Retaking the Stage: Drama is Back!

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

After two long years, Lehigh Valley Academy students can perform on stage once again. This spring, LVA Junior Senior High presents The Addams Family. Director Amanda Pascale, overwhelmed with pride, has the following thoughts to share.

What a momentous occasion this is for LVA Dramatics! Not only does this performance signify the return of live theatre to LVA, this is also the first full length musical that our incredibly talented students have had an opportunity to create and perform together!

This performance is a culmination of the dedication to craft, camaraderie, and storytelling that our program has been cultivating since the start. Every educator in our performing arts departments K-12 has continued to raise the bar and offer students deeper and more meaningful experiences in creation and performance, especially through this devastating pandemic. Our band, choir, and drama students at each level, with the guidance of their talented educators, committed themselves to pushing through this time with the power of the arts behind them.

It may have appeared to have been a quiet time for Drama at LVA, but in reality our students continued to meet twice a month throughout the shutdowns, and all of 20/21, until our return to in person meetings in the fall. These students met a Broadway star, honed their crafts, and prepared three virtual performances during this time! Our first ever LVA One Act Festival was a successful experience for our students, and began a powerful tradition we intend to continue!

This musical has been an absolute joy to work on from start to finish. By the end of this performance you will be able to recognize the incredible growth our program has seen over the past 6 years. Our very own Gomez and Morticia, Seniors Mandie Perez and Zoe Miller, will be continuing the traditions of dramatic performance and education as they pursue their futures at University of the Arts and Lehigh University, respectively, in the fall. I honestly couldn’t be more proud.

I would like to thank the LVA Board of Trustees, Susan Mauser, Jenn Nonnemacher, and Shea Ace for their continued support of the Arts at LVA. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for LVA Dramatics!

Amanda Pascale
Director/Producer
The Addams Family School Edition

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School (LVA) earned high National, State, and Area rankings in the 2022 U.S. News and World Report

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

U.S. News & World Report released the 2022 Best High School Rankings and LVA  took the top spot among Lehigh Valley high schools.

LVA Rankings for 2022

#1 High School in the Allentown Metro Area (Area includes high schools from the PA & NJ areas)

#2 Charter High School in Pennsylvania 

#51 High School in Pennsylvania

#247 Charter High School in the United States 

#1,477 High School in the United States.

This ranking is based on 2019-2020 data. U.S. News & World Report utilizes the following indicators to calculate rankings: 

College Readiness (30%) – Measured by the proportion of the school’s 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on AP or IB Exams. 

College Curriculum Breadth (10%) – Measured from the percentage of 12th graders who took and earned qualifying scores on multiple AP or IB exams (4 AP or IB exams = full credit, 2 or 3 AP or IB exams = 50% or 75% credit)

State Assessment Proficiency (20%) – School’s student proficiency in reading, math and science on state assessments. Since there were no Keystone exams in 2020, U.S. News and World Reports utilized 3 years of historical data for measures that involved state assessment data. 

State Assessment Performance (20%) – The total assessment score for math, reading and science assessments is compared to the U.S. News predicted score based on demographic characteristics in the state the school is located in.

Underserved Student Performance (20%) – This measure assesses learning outcomes only among Black, Hispanic and low-income students.

Graduation Rate (10%) – Portion of students who entered ninth grade in 2016-2017 and graduated in four years by 2020.

Please see below for links to the U.S. News and World Report website for LVA’s ranking and the article from Lehigh Valley Live and the Morning Call.

US News & World Report Ranking – LVA 

LV Live Article

Morning Call Article

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School Receives National Recognition for Commitment to Empowering Students

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

Named a distinguished high school for STEM and career learning program

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School announced today that it has been recognized as a 2020-21 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School. It is one of just 310 schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Launch. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S. 

The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School had to have more than 75 percent of the student body participating in the program and had to offer at least two PLTW Launch modules at each grade level during the 2019-20 school year. 

Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like, and think they are good at, math and science. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.  

“It is a great honor to recognize Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School for their unwavering commitment to provide students with an excellent educational experience despite the unusual circumstances and unique challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented to the educational landscape this past year,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of PLTW. “They should be very proud of their achievements in unlocking their students’ potential and equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom no matter what career path they choose.”

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School is part of a community of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a passion for providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s recognition program, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition

LVA Celebrates Inaugural Class of the 100% Society

LVA Celebrates Inaugural Class of the 100% Society

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

Many of our 4-6 building mathematicians have brighter lanyards these days as they have started collecting the limited edition pins marking their entrance into the 100% Society!  These bright badges of honor let their peers and teachers know that they have successfully earned at least three 100% scores on the iReady lessons during that month. 100 society 1The best part is that the iReady lessons are specifically chosen for each individual student to best meet his/her needs and to give each student exactly what is needed to promote growth, giving all students the opportunity to continue being strong mathematical thinkers! This brand new society originated as a fun and engaging way to motivate the students to make the best of their time spent on iReady Online Instruction, and we have seen such enthusiasm from our students.

