Mr. Curtis Strong » Mr. Strong's Homepage

Mr. Strong's Homepage

WELCOME!

 

This will be my third year at the ASK Academy. Here's a short bit about me:

 

I was previously a high school social studies instructor at Cibola High School for 18 years. I often encouraged my students not to be afraid of taking reasonable chances, so I joined the ASK Academy in 2020. I am endorsed in Social Studies, Psychology, and Language Arts. I have taught high school World History, Psychology, AP Psychology, U.S. History, AP U.S. History, Sociology, and Rock and Roll History. I was a project manager for 8th Grade U.S. History at the ASK Academy during the 2020-2021 school year. I was a project manager 8th Grade U.S. and 6th Grade World History during the 2021-2022 school year. During the 2022-2023 school year, I will be guiding scholars through 6th Grade World History.

 

You are welcome to contact me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns you might have anytime during the school year or far into the future.

 

Sincerely,

Mr. Strong

 

I hope that what follows helps, but, again, feel free to email me with any concerns or questions. Have a great day, a great year, and a great future!

The updated syllabus and a curriculum map are available to the right of this text. If you are using a smartphone/cellphone the link will be at the bottom of this page. 
 
Both will assuredly be slightly tentative/likely to change. COVID-19 guidelines are still in flux, we are under a new administrative team, and the administration and project managers are adapting to ever changing directives from various district, state, and national entities.
 
Please be reassured, I will be doing everything I can to insure your scholars have an enriching and safe experience in their 6th Grade World History class.
Once the syllabus has been posted and you and your scholar have read and understood the contents therein, please fill out and digitally sign the "Required 2022-2023 Parent/Guardian Acknowledgment of Syllabus." It can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd000hc4VYq_K3ICWCkL88qxmNaUsroeOK05i_tlll0e5POOQ/viewformhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemVRN-wE7K2sI_BKyf_h1kZ54h2kjEazmw2xsjzgBYyvQOGg/viewform
There is an additional link to the form that is on the right side of this page. If you are using a smartphone/cellphone the additional link will be at the bottom of this page. 
 
Please have your scholars email me if they have not joined the Google Classroom by Monday evening of August 15, 2022 (subject to change based on when laptops are given to scholars). Once face-to-face classes begin and all students have a Chromebook or laptop, I will give or send your scholars an invite or join code for their assigned period. This helps avoid scholars joining the wrong period or classes that they do not have. It also assures a greater level of security against malicious attempts to join the class. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Please be sure to fill out our New Scholar Info Sheet using the QR Code found near the bottom of this page. If you have already done this for another class or at the New Scholar Orientation (NSO), you do not need to do it again.

For easy printing, both can be found on the right side of this page (If you are using a smartphone/cellphone it will be at the bottom of the page).
School Pictures for the 2022-2023 school year have been scheduled:
 
Grades 6-11 will be August 10
Senior Cap & Gown pictures will be August 11
As mentioned by our  CEO, Dr. Richard Best, the PSC is dedicated to supporting the ASK Academy staff and scholars in school activities. 
 
To find out how you can support PSC or simply stay informed as to what the PSC is doing, please message them at [email protected] or contact Cheryl Kemnitz, PSC Facilitator at 505 688-2455.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:  Love and respect. What is meant by love? Treat all people in a way that makes their day better, not worse. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. What is meant by respect? Recognize Mr. Strong’s need to keep order, provide a safe learning environment, and guide instruction. Recognize your individual responsibility to become highly educated, highly skilled, and a highly competent member of society. If the project manager fails in his duties, then that is not loving or respectful to the scholars or administration. If the scholars fail in their duties, then that is not loving or respectful to the project manager or fellow scholars.

Scholars will:
      • Be on time and attend regularly
      • Be attentive to instruction, ask questions, and, when prompted, answer questions
      • Complete coursework (classwork, projects, quizzes, and tests) by due date
      • Complete their own coursework, as turning in someone else’s work will result in a zero and no opportunity to redo that assignment
      • Complete coursework that is legible and demonstrates reasonable grammar and spelling capabilities
      • Complete coursework that demonstrates best effort, reasonable time on task, and high quality
      • Regularly check and respond to any email communications from the project manager
      • Check and keep track of grades in PowerSchool
      • Cooperate and behave in such a way as to not distract any fellow scholars from their focus and learning
      • Attend to personal responsibilities and coursework so as not to distract parents and guardians with unnecessary headaches or communication from the project manager
      • Immediately communicate any concerns or complications directly to the project manager
      • Be mindful of the potential for procrastination and fear to hold one back and the need to overcome them to be successful.
      • Ask the project manager for help and/or attend support hours

 

STANDARDS:  This course is aligned with the recently updated New Mexico Social Studies Standards. The complete standards can be accessed by going to the following link and scrolling down to the 6th Grade section: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NM-Standards-508.pdf.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION: 

