Around Woodstock
Spend time at American Heritage Academy, a private
college-preparatory school on Sixes Road in Canton, and
you’ll hear the school referred to by its initials, “AHA.”
The school community, however, is quick to tell you that “AHA”
represents three other words that embody exactly what the
school and its community stand for: Attitude . . . Heart . . .
Achievement.
Attitude
American Heritage has a big ATTITUDE about fi rst rate
education in a family-centered environment. That begins with
the three pillars of the school’s educational philosophy: learning
through projects and presentations, learning in the content areas,
and learning together in the school and community. This refl ects
the school’s focus on the whole student, teaching content and life
skills, providing experiences that prepare students to thrive in a
rapidly changing world.
The AHA curriculum
is an academically
rigorous, accelerated
program in Math,
Social Studies,
Language Arts,
Science, and
Foreign Language.
Upper School
offerings expand
to include Honors
and AP courses. The core curriculum also requires classes in
Art, Music, Technology, Spanish and Physical Education for
all grade levels. This provides important support for students’
cognitive development,
strengthening creative
and critical thinking
skills, and encouraging
healthy mental and
physical habits. With
many schools eliminating
classes outside the basics,
AHA is fi rmly committed
to providing what we see as
essential instruction.
AHA is known for small class sizes
and a low teacher-to-student ratio, which allows the
school to be fl exible in meeting individual student needs and
interests. American Heritage’s staff knows each student well,
both strengths and weaknesses, and unique talents and interests.
Smaller classes provide the time to build individual relationships
with each student and family, allowing teachers to fi nd the best
way to inspire, guide, encourage, and challenge each student to
achieve full potential. This attention extends through the college
application process, with personalized guidance from the college
counselor beginning in ninth grade.
AHA’s staff has high expectations for themselves as well.
Teachers are part of the leadership of the school, from organizing
major events like school-wide theme nights to collaborating
on curriculum design. Staff members sponsor clubs and other
student activities. There is strong staff commitment to providing
the best quality instruction, with many staff holding advanced
degrees and certifi cations, and continuing to monitor the best in
current educational research. Aware that all students benefi t from
gifted learning techniques, all instructional staff obtains gifted
certifi cation.
American Heritage’s mission to prepare students for success
in life beyond school can be seen in every classroom. Far from
reading textbooks and completing worksheets, students engage
in all kinds of hands-on work and animated discussions. This
active class work builds to regular projects and presentations,
developing students’ ability to acquire understanding and then
express what they know in a clear, confi dent manner.
Heart
While a top quality academic education is a core purpose, AHA’s
community knows the best education can only be achieved with
the family as an integral part of that education. The end result is
a student who learns better and achieves higher.
Parents are a common sight at AHA — it’s unusual not to
meet a parent when walking the school’s hallways. The school
encourages parents to be active in their child’s education, and
many parents volunteer in the classrooms. Other parents focus
on more school-wide efforts, directing community service
projects or helping to lead activities like the Junior Lego teams.
Parent communication is a major priority for AHA, which uses
a wide variety of means to connect families to their student’s
experiences. A school-wide video system allows parents to log in
and observe their student. Regular class newsletters keep parents
up to date; progress reports are issued at each 4 ½ week mark,
and report cards each 9 weeks. AHA staff responds to parent
emails within twenty-four hours. The administration also uses
a variety of communication methods, from online and paper to
special curriculum or program-focused meetings. Beginning in
5th grade, parents have online access to a grade book where they
can monitor students’ grades and assignments.
If AHA is known for small class sizes, it is equally well known
for its commitment to family. With the close relationships
between staff, students and parents, the community at AHA often
feels like one big family itself. Students speak of knowing and
trusting teachers like family — When Upper School students
were recently asked what they liked best about AHA, “the family
atmosphere” was the number one response. It’s not hard to see
why AHA’s students have the HEART to stretch themselves and
try for new and higher goals, knowing just how fi rm the support
behind them is.
Achievement
From competitive sports to fi ne arts, academic competitions
to extra-curricular activities, American Heritage students have
always enjoyed a wide range of exciting opportunities. This year
the school improved those opportunities with the opening of the
new Sports and Fine Arts Center, an amazing ACHIEVEMENT
when many schools are talking about more cutbacks.
All semester long, the AHA community watched as the
fi nal touches were added, and on November 20, American
Heritage Academy proudly celebrated the Grand Opening of
the 33,000 square foot Sports and Fine Arts Center (SAFAC).
A collegiate-quality facility, the SAFAC is home to the
AHA Eagles. Having already won championships in cross
country, volleyball, basketball and golf, AHA’s athletes are
eager to discover what they can achieve in these top-quality
surroundings. The competitive sized basketball and volleyball
courts are accompanied by two practice courts for each sport.
The gymnasium Tarafl ex fl ooring (the offi cial fl ooring supplier
to the Olympic games since 1976) was chosen for its durability,
reliability and superior player protection.
The SAFAC also represents a tremendous boost to the AHA
Fine Arts Department and their award-winning chorus and band
programs. The auditorium features a forty-nine foot stage with
state of the art sound and lighting. This is the perfect setting
for the performances of
the band, chorus, music
education, and drama
classes, which provide
performance opportunities
for students at every grade
level.
The American Heritage
community is justifi ably
proud of the SAFAC, as the building represents the culmination
of several years of hard work, dedication and belief. AHA’s
Director of Development, Dr. Parviz Nikkhoo, sees that effort
as representative of AHA: “The American Heritage community
embarked on a very challenging, ambitious project to build a
sports and fi ne arts facility despite the downturn in the U.S.
economy. The courage to do this, and to achieve it in only
two years, came from the very strong belief of our parents,
students, and community who support AHA’s mission. With that
support, we have built the best possible facility as another step
in the exceptional educational model that has been the AHA
standard for over a decade.” That is exactly the lesson about
ACHIEVEMENT that AHA strives to teach — doing something
diffi cult, putting in your best efforts, and continuing to work
until you reach your goal.
The administration, students and staff of American Heritage
Academy proudly invite you to tour the new SAFAC and the
rest of the campus to see the many wonderful things happening
every day at AHA. Attend a scheduled Open House, or call for
an individual tour. Applications for the 2010-2011 academic year
are available. Come see AHA — all the ATTITUDE, HEART,
and ACHIEVEMENT — at American Heritage for yourself.