Daily Schedule Overview
Monday through Thursday
Our schedule is designed to foster independence, flexibility, and collaboration, while supporting academic and personal growth:
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Goal Setting & Planning: Each day begins with a focused session to set goals and outline priorities, empowering students to take ownership of their learning.
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Lessons & Work Periods: A short in-person lesson introduces core concepts, followed by a long, uninterrupted work period. This time is dedicated to applying learning through individual tasks, student presentations, and collaborative projects.
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Recess & Lunch: These breaks provide ample flexibility for students to engage in sports, socialize, and recharge, promoting both physical health and peer connections.
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Online Learning & Dual Credit: A dedicated work period supports students pursuing online courses or dual credit opportunities, ensuring seamless integration with their personalized learning paths.
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Daily Reflection & Environment Restoration: The day concludes with a reflection period, encouraging students to acknowledge accomplishments, share insights, and contribute to restoring the learning environment for the next day.
This balanced schedule nurtures academic success, personal growth, and a sense of community.
Fridays
Fridays are dedicated to hands-on learning, exploration, and personal growth through a variety of engaging activities:
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Guest Speakers: Inspirational talks and workshops led by experts and professionals provide students with real-world insights and exposure to diverse career paths and ideas.
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Electives & Science Lab: Students have the opportunity to dive into specialized electives and participate in hands-on science labs, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
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Field Trips & Community Service: Fridays often feature field trips that connect learning to the world outside the classroom, including opportunities for community service projects that build civic responsibility.
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Internships & Recreational Activities: Students can explore career interests through internships or unwind with recreational activities that promote balance and well-being.
This Friday schedule enriches the educational experience by combining academic exploration with real-world engagement and personal development.
9:00-9:30am: Morning Meeting
(Activity, Daily Overview, Goal Setting)
9:30-11:00am: CompletED Lesson and Work Block
(TEKS meets cross curricular Deep Dive, Project, Product and Performance Based)
11:00am-12:00pm: Physical Activity Unstructured Recess
(Pickleball, Soccer Tennis, free play, chalk etc.)
12:00-12:30pm: LUNCH
Launch Topic: Entrepreneurship
12:30-2:45pm: Entrepreneurship, Maker space,
Skill Acquisition, Electives, Online learning
2:45-3:00: Daily reflection, Accountability, Restore the Environment
9-10am: Presentations and Guest Speakers
10:00am-12:00pm: Science Lab, Show Choir or Study Hall
12:00pm-4:00pm: Launch/ Field Trips/ Sports Tournaments/ Entrepreneur Market/ Service Projects/ Practical Skill Acquisition/ Shark Tank/ Performances
Academic, Enrichment and Extracurricular Activities
Imagine a school where the pursuit of knowledge and creative exploration are intertwined in a harmonious balance. MDSA Academy structures its days uniquely. The school day is divided into morning and afternoon blocks, dedicating half of each day to core academic classes and the other half to a rich variety of extracurricular activities.
Academics
During the academic block, students work on coursework in traditional academic subjects such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies with a comprehensive curriculum through the online Acellus program and the guidance of our teachers. Small class sizes ensure each student receives individualized support from their teacher. These classes are designed to provide a strong foundation in essential skills and knowledge while preparing students for higher education and lifelong learning. Our teachers use engaging teaching methods, including collaborative projects and the integration of technology, to make the learning experience meaningful and effective.
Acellus
Students follow the Acellus online curriculum for their core subjects accessed via classroom computers. They work independently at their own pace within set deadlines determined by state requirements, placement test results, and teacher evaluation and recommendations.
1:1 Check Ins
While the students are working independently, our instructor checks in on each student, observing and providing individualized support as needed. In addition, our instructor will meet regularly with each student to review progress, address questions, adjust learning goals when necessary, and provide personalized feedback and support. This is intended to identify and address academic needs early.
Personalized Instruction
Using the results of assessments from 1:1 check-ins with each student, our instructor will provide instruction on concepts that require clarification for those students who need additional support. This will take place individually and in small groups of no more than 3 students, based on assessment and student progress. The check-ins and small group supplemental instruction are incorporated throughout the week.
Enrichment and Extracurricular Activities
The enrichment block is reserved for extracurricular classes that encourage creativity, physical activity, and hands-on learning. Students will receive a diverse range of subjects such as:
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Art
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Choir
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Dance
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Entrepreneurship
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Life Skills
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PE
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Theatre
These classes are designed to develop students' talents and interests beyond the traditional academic curriculum, fostering a well-rounded education.
MDSA Academy provides a personalized education while fostering creativity and independence. Our students gain interpersonal skills by engaging in meaningful tasks with students of all age groups as they collaborate on a variety of projects.
Participation in extracurriculars fosters teamwork, time management, and self-confidence. An added benefit is that activities are conducted during regular school hours, enabling families to preserve their afterschool time for family engagements.
Academy Fridays
Industry Professionals
To further enhance the learning experience, MDSA Academy invites industry professionals to visit the school monthly, providing students with invaluable insights into various career paths. These experts offer guidance on how to prepare for entering different industries, sharing real-world experiences and advice. This exposure helps students make informed decisions about their future careers and understand the practical applications of their studies.
Field Trips
When not learning from our weekly speakers, our students enjoy real-world application of knowledge gained in their classes on field trips.
Service Learning
Service learning is a way for students to apply academics and the arts to real-world community projects. It helps our students grow not only as scholars and artists, but also as compassionate, engaged citizens. We’ll be doing monthly community service projects, some of which will build over time, while others will be one-day efforts.
ElevatED
A cross-curricular approach that builds upon itself through scaffolding, fostering "deep and wide" learning. Our emphasis is on project-based, performance-based, and creative problem-solving experiences that encourage students to think critically and work collaboratively.
InnovatED
Real-world learning through internships, mentorships, guest speakers, Shark Tank-style pitch competitions, and entrepreneurial projects. Students engage in authentic problem-solving and TED-style presentations, creating portfolios driven by purpose, passion, and innovation.
InspirED
Immersive experiences that take students beyond the classroom, including field trips, community service, and recreational activities. Students develop a deeper understanding of the world by connecting with their communities and embracing diverse perspectives.
Our Partners
Our learning partners are community members that help support our learning environment. They include but are not limited to; PALA Pickleball Club, Planful, AFS Intercultural Programs, Red Frog Dyslexia and Educational Services, Firehouse Subs, and Lonestar College. We are always looking to enhance our learning environment and use cutting edge tools such as Hello Wonder(AI learning platform) and Educational Simulations from Harvard. We also collaborate with other local schools to participate in Tournaments, Science Fairs, and Social Events.
