Greetings,

Welcome to the Meyer Levin School for the Performing Arts with three distinct
academies of excellence.

1. Eagle Academy
2. Falcon Academy
3. Phoenix Academy

Small learning academies create special challenges that are best met by versatile,
well-educated and resourceful teachers who have a broad global perspective in
addition to their subject specialty. At Meyer Levin, teachers will be highly skilled
within their own subject area and will receive professional development to enable
them to perform additional duties. Most teachers will teach their subject or a
related subject for four or five periods, be a faculty-advisor with an advisory class
and perform one other assignment. These academies will create trust and respect,
both essential conditions for effective student learning and social and emotional development.

Learning will be personalized with students assigned to one of three multi-grade
small learning academies that will grow to a maximum of 375 students, each with
its own dedicated faculty. Students will have a faculty-advisor who meets with
them in an advisory group of no more than 18 students. These small learning
communities will foster an intimate learning environment where students will
develop a mutual relationship with their peers and adults, and have their
individual learning styles acknowledged.

In standards-based and student-centered classrooms, teachers will give
students opportunities to investigate and make sense of the world in cooperative learning groups. In these academically rigorous, mixed ability and culturally
diverse classrooms, each student will be provided with opportunities to maximize
their individual potential and each will learn through doing and through teaching
others. There will be high expectations for all, and students will develop habits
and practices that will increase intelligence and performance. Classes will be
blocked to facilitate project-based learning. There will be weekly scheduled
Drop Everything and Read slots and an advisory period.

Parental partnerships will be developed with an emphasis on two-way
communication so that parents’ voices are heard and parents are informed.
When parents and their children choose Meyer Levin, they are entering into an agreement with the school to be the best that they can be. We must honor that agreement in our commitment to support, challenge, and encourage children’s
abilities and efforts throughout their Meyer Levin School for the Performing Arts
years.

Let us always remember, “Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision
is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.”
(Joel Barker)  I will work everyday, to make a positive difference in the lives of
the students at our school, and I am confident that each of you will as well.
Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to discuss any concerns
that you may have, as I am always willing to listen.

Frederick A. Underwood,
Principal