Quarter Grades: Scholar’s quarter grades will be calculated as follows:

Practice (classwork, homework, activities, projects, and quizzes) 50%

Assessment (tests) 50%

Semester Grades - Scholar’s semester grades will be calculated as follows:

Quarter 1 – 40%, Quarter 2 – 40%, Semester Final – 20%

Quarter 3 - 40%, Quarter 4- 40%, Semester Final - 20%

 GRADING SCALE:   The grading scale will follow the ASK Academy standards:

A+ = 96-100 % 

A = 90-95 %

B = 80-89 %

C = 70-79 %

N/C (No credit) = Below 70 %

HOMEWORK POLICY: When assigned, do the homework, and turn it in on time. If there are circumstances outside of one’s control, please inform the project manager for a possible extension. Otherwise, the late work policy discussed below and under 6th Grade Policies applies.

LATE WORK POLICY: If an assignment is not submitted on time, late work will not be accepted past the Friday of the week it was due and will result in a zero thereafter.  Please use Friday support as needed. As stated in the Scholar Handbook, excused absences and other extenuating circumstances allow for exceptions on a case by case basis.

ABSENCE POLICY: If you are absent, in most cases the class content and assignments will be in Google Classroom. You will need to check there first, and you will need to complete any work you missed. If you cannot locate or do not understand an assignment, let Mr. Strong know.  If you know that you will be absent ahead of time (appointment, family commitments, etc.), let Mr. Strong know.

PROJECT EXPECTATIONS: Expect projects and expect details and rubrics to be provided at the times they are assigned. Some projects will be completed by scholars in an individual capacity, but some will require group participation. Group work is necessary for developing social skills and preparing for the world beyond childhood, so it is a necessary part of World History instruction.

Late Work Policy - It is important for a scholar to stay on top of their workload. As new scholars, there is going to be a lot expected. Therefore, it must be understood that in the real world turning in incomplete and late work can get one fired or at the very least reprimanded. That is never a comfortable experience. So, just like in the real world it is expected that all assignments are to be completed on time. However, it is also important to take responsibility when a deadline cannot be met. In such an instance, communicate right away with the Project Manager. Let them know that a deadline cannot be met and work out a plan with them to complete the assignment. This all said, it is the responsibility of each scholar to complete and turn in all assignments. Failure to complete and/or turn in an assignment will have a negative effect on grades. Late work will not be accepted past the Friday of the week it was due and will result in a zero thereafter.  Please use Friday support as needed.

 

Grades - Grade check emails will go out on Tuesdays, but please check PowerSchool regularly. If your scholar has C’s or below in Math or ELA they should come to Friday support and check in with Mrs.B or Mr. Thainger. If they have C’s or below in their other courses, they should check with their project managers for those courses.

 

Plagiarism - Will not be tolerated. Any assignment with suspected plagiarism will receive a zero.  Plagiarism includes:  to take a test in a dishonest way, copying somebody’s homework, or by improper access to answers on classroom assignments, tests or homework, copying work done by somebody else and claiming it to be your own. This includes parents completing assignments for the scholar. Plagiarism also applies when work is taken from another source without acknowledging that it is another person’s work. It applies to documents, excerpts from documents, theories, calculations, drawings or any other creation that is not completely your original work. If another person’s work is used, it must be cited appropriately. Cutting and pasting without citation is plagiarism.

 

**8 to 4 is a long day. Please make sure your scholar is eating a healthy breakfast everyday, either brings lunch money or packs a lunch, and brings a midday snack. Also, hydration is key. Please make sure your scholar brings a refillable water bottle every day.

 

For security, the campus gate will not open until 7:30 am (when staff is onsite) and will close at 8:00 amIf you arrive after the gate has closed, you will need to press the green alarm button to call the office to request access.  Once in the gate, all parents will be required to enter the building and sign in their scholars if late.  Scholars will not be allowed to sign in without a parent or guardian. 

All scholars are required to be in class by 8:00.  If a scholar arrives any time after 8:00 they will be considered tardy.

 

Scholars will receive lunch detention if three tardies are reached.

 

Please contact The ASK Academy at 505-891-0757 to notify us of your scholar’s absence.

 

Attendance ASK Academy scholars are expected to arrive on time (8:00AM) and be adequately prepared for their day. All scholars arriving between 8:01 and 8:10 will be considered tardy, but may proceed directly to class. Scholars arriving after 8:10AM must sign-in at the office. Scholars arriving after 8:30AM must signin at the office and will be considered absent from that class. While regular attendance is required, SICK SCHOLARS SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME.

Please contact The ASK Academy at 505-891-0757 to notify us of your scholar’s absence.

