Q&A: What is a Magnet School? The Kalamazoo Promise? What about Biotechnology?

Every Wednesday we will try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Milwood and Kalamazoo Public Schools in detail. This week, we will focus on the three most important questions that encompass the Milwood Magnet experience for those who are interested in knowing more about the school.

What is a Magnet School and what are the advantages of sending my student to a magnet school?

A magnet school is a school which offers specialized curriculum and offers a school of choice for the district in which it resides. Historically, magnet schools began as a way for the government to aide in the desegregation of school districts. Today, magnet schools provide students an opportunity to succeed academically while learning in a diverse environment.

Your student would benefit in attending a magnet school for many reasons, including improved academic achievement, diversity in enrollment, higher attendance rates, higher graduation rates, and lower drop-out rates. Magnet schools obtain a higher level of parental involvement, more personalization through theme-based education, and specialized programs that provide a safer environment for learning. Teachers are better prepared to teach students through a focused curriculum and are more developed professionally than in a traditional school.

What is the Kalamazoo Promise?

The Kalamazoo Promise is a pledge by a group of anonymous doners to pay up to 100 percent of tuition at 4-year college programs for any high school graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools. In order to qualify, students must be a student within the Kalamazoo Public Schools district lines and have attended a Kalamazoo Public Schools school from at least the 9th grade. Students who enroll at Milwood Magnet School in the 6th grade, not having previously attended a Kalamazoo Public School, are eligible to receive 80 percent of their tuition expenses covered by the Promise when they graduate from a Kalamazoo Public Schools high school. For more information, visit http://www.kalamazoopromise.com/.

What is Biotechnology and why is it the focus of curriculum at Milwood Magnet School?

Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science and medicine. It encompasses everything from genetic engineering to alternative fuels and many other avenues of science. Milwood Magnet School chose this theme because of the emerging biotechnology-based companies emerging in the southwest-Michigan region, who Milwood Magnet School is currently working with to develop a relationship with as a Biotechnology Partner.

The Biotechnology Curriculum is taught in six different units that include biofuel energy, environmental protection, global foodchain, medical technology, sustainable industries, and technological innovations. Milwood Magnet School is trying to further the understanding of the theme through an all-school read of The Uglies by Scott Westerfield.

Here are a few examples of how well our students are embracing the understanding of Biotechnology in our world and in our school:

Tech Tuesday: Link the Lancer Letter Blog from your Desktop!

Make a shortcut to the Lancer Letter on your desktop! Not sure how? Watch this short video on making an Internet shortcut on your desktop!

Next week's Technology Tuesday will focus on transferring files from your digital and other cameras, so be sure to check back with us!

Tomorrow we will answer some of the frequently asked questions about Milwood Magnet School and Kalamazoo Public Schools. See you then!

WGOM: Student-Led Conferences

What's Going On @ Milwood Magnet School

We've wrapped up a busy couple of weeks! With student-led parent conferences and MEAP testing, both students and teachers have been feeling the crunch! We start off our first of regular Lancer Letter segments with a video clip:

Student-led Parent Conferences allows students to learn the core expectations of Milwood Magnet School - Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Honesty. They learn to respect the work that goes into their education. They become responsible for themselves by being accountable for the work they've done. They learn to care about the hard work that they do in their classrooms and about the grades that they receive. And they learn honesty by having open conversations with both their parents and teachers about their strengths and weaknesses. Students and teachers alike experienced the benefits of student-led parent conferences on October 15 & 16, 2008.

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Today, we celebrate the launch of our interactive edition of the Lancer Letter. We have a lot of fun planned for the newsletter, including regularly-scheduled weekly articles:

What's Going on @ Milwood

Technology Tuesday

Question & Answers

On Mondays, we plan to share something you can't get via the Lancer Letter, be it sound clips, videos, photos, or all of the above!

Tuesdays are reserved to honoring the technology that encompasses our biotechnology theme. Each Tuesday, we will present a tutorial or short clip about how to utilize the technology that is also available to students and teachers in the classroom.

Wednesdays will allow us to answer questions given to us via the blog or email.

Please check back with us tomorrow!

Coming Monday, October 27!

Find out more about Milwood Magnet School! Our new, interactive edition of the Lancer Letter will roll out Monday!

Stay tuned!