Welcome to the A.B. Graham Academy and Graham  Digital Academy

Website

"Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is No path and leave a trail." 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

T.H.E. Journal

If you would be interested we would love to direct you to T.H.E. Journal and a January article that was written about our two charter conversion schools. The easiest way to access is via http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/01/08/winning-back-homeschoolers.aspx or by Googling T.H.E. Journal and searching for the article entitled Distance Learning: Winning Back Homeschoolers..

A.B. Graham Academy and Graham Digital Academy are two different schools. GDA (Graham Digital Academy) is a virtual eSchool begun in 2000 that serves students who desire to work primarily from home. GDA students are Graham Local School students and have the opportunity to graduate with the Graham High School graduating class. They have all of the rights and privileges of any Graham student.

ABGA (A. B. Graham Academy) was state chartered and viable in July of 2009. A Community charter conversion school, ABGA was born from the request of parents who ask our staff to implement an inhouse classroom/tech lab for their students. ABGA students attend school inhouse and also from home. They, too, are Graham students and have the opportunity to graduate with the Graham High School graduating class. They have all of the rights and privileges of any Graham student.

Over one/third of our ABGA students are involved in a Family School program and work primarily from home, taking advantage of ABGA Enrichment classes and other specials. Their parents serve as their first and most important teacher. Both GDA and ABGA are charter conversion schools under the umbrella of protection of Graham Local Schools.

If you would ever desire to visit our ABGA, please do not hesitate! We have an open door policy and welcome visitors weekly. We are here to serve students and their families.

Family School students participated in The Boonschoft Museum's Slimy Science program at the beginning of January. Pictured above: (top left) Eli has just stirred up his own polymer popsicle. (top right) Students are eagerly awaiting their first experiment. (bottom right) Christian shows how long his polymer can stretch. (bottom left) Ellen practices proper experiment safety by wearing her goggles when working with chemicals.

~ Visit the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery's website to learn more. ~

Graham Digital Academy was fortunate to employ the services of former Wittenberg professor, Dr. Alan McEvoy, nationally reknowned sociologist with expertise in alternative/choice education. After surveying and interviewing many of our school students/families/teachers/staff, he has compiled the following evaluation of GDA....from the eyes of our students and their parents. Please feel free to make comment to Principal Marcia B. Ward, wardma@graham.k12.oh.us

Peace Pledge

·         I pledge to be a peaceful person. 

·         I pledge not to fight with others or encourage others to fight.

·         I pledge to avoid giving mean looks, calling names, or hurting another person’s feelings.  I will not play mean tricks, mock, or laugh at others.  I will not spread rumors, threaten, or harass others. 

·         I pledge to honor every person’s right to be safe. 

·         I will try to include people who want to join my group during lunch, free time, and other activities. 

·         I pledge to respect the property of others. 

·         I will try to be helpful when someone has his or her body, feelings, or reputation hurt.  I will be a good bystander when others are being bullied or teased.   

·         I will talk to my friends and other students when they act mean towards other people by telling them to stop it. 

·         I pledge to get adult help if mean behavior continues. 

·   By my actions, I will show tolerance for other students who are different from me.  By my actions, I choose to make my world a kinder and happier place for all students. 

A.B. Graham Academy / Graham Digital Academy

…..offering virtual classes from TRECA, AVENTA, LINCOLN INTERACTIVE, and other curriculum delivery systems. Aviation Career Exploration and Foundations I and II are available from Hi-Point Vocational Center.

ADDITIONAL COURSE OFFERINGS…..2009 – 2010

Written and designed by Graham Local school teachers….

Holocaust – With a Capital H…..Ms. Shirley Scott (designed, written, and taught by Ms. Scott, veteran GHS German/English teacher who organized a GHS/Otto-Hahn Gymnasium, Springe, Germany exchange for many years.)

     The meaning of the word holocaust, from the Greek language for "sacrifice by fire", has during modern times evolved into the Holocaust, spelled with a capital H. This capitalized version refers to the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the regime of Nazi Germany, 1933-1945.

     This course will explore the origins of and provide a chronological overview of the events of this significant historical era. The impact of the Holocaust upon humanity will be revealed through the written words and filmed stories of its victims, survivors, and rescuers, including Anne Frank, Elie Wiesel, Oscar Schindler, and Irene Gut Opdyke. Finally, students will consider the influence of the Holocaust upon the young people of today’s world –including themselves.

     Students enrolled in this course will read four books (Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl; Night by Elie Wiesel; In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke; The Wave by Morton Rhue) and view three films (Holocaust, a television miniseries; Schindler’s List; Freedom Writers) in addition to visiting numerous internet websites. They will write personal reactions to what they read and view as well as create their own reminders of the Holocaust - with a capital H!
  