 

New Mexico Attendance for Success Policy

The ASK Academy is committed (and legally obligated) to enforce the New Mexico Attendance for Success Act. Please see the Scholar and Parent Handbook Appendix p. 64-70 for the Academy’s Attendance Policy and procedures.

The Academy’s attendance requirements are consistent with a scholar’s obligation to attend and a parent/guardian’s obligation to ensure that their scholar attends school. The ASK Academy expects that every parent will consider regular and timely attendance to be imperative to their scholar’s educational success.

 

Consistent with the Attendance for Success Act, ASK will implement a three-tiered system of interventions for absenteeism.

Individualized Prevention: 5% - 9% Absenteeism

- Meet with Attendance Support Team

- Identify barriers to school attendance

- Inform parents of strategies and interventions available

- Develop Attendance Contract

Early Intervention: 10% - 19% Absenteeism

- Meet with Attendance Support Team and Administration

- Develop Early Intervention Plan

- Institute weekly progress monitoring

- Review consequences of continued absenteeism (loss of credit, CYFD referral, etc.)

Intensive Support: Absenteeism in excess of 20%

- Meet with Attendance Support Team and Administration

- Establish non punitive consequences and school level supports

- Revise Intervention Plans

- Discuss referrals to outside agencies (Probation Services and/or CYFD)

 

Within five days of a parent/guardian’s written request, ASK Academy will provide a parent/legal guardian with access to the attendance data of that parent/guardian’s scholar, including information about any intervention strategies that have been employed to help the scholar improve the scholar’s attendance.

Please see New Mexico Attendance for Success Act as outlined in the Appendix for additional details.

 

Excessive Absences - Scholars with excessive absences, approximately four (4) days per semester or eight (8) days per academic year will be referred to the Attendance Support Team for intensive support/intervention plans. Also note that high school scholars with excessive absences are in danger of losing credit for coursework. Attendance is of utmost importance for scholars to be able to participate, learn, and demonstrate competency of the course standards.

 

A scholar may be excused for parent- or doctor-authorized medical reasons. ASK will require a written verification from the scholar’s licensed health care provider if a scholar is absent for three (3) or more consecutive school days due to the scholar’s health. Subsequent consecutive absences will be counted as unexcused until such documentation is provided.

 

ASK will also require a written verification from the scholar’s licensed health care provider if a scholar is absent a total of ten (10) or more days during the academic year due to the scholar’s health.

 

Makeup Assignments - Assignments missed due to absences must be made up by the scholar. The scholar is responsible for obtaining his/her assignments from his/her project manager(s) and completing them within the time frame determined by the project manager(s).

 

If you have not done so already, it is time to order ASK uniform polo shirts from Turbo Threads,
located at:

1503 Golf Course Rd. SE, Unit C,

Rio Rancho, NM 87154 505-999-1234

 

High School and Middle School Principals will do random Uniform Checks throughout the school year.  Please Refer to page 42 of the Scholar and Parent Handbook for complete Uniform Expectations. 

 

Freedom of expression, good judgment, respect for others, and safety are the foundations of The ASK Academy's approach towards scholar dress. The Academy requires that all scholars wear a prescribed uniform. Our “Dress for Success” Uniform Policy is meant to improve the learning environment and train scholars to see the importance of making a good first impression to professionals in the fields and careers related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This uniform policy is mandatory for all scholars. The uniform also serves as an identifier of who should and who should not be on Academy grounds. Clothing and accessories must be safe and non-distracting or disruptive to the educational program.

 

The following guidelines will be observed:

Tops (Shirts) – All scholars must wear an ASK polo shirt, with the ASK logo, purchased from an approved ASK vendor. The color of the ASK polo shirt identifies the scholar with their selected career pathway.

Polo shirts will not be overly baggy, nor exceedingly tight. Shoulder seams must be at the shoulders, and shirts cannot hang down below mid-thigh level. 

Middle School – Red or Light Blue 

High School –

Biomedical Sciences – Dark Green or Purple

Engineering and Design – Royal Blue or Burgundy

Bottoms (Pants) –

Allowable pants/slacks of solid color (khaki or black) and should meet our uniform expectations. They should be of a non-stretch, khaki or similar material. No shorts, skorts, skirts, cargo pants (pants with many pockets) are allowed.  No excessive “sagging” is allowed. The inseam of pants must be where legs and torso join.  Excessively tight pants such as spandex, yoga pants, leggings, joggers or other non-uniform fabrics are not allowed.

Shorts along with open toe-shoes are not allowed due to safety concerns with labs across all grades.

Procedure for Uniform Violations:

-Students will be sent to the front office by Project Manager or Administration.

-Front Office Staff will contact parents of scholars.

-Students will have the option to have parents bring uniforms or will be allowed to look through the closet and be allowed to borrow a uniform.

-Students will be sent back to class.

-After the third uniform violation the scholar will receive lunch detention.