In January, the Math Department was happy to celebrate our Inaugural Class of the 100% Society and we have continued adding to our society ever since.  Each month, in addition to the fancy invitation, the students are invited to attend an exclusive monthly event, which always has a fun theme and is filled with Minute-to-Win-It games, crafts, STEAM projects, outside time, and a super professional photo booth, complete with props to make those 100 society 2100% Society memories last! Each student also receives a limited edition monthly 100% Society Pin to wear on their lanyard that announces to LVA that they are rocking their Online Instruction.  Each month features a fresh new color, and students are urged to collect them all. We look forward to inviting more and more students into the 100% Society to celebrate their commitment and growth using the iReady program!

 

Mrs. Steph Comp, Ms. Mary Hartnett, & Mrs. Hannah Chami

Math Department – Elementary School

Lehigh Valley Academy

 

Lehigh Valley Academy receives glowing Report from the International Baccalaureate (IB)

Lehigh Valley Academy receives glowing Report from the International Baccalaureate (IB)

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

In October 2019, Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School (LVA) welcomed a team from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB). The team’s assignment was to PYPblog1conduct a full evaluation of the school’s Primary Years Programme (PYP)  in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade. IB completes these reviews on a regular basis in order to ensure “that the standards and practices of the programme are being maintained” (IBO, 2020, p.1). Over the course of two days, the IB representatives met with teachers, students, parents, Board members, and administrators. They visited classrooms, observed school activities, and examined lesson plans and student work.   

A Forever Home for LVA!

A Forever Home for LVA!

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School (LVA) is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has entered into an agreement of sale for a 55 +/- acre property east of Butztown Road in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County at a cost of about $5.4 million for the purpose of building a new school facility. “This fiscally responsible decision ensures fixed costs for the future and supports LVA’s long term plans,” said Martin Smith, President.

The school, currently located at 1560 Valley Center Parkway in Hanover Township, initially secured an agreement of sale on a 31 acre property in Hanover Township at 5300 Jaindl Blvd. During the due diligence period, the Board of Trustees decided to withdraw from the agreement of sale for the Hanover Township property due to insurmountable zoning issues. The new property does not have these zoning issues, with schools being a by-right use according to Bethlehem Township zoning.

“We are so excited about the opportunity to design and build our K-12 forever home.”said Susan Mauser, CEO.  Lehigh Valley Academy is partnering with Alloy 5 for Architectural services, D’Huy Engineering for Project Management, and Terraform Engineering for Land Development.

Upcoming public Facilities Committee meetings are posted on the LVA website.

LVA offers the region another choice in public education for students in grades Kindergarten through senior year. As one of only three fully authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World schools in North America offering all four of IB’s programmes, LVA delivers breadth and depth of learning with global awareness. 

LVA’s programs include the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-related Programme (CP). For more information on education at LVA, please visit lvacademy.org and ibo.org. The admissions office can be reached at admissions@lvacademy.org or 610-866-9660 x4100.

If you have additional questions, please email  s.ace@lvacademy.org or call 610-866-9660 extension 4202.

LVA celebrates IB “Four” All!

LVA celebrates IB “Four” All!

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School is
one of two schools in the United States to offer the
Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme & Career-related Programme.

This year marks the start of Lehigh Valley Academy’s (LVA) seventeenth year of operation.  For the last sixteen years, LVA has prided itself on many things, one of them being the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.  In 2006, LVA was authorized to offerHIMG_6707 the Primary Years Programme (PYP), followed by the Diploma Programme (DP) in 2007, and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in 2009.  LVA is thrilled to now be able to add the Career-related Programme (CP) to that list of authorizations, making it one of two schools in the United States to offer all four programmes and one of twenty-three in the world to offer all four programmes.

The CP is IB’s fourth program and stemmed from a need to balance career-readiness with challenging academics.  While many career-readiness programs don’t offer students access to academic rigor, the CP has this tenant as its cornerstone.  Like the DP, students in the CP will take academically challenging courses; however, they will have the opportunity to select a career pathway.

