art/Design)

Davidson College Shaw University

Fayetteville State Tulane University

Florida State University U.S. Coast Guard Academy Winston-Salem State

Gardner-Webb U.S. Air Force

Grambling State UNC-Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte

Guilford University Greensboro, and Wilmington,

Mars Hill College Virginia Intermont

NC A & T Warren Wilson College

Western Carolina University

Wingate University

AMS Students –� Mrs. Graham will collect “Intent to Enroll” forms by Jan.

24th. Be sure to select SILSA and return to Mrs. Graham.� Counselors will be at AMS to register for classes in March

In District but new to ACS—� Jan. 7th--Report to ACS Student Services (85 Mountain

St.) to pick up a Secondary Enrollment Packet. � Jan. 14th—Turn in completed Secondary Enrollment

Packet

How do I apply to SILSA?

Out of district--- 1.) Parent completes the 2014-2015, ACS Discretionary Admission

Application and Secondary School Assignment Application available on our website (on January 7, 2014), www.ashevillecityschools.net (follow the Student Admissions link).

2.) On February 4, 2014 these two applications, along with the most recent (first semester included) transcripts showing grades, attendance records, and disciplinary reports are brought to Student Services to be sent to the school principal for approval. If student has an IEP, provide it as well. Requests will only be sent to principals when all required documents are provided.

3.) Upon principal approval, parent submits to Student Services the completed enrollment packet (given to them on February 4), the Release from the home school district, and tuition.

4.) Should a student be denied admission, based on grades, attendance, and disciplinary reports, a letter from Student Services will be sent to parents within 5 days of denial.

How do I apply?

For more information…Visit our web site:

http://www.ashevillecityschools.net