Your high school experience should be engaging, relevant and highly personalized to prepare you as a graduate for success in college, career and life ahead. It should be a place that values creativity, problem-solving, independence and risk-taking — where every student has the opportunity to discover their passions and develop their talents, with encouragement all along the way.
High school is defined by relationships with peers and teachers alike. And it must be filled with professionals who love the challenge of preparing teenagers for an ever-changing world through rigor, relationships and real-world learning. That’s New Code Academy.
New Code Academy builds on the multi-year success of Bloomington Public Schools online classes, in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Learning + Technology Collaborative. Our teachers are inspired by designing bright new pathways of learning and opportunity for students, extending the problem-solving skills of computer science across all subject areas.
New Code Academy is approved as both a full-time high school opportunity or a supplemental program for students who are enrolled at their local high school and wish to enroll in one or two online courses.
New Code Academy is approved as both a full-time high school opportunity or a supplemental program for students who are enrolled at their local high school and wish to enroll in one or two online courses.
Day in the Life: High School at New Code Academy
The high school schedule is built around two types of learning each day: synchronous, which takes place in real-time with interaction between the teacher and students, and asynchronous, which happens without real-time interaction.
Synchronous at New Code Academy is definitely not day after day packed with teacher lectures and whole group instruction! Synchronous learning for high school students takes place on Google Meet and includes …
Asynchronous learning is balanced between digital and non-digital learning activities, and might include…
Students are expected to participate in all synchronous learning times during the day and put forth an effort to complete daily asynchronous tasks at other times planned in the schedule. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the student’s teacher if there are concerns about completing school work in a reasonable amount of time each day.
New Code Academy provides a welcoming and supportive diverse learning community with high academic standards. Our teachers are Bloomington Public Schools employees who are part of our community.
As virtual teachers, our goal is to help your child build a foundation of valuable skills that support learning and life-long success. These include time management, goal setting and monitoring, communication, attention to detail and making choices for their personal learning.
New Code Academy offers an unparalleled menu of computer science virtual courses taught by Bloomington teachers. Through New Code Academy, students can take foundational courses that fit their schedule like the one-trimester course, Exploring Computer Science, or the year-long course, AP Computer Science Principles. Those foundational courses can serve as launching pads for students to dive deeper into specialized courses that match their interests. These courses include Web Design and Development, Cybersecurity, and AP Computer Science A. Just like the technology industry, New Code Academy’s computer science course offerings will continue to grow and develop. Stay tuned for even more opportunities to be
Virtual learning offers high school students a highly personalized experience that fosters meaningful connections between students and teachers — with flexibility and personalized options that many students and families prefer.
Parents and guardians have a key part to play in student success, especially as a new school year begins. Here are things you can do to help set your virtual high school student up for success:
Keep open lines of regular communication with your student, the teacher and the school. Watch for teacher and school messages to stay updated on important news and updates that could affect your student. Because relationships and communication are different in a virtual environment than they are face to face, we place a high value on connections between families and staff.
Students (and adults!) depend on routines for comfort and predictability. Help your teenager set and follow a routine during the school day, and encourage healthy personal habits, such as predictable times for sleeping, waking and meals.
Many teenagers can happily spend the day glued to a device. When there is free time, whether during the school day or during personal/family time, encourage fresh air and recreation activities that don’t add to screen time.
By the time they reach high school, many students have developed the organizational skills needed for academic success. However, every student can benefit from an offer to help organize their physical and digital workspaces, especially if you suspect your student may be overwhelmed or having trouble keeping up.
As in every other grade, a high school student will have days when they feel frustrated, discouraged, or uninspired. That’s human! As a parent/guardian, your help to motivate — especially on those difficult days — without trying to fix their problems will help them develop the resilience and mindset to succeed at school and in life.
Communicating with a teenager about school isn’t always easy, but casually checking in on their school experience on a daily basis is critical to success. Ask how their school day is going, what they’re working on, how they’re feeling. You may not always get a great answer, but each chat makes it easier to share when they need to ask for support or have exciting news to share.