Senior Spotlight
A lot has happened within the past month for our seniors. Just moments ago, they were high school students. Today, they are high school graduates entering college and planning the rest of their lives.
Take a look at some senior highlights from the past month below!
College Signing Day
All 20 of our TAF Academy seniors will be going off to college this fall! This is a major accomplishment and we are so proud of the hard work they put forth for this moment.
Every year, we take the time to publicly recognize our seniors in our own College Signing Day. Students are presented with certificates of achievement as we celebrate their admissions to college.
Senior Breakfast
On June 8th, we welcomed our TAF Academy seniors to Bethaday Community Learning Center for their Senior Breakfast. After arriving to a brightly decorated room and being welcomed by TAF staff, seniors indulged in a grand spread of treats including Trish’s prize winning waffles.
After a full stomach, the seniors shared their plans after high school. All of them going off to college and some of them pursuing double majors. Trish then gave an inspirational address before leaving them to participate in a special exercise to reflect on their time at TAF Academy. When they shared some of their reflections, many of them shared laughs as they remembered the many experiences that shaped their high school career and prepared them for their next step.
Finally, the students participated in an all out photo shoot. For some, they’d shared the TAF journey since 6th grade. Others joined the class later, but they all felt as family.
Already realizing a phase coming to an end, many of our seniors shared hugs as they looked forward to their final days together.
Cheers to another successful Senior Breakfast and another amazing senior class!
Prom!
Our students had a blast at this years prom, and the chaperones did too! Take a look at a few pictures from the night!
Graduation Proves Transformation
Something amazing happened.
On Saturday, June 11th, all twenty of our seniors made their final statement of high school by walking across the stage to receive their diplomas – graduating from TAF Academy and entering into a world of opportunities. All of them leaving the academy equipped with the tools required to create a world in which they envision, and with the confidence to make their dreams a reality. All of them going on to college, and all of them having received an educational experience they will be able to lean on to face their futures.
Once again, we are reminded how changing the way that our students learn can greatly improve their outcomes. Creating a culture of excellence among students of color, introducing STEM focused project-based learning, and providing out-of-classroom learning opportunities works!
One of the biggest take-aways we learned from our students on Saturday was their overall sense of belonging. Whether they began at TAF Academy, or joined only a few years ago, they all shared a common thread. TAF Academy is a place to grow, learn, and be accepted just as they are.