CP students will have a core just like DP students have a core.  The CP core, however, looks a little different:

  • Personal and Professional Skills (PPS):  This class will show students how to succeed in today’s world in the classroom and beyond.  They will focus on effective communication skills, resume writing, interview skills, and how to effectively collaborate in the workplace.  
  • Service Learning:  Like the DP, students in CP will complete a service learning component.  Students will interact with their community; students will serve an authentic need while learning new skills.  Students will work with the PPS class and teacher to develop a service learning project that relates to the chosen career pathway.
  • Reflective Project (RP):  Similar to the Extended cp-model-enEssay in the DP, students will write an extended piece of academic writing that will focus on research and developing an argument.  The RP will focus on an ethical dilemma in the student’s pathway. 
  • Language Development:  Instead of taking a DP language class, students in the CP will be allowed to study a language of their choice using Duolingo.  This course will culminate in a language portfolio to demonstrate their learning.

In the spring of 2017, Mrs. Mauser and I attended a training on CP to find out if it would be a good fit for LVA.  After that training, we knew CP was the perfect fit for LVA. We are proud that we can offer DP to all of our students, a programme that oftentimes is highly selective.  The IB is working hard to change this perception, and schools like LVA are at the forefront of that change. While we firmly stand behind our IB-for-All mission and believe that all students benefit from a DP education, we realize that DP isn’t always the best fit for everyone.  This is where CP fits in. It allows students to take a few DP courses and focus on a career pathway to prepare them for college or the workforce.

On April 11, 2018, a team from IB visited LVA to talk to our staff, students, and parents, and assess our readiness to offer CP.  As a result of the visit, the team had many commendations for LVA.  In particular, the team applauded LVA for:

  • “its desire to ensure that more students are part of a full IB programme.”
  • “creatively incorporating the IB learner profile into the ethos of the school community.  It permeates the school culture.”
  • developing “a comprehensive program for English Language Learners that includes extensive classroom support for teachers and students.”
  • developing  “the context to implement an inclusive CP with policies and practices that effectively support special educational needs.”

Like the IB, LVA is a dynamic institution.  We are definitely proud of our Diploma Programme, but we recognize the need to grow with and for our students and for the local and global communities of which they will be a part.

To begin our CP journey, LVA has decided to offer two career pathways from Project Lead the Way:  Biomedical and Engineering. These are the most popular careers our students choose to study in college.  They are also pathways that can prepare students for careers, two-year degrees, and four-year degrees. The Biomedical pathway, for instance, caHIMG_6770n prepare students for two-year medical related career programs, technical medical programs, and pre-professional programs.  While we are starting with these two pathways, we do want to add more. The hope is to add a business/management pathway. After this, the sky truly is the limit; the CP is an extremely flexible program that we hope will meet the needs of students at LVA.

Our first CP cohort will consist of about 40 students, which is approximately 40% of the 2018-2019 sophomore class.  

For more information on the Career-related Programme, please visit the Career-related Programme page on LVA’s website:  Career-related Programme Page.

Mr. Andrew Hall

DP/CP Coordinator, Project Lead the Way Coordinator

LVA wraps up the 2017 MYP Re-authorization visit!

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

march2LVA recently welcomed a visiting team from the International Baccalaureate (IB) composed of two MYP coordinators who work with IB to evaluate schools like ours across the globe.

The goal of the visiting team was to evaluate the progress that LVA has made over the last five years,  and take note of current strengths and weaknesses in the program related to three major objectives; Philosophy,  Organization,  and Curriculum.

During the visit the team reviewed curriculum documentation, interviewed staff,  students,  parents,  and board members.  The team  visited a number of classrooms to get a clear picture of what LVA is like on a daily basis.  The overall message at our exit meeting was a very positive one and the review team was impressed with everyone they met and all that they were able to see.  This process continues to reaffirm that LVA continues to offer a high quality IB education to all of our students.  march3

Thank you to everyone- students, staff, parents, and administration who helped to make this visit a huge success. The programme here at LVA would not be the same without your support.

Guest Blogger: Mr. Jacob March

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

Middle Years Programme Coordinator

A special thank you to Mr. March for his dedication.  He worked tirelessly over the last two years preparing  for this visit.  Way to go Mr. March!! #LVAPride

My Mindfulness and Movement Journey at LVA

My Mindfulness and Movement Journey at LVA

Lehigh Valley Academy RCS

My Mindfulness and Movement Journey at LVA

Written by: Guest teacher, Lindsay Schaefer

Two years back, I was over in the Southside of Bethlehem with my children Penelope and Baxter and taking in a beautiful day as we did much observation in a city park.  Southside of Bethlehem I feel so connected to since it reminds me of my days in NYC and working in inner city schools and well, the community in ways feels like a homb1me.  We walked the city filled park with murals, basketball courts, pool, and sprinklers and this deep message kept coming to me-

“Be the change you want to see.”  

As we continued our stroll and yes, played with some movement by the murals and on the basketball courts I realized the message was so deep and popping into my very Mindful state of being since it was a sign that I was meant to give back with my work.  To give back with my work as a Movement Specialist and Mindfulness Coach.  I observed that day city kids taking in my interactions with my own kids and wanting at times to follow our lead into movements that they saw us all doing.  “Be the change you want to see.”