.5 credit elective/semester class
  
 

   Screen Stories I ~ Let’s Go to the Movies... Ms. Shirley Scott (designed, written, and taught by Ms. Scott)

 
Whether we watch films on the theater-sized screen at the local cinema or on the smaller screen of a portable DVD player, it is the film’s story that entertains us. This course is based upon the viewing, reviews, and discussion of the plot, characters, and themes of a variety of films that includes: The Pursuit of Happyness (PG-13), Rain Main ( R ), Mrs. Doubtfire (PG-13), Finding Forrester (PG-13), Seven Pounds ( PG-13), and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (PG-13).

  Open to Juniors and Seniors ONLY!                .25 credit/nine week class

Attitude 101…..Mr. Brook Cupps, (designed, written, and taught by Mr. Cupps, GHS Athletic Director and Varsity Basketball Coach)

     Attitude! What can be more important than your attitude? It, alone, will ultimately determine your success or failure in life. This course takes an in-depth look at the characteristics of a positive attitude and provides the student with an opportunity to explore their own attitude. Readings and discussions will provide valuable insight into the attitudes of other successful people.

"You are the way you are because that’s the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be any different, you would be in the process of changing right now." Fred Smith

  *This class is a pre-requisite for Teamwork 101! (If your attitude isn’t right, you can’t be an effective team member!)

Limited to 5 students/quarter! . 25 credit/nine week class

Teamwork 101 .... Mr. Brook Cupps (designed, written, and taught by Mr. Cupps, GHS Athletic Director and Varsity Basketball Coach)

It seems teamwork is one of those things that so many people struggle to grasp, yet we are always involved with many different teams at any point in our lives. Families, friends, work staffs, and athletic teams all serve as different places we must interact in a team setting. This course will examine effective teams, as well as, investigate the key concepts necessary to be an effective team. Readings, discussions, and film study will provide valuable insight into the workings of successful teams.

"Now this is the law of the jungle – As old and as true as the sky;

And the wolf that keep it may prosper, But the wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, The law runneth forward and back –

And the strength of the pack is the wolf – And the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Rudyard Kipling

          Open to Juniors and Seniors who have taken Attitude 101.

          Approval by Coach Cupps. .25 credit/ nine week class

A.B. GRAHAM ACADEMY - OPEN FOR STUDENT ENROLLMENT!   ABGA HOLDS A STATE CHARTER 

  "A skill well learned lasts a lifetime..."  A.B. Graham

In 1957 six Champaign County schools agreed to consolidate.  It was a redesign of rural education as most of the families knew it.  The Department of Education in the state of Ohio gave small rural schools no choice!  Consolidate or close!  The local Board of Education for Saint Paris, Westville, Terre Haute, Concord, Rosewood, and Christiansburg  eventually agreed to join academic forces.  The resulting school district, Graham Local Schools, became the center of the west end of Champaign County. 

 The name Graham was selected as the new school name.  A.B. Graham (Albert Belmont Graham) was the founder of the Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs located in Clark County.  Later the club was renamed 4-H Clubs of America.  The first club had 85 farm boys and girls involved.  Their pledge incorporated the four H's - Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.  A.B. Graham was serving as the Superintendent of the Agricultural Extension at Ohio State University at the time.  He formulated the club on July 2, 1905 to elevate the standard of living in rural communities.  He wanted to emphasis the importance of hard work and building a stong character, to encourage students to investigate their environment, to cultivate a taste for the beauty in nature, and to inspire young men and women to further their education and to become life long learners.

     Once again in 2009 the Graham Local School district has seen fit to redesign education as we know it.  Graham's new Charter Community School will carry the name A.B. Graham Academy (ABGA) on the recomendation of retiring Superintendent James A. Zerkle.  Joining her sister eSchool, Graham Digital Academy (GDA), the A.B. Graham Academy will offer virtual (online) education from various delivery systems as well as one of the finest home schooling programs in the state.  Unlike its sister school, ABGA holds a state wide charter.  Students can attend ABGA from any location in the state of Ohio.  Parent driven and restorative in nature, ABGA like GDA has created an educational environment where the synergy is on learning, where teachers are culturally responsive to each student, and where these "family" schools embrace personalization of each and every educational plan...for each and ever precious student.

*Enrollment in ABGA/GDA incorporates a personal interview with student/family prior to enrollment application review 

Parents are asking…..

How do colleges perceive transcripts from virtual schools?

