Supporting Elements

Professional development. A Smaller Learning Communitites Grant from the U.S. Department of Education has enabled Granby to offer unprecedented professional development activities. Each academy has an annual retreat to reflect, plan, and address such topics as computer software, block teaching strategies, and social and emotional learning. Many teachers also attend institutes and conferences, and Granby has been able to launch new programs such as Student-Teacher Advisory, Ninth-Grade Orientation, and Community Service Projects.

The graph shows growth in enrollment from 1997-2002 of more than 500 students.

State-of-the-art technology. To ensure that teachers and students become comfortable with technology and have sufficient access to it, Granby provides each teacher with a laptop computer along with training and technical support. Additionally, mobile labs allow teachers to offer interactive computer-based instruction in any classroom.

Block schedule. Granby High School has adopted the alternating day (A/B) block schedule, which calls for fewer but longer classes and helps create a more personalized teaching and learning environment.

International Baccalaureate program. Reflecting its emphasis on academics, Granby High School offers an International Baccalaureate program. To prepare students for the rigor of the IB program, Granby offers a pre-IB sequence for ninth- and tenth-graders. The sequence is open to all rising ninth-graders in the district, ensuring that the opportunity is open to all who desire a truly rigorous academic preparation.