Fall of 2016 when my daughter Penelope was in 6th grade at LVA is when that sign of giving back became reality.  As a movement specialist and mindfulness coach my kids have been around my work from day 1.  Since my days of performing as a professional dancer, to teaching, to leading groups of students whether kids or adults through movement or mindfulness my kids have been around it.  Movement and Mindfulness is pretty much in their blood and their daily terminology since they are exposed to me in action with my work every day.  As I say in the classrooms-

“Every day we Practice, we can become more Mindful.”mb2

So when I heard my 6th grader Penelope ask last year- “Mom, can we start a yoga club at LVA?”  I knew it was my time to step in, give with all my heart the passion of Movement and Mindfulness, and to serve in love. Through all my training I have had mentors of mine say to me “Be ready to serve when your tribe comes before you.”  LVA truly represented that tribe last year with Ms. Fischer being the leader of the Mindfulness train in welcoming yoga club to LVA and then taking Mindfulness a step further to welcome Mindfulness Techniques into the classrooms and directly into curriculum.  

LVA has been a leader in jumping on the Mindfulness train as I like to say since last year.  It all started with the LVA terminology of “Let’s do our Mindful Minute.”  To then inviting me in to the facility last fall to start Yoga Club and to carrying my Mindfulness Techniques into the Classrooms to be incorporated into curriculum for the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  Mindfulness is an extremely abstract concept to wrap your hands around and your mind around.  I share with all my practicing students and teachers with Mindfulness that daily practice is the key.  “Every day we Practice, we can become more Mindful.” As I guide the students through practice with exercises such as: Unity Clasp, Busy Mind Compartment, Belly Breathes, Om with a Vowel I share with them the importance of performing the exercise but also being mindful of their personal space, their community space, and how they feel with every exercise before and after.  

Mindfulness is truly a Walk through Life.  I say to the students in our practice work lets feel our breath as if it is an orchestra playing to us.  Let’s inhale for 1, 2, and 3 and let’s exhale for 1, 2, and 3 to hear and feel only the sound of our breath in the classroom.  I help guide students to yes a very uncomfortable stillness at first.  But, with my nurturing through elements of eye contact, follow the leader representation, and mantras such as “I am amazing” and “I am awesome” these students and teachers dive in and jump on the Mindfulness train for an incredible practice session.  

This school year Principal Ms. Fischer has added in some new Mindfulness components such as bean bag sitting chairs and flexible barrel chairs for the students to practice on.  In our Mindfulness practices we have been selecting certain students to test out these components instead of sitting at their desks.  It has been wonderful to add in from my tool bag for Mindfulness Meddy Teddy and his posture work involving movement for the students.  I present a special movement posture to the students and have Meddy Teddy a soft cute flexible bear demonstrate the same posture.  Students and Teachers then follow the lead of myself and Meddy Teddy and sometimes they even get to hold Meddy Teddy in the posture work too.  

My journey at LVA with Mindfulness and Movement continues for the 2017 and 2018 school year.  I am beyond honored to be at my children’s school and serving the LVA community with my work in Mindfulness and Movement.  Yoga Club kicks off on Monday, September 11th and runs every Monday afterschool for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders till November 6th.  Mindfulness Techniques in the Classrooms will be throughout fall for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders and with a review of visits in the spring time before testing time.  As the Mindfulness train and energy grows counselors and staff in the high school at LVA are catching on to the importance of Mindfulness and Movement for Mental Health and Leadership.  I was able to offer my work last year to 9th through 12th graders for Mental Health Awareness with various practices and at the top of this year shared practices with the DP 11th and 12th grade students who will be counselors on the 7th grade camping trip.  Mindfulness and Movement train is growing like wildfire throughout LVA campus and I can’t wait to share more of our progress over this year and in the future.   

Over the next couple of months, I will be continuing to mentor three LVA High School seniors on a documentary about LVA’s journey with Mindfulness.  The documentary is called Mindfulness and Movement~ Be the change you want to see.  We are hoping to share this with the LVA community once completed and look forward to celebrating this amazing journey in Mindfulness and Movement with all of you.

A huge thank you to Lynn Fischer, Amber Kraft, and Quanesha Johnson for all their support with bringing Mindfulness and Movement to LVA.  I also, would like to acknowledge the LVA High School Seniors working on the documentary Brian Aldana, Gianmarco Fernandez, and Michael Domic.  This Mindfulness journey would not be possible without all of you and your ongoing support.  

Let’s Move and Be Mindful Together~

Lindsay Schaefer

Movement Specialist and Mindfulness Coach