REAL Journey Academies (RJA), a non-profit charter management organization, is recognized by the community as one of the preeminent agencies in San Bernardino. RJA is located in Southern California, within the Inland Empire, one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.
REAL Journey Academies currently operates New Vision Middle School (NVMS) which is located in and serves the communities of the San Bernardino and Highland. NVMS offers the residents of San Bernardino and Highland an alternative to the overcrowded middle schools, which currently serve these areas. NVMS serves 300 students.
REAL Journey Academies in the near future will operate charter schools in the surrounding communities to provide families with education opportunities.
Mission
The mission of REAL Journey Academies is to offer a rigorous academic program with a focus on student character in order to fully prepare students for college preparatory high schools and ultimately for success in local and nationally recognized universities. We are committed to challenging students to develop to their fullest potential in order to enrich and serve their communities. Our current middle school guides and nurtures its students as they discover and cultivate their unique gifts and talents, challenging each individual to achieve his or her full potential.
Establishing Our Vision
We recognize that building an organizational wide vision evolves as the entire community examines its values, beliefs and goals. Core to the vision is a culture focused on a cycle of continuous improvement. Our current vision is made up of three components:
Educational Excellence
The REAL Journey Academies community (students, parents, teachers, and administrative staff) will be focused on fostering educational excellence and creating a dynamic and meaningful learning environment to ensure that all students are prepared for college success.
- Teachers will create a rigorous and engaging curriculum with opportunities for extension and enrichment that motivates students to learn.
- Teachers will use a combination of assessment techniques, including traditional methods, performance-based assessments, and self-assessments.
- Administrators will provide ongoing professional development that is relevant and pertinent.
- While producing quality work, students will use various modes of communication (writing, oral, artistic) to express their understanding of complex ideas and concepts.
- Students will be equipped with and utilize the necessary, reading strategies, writing skills, and critical thinking skills to participate in all content areas and begin to be prepared for college level coursework.
- High academic expectations will be communicated, demonstrated, and internalized by all (parents, students, teachers, and administrators).
Supportive Learning Community
The REAL Journey Academies community will be focused on an on-going process that develops and supports meaningful relationships between all members (students, parents, teachers, and administrative staff) to ensure that all students will be prepared for college success.
- Parents will be in full support of preparing their child for college and will be enrolled as an active part of their education.
- Students will work collaboratively and encourage each other to use their strengths.
- The community will develop and exhibit supportive relationships.
- Teachers, students, and parents will monitor student progress, both academic and social, to collaboratively develop plans for improvement.
- Teachers will work collaboratively across all content areas and play an active role to contribute to the growth and success of the school.
Personal Development
The REAL Journey Academies community will be focused on the personal development of all its members (students, parents, teachers, and administrative staff) to ensure that all students are prepared for college success.
- Teachers will continuously reflect, revise, and improve their teaching methods and provide innovative, instruction that prepares students for college.
- Administrators will be effective leaders in supporting teachers’ needs by receiving education and training on school leadership and design in order to best serve our students.
