Transition/Vocational Arts

Transition Services:  In order to improve the academic and functional achievement of our students and facilitate movement from school to post-secondary activities; Rock Creek Academy has created partnerships with work preparation programs like Year Up and the Living Classroom Foundation. We are helping our students to better understand their career interests and gear Transition Service Plans to meet their specific needs. To accommodate for our students' special needs, we also host private registrations with organizations like the Department of Employment Services and the Rehabilitative Services Agency.


Vocational Arts Department: This department is merging the overarching goals of both the Transition and Arts Departments in order to offer career training with the aim of nurturing and building the inherent talents and skills of our students.  This includes facilitating a smooth transition to entry lvel employment, trade apprenticeships, post-secondary vocational training or on to a community or four-year college or university.  Many of our programs have proven to increase student attendance, academic self-esteem and achievement.

Career Academies: The High School Program offers Career Academy placement. Academies are used to integrate academic and vocational instruction while adhering to the DCPS content standards. The Academies provide work-based learning opportunities for students and prepare students for post-sencondary education and employment. Currently there are 4 Career Academies. Check out what's happening right now:

Hospitality/Culinary
Barbering/Cosemetology

Arts and Technology: A recent partnership with TEAM Sound and Vision Audio and Television Studio, students are creating a commercial, video or public service announcement using the TEAM facility. We are expanding our knowledge of marine husbandry with the addition of an octopus to one of our academy fish tanks for curiosity, research and the development of competent and conscientious young aquarists.  An introduction to a new technology--a pulse pen, allows students to transfer their written work to a computer and convert it into typed text.  Using this technology, we have created "pen" casts (podcasts) to upload on the world wide web.  Many of the students have excelled in their muscicianship under the guidance of Mr. Ferguson while honing their writing skills with Mr. A. Wright and Mr. Barnett, English Teachers. Ms. Talpsep and Ms. Broughton continue to inspire our students to create outstanding jewelry. Mr. Fridie, our Academy Chair, encourages the entrepreneurship and professional development of our stduents with practical and hands-on science. Dr. E and Mr. O'Conner provide the Academy with tons of resources and expertise.

Facilities Management: For the remainder of March, the Academy will be constructing flower boxes as part of our community service project. Once back from spring break, we will begin our project of building dog houses and rabbit hutches for the animals at the Washington Humane Society. The Academy participants will be taking a field trip to the Washington Humane Society to learn more about the efforts of this organization.