Dear prospective parent or guardian:

Thank you for considering Sequoia Pathway for your child. We know that choosing your child’s school is a very important step.

What makes our program different?
At Sequoia Pathway our over-riding goal is "Every child at Sequoia Pathway Academy will be known". This simple statement is our promise to get to know your child and to provide him/her with an academic program that recognizes their own special qualities and abilities. Unlike many programs our curriculum is driven by the needs of the child, not the needs or limitations of the curriculum.

Sequoia’s approach blends core knowledge mastery with a nurturing and exciting child centered philosophy. At Sequoia Pathway integrated differentiated instruction means subject areas are not taught in isolation. It also means that each child is challenged to reach beyond their comfort level. This approach allows our staff a multiplicity of approaches to bring out the best in our students. We sincerely believe that every child can learn and that it is our duty to develop thinking productive citizens of the republic in our school.

We believe…
The school must meet the common and different needs of students to prepare them for the society in which they are to live. It is our task to assist the development of each student so s/he will reach full capability and become a productive member of that society in which they are to live. Each child is an individual, and learns at a different rate and to a different degree. Therefore, we are charged to nurture all children so they achieve their highest potential of intellectual, personal, social, and physical development. (Zmuda, Kuklis et al. 2004; Zmuda, Wiggins et al. 2007)

We actively teach manners and behavior at our school. The moment your child enters our campus they are greeted with a handshake by the principal. Each child is recognized and known by name. This is but one of the components of a deliberate effort to teach children to care about their school, their community, and each other. Courteous and respectful discussions are a vital part of your child’s day each school day.

Curriculum Development at Sequoia Pathway Academy

Teachers and administrators in the Sequoia Pathway family work intensively with staff development experts in the district in the areas of reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. We have aligned the school’s curriculum areas with the AZ state requirements and are in the process of developing a continuum of goals and standards that move from grade to grade through the students' years of schooling. Sequoia Pathway Academy uses focused instruments to assess students' attainment of the curriculum goals in a formative and summative manner. Our assessments are also performance based. This means that students demonstrate mastery of specific learning objectives in real life applications. The use of performance assessments is a recognized best practice and gives parents a clear indicator of what students can do as a result of their learning experiences (Wiggins 1993; Wiggins 1998; Wiggins and McTighe 1998; Yin 2003).

We believe in the Importance of Background Information (Vocabulary)
Sequoia Pathway believes that a student’s background information has an impact on their ability to read and understand texts, literature and their world (Hirsch, Kett et al. 1987). Teachers introduce words in context during the year. The vocabulary used in class is intentional and deliberate and is designed to give our students an academic edge in their studies. We provide parents with word lists in all of the subject areas that reflect this belief and ask that you work with us to provide the background information and vocabulary that students need to be effective expository readers (Wiggins 1993; Wiggins 1998; Wiggins and McTighe 1998; Marzano 2003; Yin 2003; Marzano 2004; Marzano 2005; Marzano 2009).

Please feel free to visit our campus for further information about our program and our staff or visit us at www.pathwayprepacademy.info

Curtis J. Cardine,Principal