WEBVTT 00:00:04.349 --> 00:00:04.449 Hi, 00:00:04.460 --> 00:00:09.630 I'm Rick Hall of JHS 123 the Bronx Urban Community Magnet School. 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:11.319 When I came to the school, 00:00:11.329 --> 00:00:15.949 a lot of kids were cutting class and the level of engagement, 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:17.639 it seemed very low. 00:00:17.649 --> 00:00:21.430 So it was really powerful when we applied and became a magnet 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:25.549 school that we really focused on engaging kids so that 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:28.239 ultimately they can get to the high schools and colleges that 00:00:28.250 --> 00:00:29.469 they want to get into. 00:00:29.479 --> 00:00:32.959 This school has undergone so much transformation. 00:00:33.259 --> 00:00:37.639 It just screams our magnet theme right from our hallways to our 00:00:37.650 --> 00:00:40.669 classrooms to the technology our students use. 00:00:40.680 --> 00:00:44.360 We now have smart boards in every classroom. 00:00:44.369 --> 00:00:47.250 We have 1 to 1 technology for our students. 00:00:47.310 --> 00:00:51.540 Our hallways are covered in murals that connect to steam 00:00:51.549 --> 00:00:52.240 learning. 00:00:52.250 --> 00:00:56.430 We've also transformed in our academics and our achievement 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:00.279 level. We've really improved the rigor in our classrooms. 00:01:00.330 --> 00:01:04.569 We've created a curriculum that's grounded in project based 00:01:04.580 --> 00:01:08.580 learning units that keep our kids engaged. 00:01:09.330 --> 00:01:12.730 One of the project based learning units that is unique to our 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:16.949 school is called building a better zoo in which our sixth grade 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:22.629 students design enclosures or landscape plans for an endangered 00:01:22.639 --> 00:01:27.269 species that will help conserve that species for the future. 00:01:30.010 --> 00:01:33.769 We do a field trip to the Bronx Zoo as part of the unit so that 00:01:33.779 --> 00:01:39.180 our students can learn more about the real life exhibits and 00:01:39.190 --> 00:01:43.779 what needs to be considered when designing a space for an animal. 00:01:44.650 --> 00:01:48.569 And we get to celebrate the students work by returning to the 00:01:48.580 --> 00:01:52.739 Bronx Zoo and doing a showcase celebration where our students 00:01:52.750 --> 00:01:56.620 get to show off the fantastic work that they've created and 00:01:56.629 --> 00:01:58.059 celebrate with their community. 00:01:58.069 --> 00:02:01.250 We have a wide variety of electives that our students can 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:02.260 participate in. 00:02:02.559 --> 00:02:10.080 This includes Spanish language, visual arts, music, technology. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:14.789 We have a fantastic after school program led by our community 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.750 partner city Year. We provide in school support. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:21.399 So we tutor students, we mentor students, 00:02:21.410 --> 00:02:24.880 we just provide that support and love that they need. 00:02:25.059 --> 00:02:29.589 We partner with other organizations that are here in New York 00:02:29.600 --> 00:02:30.000 City, 00:02:30.009 --> 00:02:33.994 bringing authentic learning experience to our students which 00:02:34.005 --> 00:02:37.214 include take two film academy where students learn how to become 00:02:37.225 --> 00:02:38.414 filmmakers. 00:02:38.714 --> 00:02:42.044 Uh the Bronx River Alliance where our students learn how to be 00:02:42.054 --> 00:02:45.904 eco activists and the wildlife conservation society. 00:02:45.914 --> 00:02:52.434 We've become a school that is recognized for thinking outside of 00:02:52.445 --> 00:02:58.080 the box and being creative pack is it's a system where we reward 00:02:58.089 --> 00:03:02.899 good behavior with points and each letter in pack represents 00:03:02.910 --> 00:03:06.860 something. So P for example, represents prepared. 00:03:07.110 --> 00:03:09.520 A stands for acting responsibly. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:14.059 C stands for communication and K stands for kindness. 00:03:14.559 --> 00:03:17.839 It's something that all students can buy into meaning they 00:03:17.850 --> 00:03:21.210 understand it and every day they want to practice it, 00:03:21.220 --> 00:03:26.050 the teachers do it based on how you're doing academically, 00:03:26.059 --> 00:03:28.770 how you're behaving in class. And for that, 00:03:28.779 --> 00:03:33.104 you get a reward of point so we can spend it at the pack store. 00:03:33.115 --> 00:03:37.434 I go above and beyond every single day for my students to see 00:03:37.445 --> 00:03:40.354 like their interests and what they actually want to do in their 00:03:40.365 --> 00:03:40.945 future. 00:03:41.195 --> 00:03:43.384 They gave me advice in school and outside of school and they 00:03:43.395 --> 00:03:46.085 really care about me and what I do in school. 00:03:46.095 --> 00:03:50.449 So prepare me for high school school is where I let my inner 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:53.490 creativity out. It's where I hang out with my friends. 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:58.369 It's where I get to see my favorite teachers and learn new 00:03:58.380 --> 00:03:58.869 things. 00:03:58.880 --> 00:04:02.220 The students are the reason why I love coming here every day. 00:04:02.399 --> 00:04:05.789 Any person that is considering joining our family, 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:08.869 joining our community coming here in the form of a staff member 00:04:08.880 --> 00:04:09.529 of a student, 00:04:09.770 --> 00:04:12.500 I'm sure that you'll find that all the staff and students here 00:04:12.509 --> 00:04:13.800 will welcome you with open arms. 00:04:13.809 --> 00:04:17.989 But the magnet Program has really helped prepare me for high 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.000 school. 00:04:26.790 --> 00:04:31.299 It's really about teaching kids how to think and how to make 00:04:31.309 --> 00:04:35.260 change because we want all our kids to be change agents out of 00:04:35.269 --> 00:04:37.920 all the magnet schools across the nation, 00:04:38.109 --> 00:04:47.429 we have achieved something really special and we look forward to 00:04:47.440 --> 00:04:51.980 being able to continue improving and making this a better 00:04:51.989 --> 00:04:54.190 learning place for our students. 00:04:54.290 --> 00:04:59.040 Many years into the future, we are risk takers, mistake makers, 00:04:59.209 --> 00:05:03.290 team players and trendsetters to learn more about our school. 00:05:03.299 --> 00:05:08.739 Visit us on our website at is 1 23 X dot org or check us out on 00:05:08.750 --> 00:05:10.750 social media.