Organization: NEW YORK MILITARY ACADEMY
Mission: SCHOOL - PRIMARILY HIGH SCHOOL WHOSE MISSION IS TO DEVELOP STUDENTS MINDS, BODIES AND CHARACTER TO PREPARE THEM FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND TO BE EFFECTIVE LEADERS AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
Activities: ACADEMIC SERVICES:THE NEW YORK MILITARY ACADEMY IS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY BOARDING SCHOOL SERVING GRADES 7-POST GRADUATE. THE ACADEMY SERVES 67 STUDENTS WHICH INCLUDE 2 SEVENTH GRADERS, 3 EIGHTH GRADERS, 10 NINTH GRADERS, 12 TENTH GRADERS, 21 ELEVENTH GRADERS, 16 TWELFTH GRADERS, AND 3 POSTGRADUATES PROVIDING THEM INSTRUCTION IN AN ACADEMIC COURSE OF ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, HISTORY, SCIENCE, FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LEADERSHIP, CIVICS, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION.STUDENTS ARE SERVED BY A STAFF OF 47 WHICH INCLUDE FACULTY, ADMINISTRATION, RESIDENTIAL LIFE COUNSELORS, KITCHEN STAFF, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, A TAILOR, FACILITIES AND GROUNDS MANAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.AFTER MOVING TO AN ONLINE PROGRAM IN MARCH OF 2020, WE KNEW WE HAD TO DEVISE A PLAN FOR IN PERSON INSTRUCTION IN THE FALL OF 2020. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ON-CAMPUS LEARNING BECAUSE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN-PERSON EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS STRONGLY ADVOCATES THAT ALL POLICY CONSIDERATION FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR SHOULD START WITH A GOAL OF HAVING STUDENTS PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN SCHOOL, AND WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMITTED COMMUNITY, EXPERIENCE AS EDUCATORS, AND THE SHEER SIZE AND EXPANSIVENESS OF OUR CAMPUS HAVE HELPED US DEVELOP A PANDEMIC RESPONSE THAT IS UNPARALLELED BY ANY SCHOOL IN THE VICINITY.THE KEYS TO OUR SUCCESS DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME ARE TRUST, AGILITY, AND PREPAREDNESS - FROM STAFF AND FAMILIES.OUR PLAN FOR RE-OPENING INCLUDED A HYBRID LEARNING STRUCTURE THAT INCORPORATED BOTH IN-CLASSROOM AND ONLINE ACCESS. THIS ALLOWED THE MAJORITY OF LEARNING TO TAKE PLACE ON CAMPUS WHILE ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY, EVEN IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO BE ON CAMPUS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THESE MODIFICATIONS INCLUDED A CHANGE TO OUR CALENDAR, FOLLOWING THESE DATES:SEPTEMBER 1 - NOVEMBER 24: TRIMESTER ONE JANUARY 4 - MARCH 19: TRIMESTER TWOAPRIL 6 - JUNE 12: TRIMESTER THREEWE RECOGNIZED THAT OUR ENERGETIC CADETS NEED TIME TO REGROUP AND RECONNECT WITH LOVED ONES. THAT'S WHY WE'VE MOVED FROM THE SEMESTER SYSTEM TO THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS FOR LONGER BREAKS AND MORE UNINTERRUPTED TIME AT HOME.TRIMESTERS GIVE OUR NYMA CADETS FLEXIBILITY FOR ELECTIVES, THE ABILITY TO REINFORCE CURRICULUM, AND UNIQUELY OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO COVER ESSENTIAL MATERIALS. FOR INSTANCE, A STUDENT WHO STRUGGLES IN ALGEBRA MAY TAKE ALGEBRA IN THE FALL, THE ESSENTIALS OF ALGEBRA IN THE WINTER, AND COMPLETE THE COURSE IN THE SPRING, WHEREAS A STUDENT WHO DOES WELL IN THE SUBJECT COULD COMPLETE THE COURSE IN TWO TERMS RATHER THAN THREE, OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTIVES.THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM ALSO ENABLES OUR CADETS TO TAKE MORE CLASSES AND EARN MORE CREDIT HOURS IN A SINGLE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS PROVIDES THEM WITH IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES, INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC REINFORCEMENT WHEN NECESSARY AND, WHEN POSSIBLE, EVEN MORE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT THROUGH AN EXPANDED SLATE OF ELECTIVE COURSES, INCLUDING NEW SUBJECTS SUCH AS LATIN, FORENSICS, ASTRONOMY, AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE, ANCIENT GREEK, ART HISTORY, AND GEOGRAPHY.WE ALSO USE THE NEW ACADEMIC DAILY SCHEDULE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' ABILITY TO MANAGE THE CURRICULUM, SHOULD ONLINE INSTRUCTION BE MANDATED AT ANY TIME. WE HAVE FIVE 65-MINUTE CLASS PERIODS. THE ACADEMIC DAY BEGINS AT 8:00 AND ENDS AT 3:15, WITH CLUBS AND CHARACTER LEADERSHIP RUNNING FROM 3:15-4:00, FOLLOWED BY ATHLETICS.THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM BALANCES MANAGEABLE SCHEDULES WITH ELECTIVES PROVIDING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 15 COURSE HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, RATHER THAN 12 UNDER A SEMESTER PLAN.SATURDAY INSTRUCTION IS PROVIDED EACH WEEKEND WITH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS OUTDOOR EDUCATION, SPORTS, AND FUN AND ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AFTERNOON AND ON SUNDAYS. SATURDAY CLASSES WILL ROTATE WITH A, B, AND C PERIODS MEETING WHILE E AND F MEET THE FOLLOWING WEEK; PRIOR TO MAJOR ASSESSMENTS ALL CLASSES WILL MEET ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12TH, MARCH 13TH & JUNE 5TH).AT NYMA WE TEACH MANY SUBJECTS, BUT ONE THAT INFUSES ALL WE DO IS LEADERSHIP. GOOD LEADERS GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO THANK OUR FACULTY. CONFRONTED WITH THE COMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19, OTHER SCHOOLS ARE DOING LESS FOR THEIR STUDENTS. I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT AT NYMA, THIS CHALLENGE HAS PROMPTED US TO FIND WAYS TO DO EVEN MORE FOR THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ENTRUSTED TO US. INSTEAD OF CHANGING OUR SCHEDULE SO THAT STUDENTS HAVE FEWER DAYS OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, OUR CADETS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CLASS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AS WELL. THE SATURDAY CLASSES REFLECT OUR DESIRE TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THEIR EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. THIS ACADEMIC YEAR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ON CAMPUS ENGAGED IN COURSES AND MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES 237 DAYS THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, WITH COURSE INSTRUCTION RUNNING 202 DAYS THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, WHICH IS REMARKABLE IN THIS PANDEMIC.WE TEACH OUR CADETS THAT GOOD LEADERS VIEW CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THEMSELVES STRONGER, SMARTER, MORE NIMBLE, AND BETTER, HIGHER HURDLES MAKE POSSIBLE EVEN HIGHER EXPECTATIONS.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Youth Development