In our experience, we find that colleges accept and value the virtual or blended transcript as they would a traditional transcript. In many cases, our students report that the courses they experience virtually – online – are more difficult than those in the traditional school. This of course is not reflected on the transcript but colleges (89% offer online courses themselves) are well aware of the rigorous environment created in online/virtual coursework.

   Accountability is an important facet of online learning. The student soon realizes the burden of responsibility lies within. Our GDA graduates are doing well in college and their transcripts have NEVER been questioned. Our graduation diploma is as valid as those from the traditional school.

Do online students have a stigma?

       A stigma according to Webster is something that detracts from the character or reputation of the person. We do not feel that our students/families have a stigma attached to them. We do embrace the thought that our students are pioneers…fearlessly entering the online world of education…and are change agents of the highest order.

     Change is never easy. The educational structure of our traditional schools was designed for an agrarian society of the late 1800’s.  It is no secret that those times have changed. Virtual education allows our rural school to offer hundreds of courses that would never be possible in the traditional school.    GDA is not here to replace GLS. We are a collaborative educational entity that wishes to redesign education as we know it today in 2009.  Our students fare well on state and federal testing, are well rounded, participate in numerous extra curricular activities, and are civic minded.  We see no stigma.

As Elie Wiesel, Pulitzer Peace Prize winner said, "Often those who talk of stigma have the problem…not those that are being discussed."

How does online course work make a student accountable?

The essence of online academic work is the accountability the student must exhibit. The teacher is not in front of the classroom. The teacher has prepared the lesson, is accessible, but the teacher is a guide on the side…not the sage on the stage. The student is directly responsible for reading the assignment, completing the assignment, communicating with the teacher, and submitting the lesson. The day of "sit-n-git", as coined by educator Roland Barth, is over! The synergy is on Learning…not Teaching.

If the work is not completed, the student has only himself/herself to blame. At GDA our highly qualified teachers are available from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily in the classroom. Their computers remain open and viable until 11 p.m. nightly. However the student is the "manager of his/her fortune". The student must take the initiative to access the classroom online, engage the curriculum, and complete the learning exercise. 

We find most GDA students have a period of transition when they enter the virtual school. It does not take long before the feeling of accomplishment and success instills the desire in the student to experience more of the same. Their communication skills are honed and perfected. It is a fantastic transition to see a student gain this expertise and become adept at learning and sharing.

We are always so pleased when students begin to see they are indeed "masters of their own fate".

We hear the online teachers are tough? Is that good?

GDA takes pride in hiring only the finest, most dedicated professionals. Our teachers take lunch with their students. Our teachers enjoy a free period AFTER our students leave at the close of the day. Our teachers constantly field questions/concerns from the moment they arise until they end their day. The computer is the tool…but the incredible teacher…that "decisive element in the classroom" is the major key!

  Tough – you bet!  But tough in a great way!  Our teachers uplift. They are balcony professionals who cheer our students along the way. We believe that all students are gifted. It is our responsibility, as teachers, to unwrap the gift…and share it with the world. We possess extreme power to make or break a child. This is a trust. Parents trust us…and we must honor that conviction daily. As Einstein said, "Everybody is a Genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."

       If "tough" is defined as expecting the best, wanting our students to gain the skill for a lifetime, wishing for them to understand that often repetition is the mother of skill…then, yes!  We are tough! We are also loving, all embracing, never punitive, and will believe forever in the goodness of youth.  We love our mission here at GDA! And that mission is the student!

"I remember that in 1973 there were still some hard feelings regarding the consolidation, but there was also much support for the new consolidated district."

To read the rest of Frank Focht's tale along with many others check out Foxfire at Graham on the "Who We Are" page.

GDA/ABGA Staff

Front Row L-R ~ Mrs. Hannah Stockham, Student Services Coordinator/Registrar; Mrs. Katie Setty, Reading Specialist/Academic Advisor to Famly School; Mrs. Carrie Draper-Receptionist; and Mrs. Jessica Stickley, Elementary/Middle School/Art teacher - front row
 
Back Row L-R ~ Senior Kevin Fidler - Webmaster; Mrs. Denise Jones - Principal of Graham Digital Academy/Intervention K-12; Mrs. Vicki Osorio-Bustillo - Math Intervention/Hispanic Dance/Baton;
Mrs. Lisa Bowman, High School teacher; Dr. Ward Lutz - STEM; Mrs. Marcia Ward, Principal - A.B. Graham Academy/Director of Choice Programming for Graham Local schools

For any suggestions or errors contact the A.B. Graham Academy ~ Graham Digital Academy webmaster at - fidlerk@abga.cs.k12.oh.us