Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts
Fast Facts
General Information
Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts (RA) is a K-6 public elementary school located in Greece, NY. The mission of RA is to provide students with an enriched and rigorous education through the humanities and arts integration leading to success in college, careers, and life. RA students develop academic and life skills through investigation, creativity, inquiry, and reflection. The arts are used as a vehicle to make connections among various curricular areas, increase student engagement and ultimately lead to higher levels of student achievement.
Services
Transportation
Students receive transportation to and from school as provided by their district of residence if they live within 15 miles of the school. All RCSD students are transported regardless of the distance.
Uniforms
- Students receive three new uniform tops each year
- Tops: RA logo uniform shirts, long sleeve shirts can be worn underneath
- Pants, Skirts, Shorts: Khaki/ Tan/ Beige, or Black
- Jumpers or dresses for girls: Khaki/Tan/Beige or Black, short or long sleeve colored shirts in red, white, or black may be worn underneath
- Layering: students may wear solid-color sweatshirts, sweaters, or vests in red, white, grey, or black. No large writing, no logo, no pictures, and no hoods.
- Sneakers must be worn in order for students to participate in a physical education class
School Services
All students at RA receive free breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day.
Social-emotional support and school counseling provided by school-based mental health team
All staff are trained in restorative practices and the school is committed to addressing student behavior restoratively, supporting students to build positive relationships
Classroom social-emotional lessons on topics such as emotional regulation, empathy, self-control and problem-solving
Academic and behavioral support through our Response to Intervention team
On-site mental health counseling by Catholic Family Center.
Collaboration with outside service providers and/or referrals to community resources
RA employs a Family Services Coordinator who works with our families to ensure their needs are met.
Instructional Models
Renaissance Academy provides an educational program using research-proven, rigorous curricula in all subject areas. Within the instructional day are blocks of time specifically dedicated to whole group and small group instruction in co-taught classrooms as well as an additional 30-minute ACE (Academic Collaboration and Enrichment) block of time, dedicated to meeting the needs of all students. The arts are integrated into instruction to leverage learning in both the arts and core content areas as well as providing skills-based arts instruction. RA also has a strong emphasis on the social-emotional well-being and growth of students through the use of mindfulness, morning meetings, Second Step, and our Positivity Project (P2) curriculum.
Academic Offerings
RA provides high-quality, rigorous units of study that strive to offer culturally relevant and inclusive curriculum. All students receive instruction in ELA, math, science and social studies in their classroom setting. They also experience music, visual arts, dance, and drama curriculum in skills-based and arts integration classes. Students study physical education and library curriculum in a rotation.
Extracurricular Activities
RA offers a wide range of clubs and activities during and before school. During the school day students may be pulled for enrichment in any of the art forms. Students in grades 4-6 can become members of the band or chorus. Students in all grade levels perform during our various annual student performances, including a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Black History Month Celebration, and Winter Concert, among others. RA also invites students to audition for their annual musical. Students are able to sign up for our before-school enrichment program which has vast offerings and is free for all students. Some of our most popular clubs are Cooking and Crafting Around the World, Ballet, Sports Club, Mad Scientists, and Girls on the Run.
Community Partnership Programs
- Center for Youth (CFY)
- Catholic Family Services
- St. John Fisher College
- Garth Fagan Dance School
- Rochester Broadway Theatre League
- Memorial Art Gallery
- A Magical Journey thru Stages
- Blackstorytelling League of Rochester
- Bombas Socks
- WE@RIT
- PiRI – Partners In Restorative Initiatives
- Hochstein School of Music
Sports
RA has a before-school enrichment program in which sports experiences are offered, including football, basketball, and Girls on the Run. Sports are also taught during physical education units.
Student Support
- Special Education Coordinator and Service Providers (through home district of residence)
- English as a Second Language instruction
- Dean of Students
- Therapy Dog participates in classroom social-emotional learning lessons and also with individual students
- 2 Literacy Specialists and 2 Math Specialist
- Social Worker
- School Psychologist
- Social-Emotional Support Specialist
- Behavior Interventionist
- School Nurse
- Family Services Coordinator
- 1 Lead teacher and 1 Associate teacher per classroom
- ICOT classrooms and two 15:1 Special Education Classrooms
- Peer Mediator and Big Buddy Program
Demographics
School Performance
Photo Gallery
