Upper School Resources Directory

Academics

Table of Contents

What is STEAM Education?

STEAM is an interdisciplinary area of study to bridge the five areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. By integrating STEAM lessons in the curriculum, students learn and are able to apply understanding of how the world works within and across these five interrelated domains. A STEAM education ensures a new workforce of problem-solvers, innovators, and inventors who are self-reliant and able to succeed in the knowledge-based workplace and community.

In a STEAM classroom, students experience guided inquiry in which they must ask thoughtful questions, discover answers, apply what they learn and problem-solve creatively. STEAM projects involve teamwork and thoughtful dialogue where students are able to exchange ideas and discuss various solutions to a problem. In doing so, students learn how to delegate, compromise, and understand different points of view. This shifts students toward investigating and questioning the interrelated facets of the world.

STEAM projects require students to systematically think through problems, applying the information they learn along the way about technology and engineering to figure out the best solutions. Strategically placing students together in groups can create powerful teams in which students learn how to help each other and figure out how to use their different strengths and skill sets. Cross-curricular projects engage different parts of students’ brains so they are seeing the project through different lenses, focusing on details while also learning to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

At Avant Garde Academy, we believe by providing students digital access and infusing technology across and within the curriculum that our students will become responsible digital participants in our society. We use technology to:

Create Active Listeners
Enhance Group Participation
Engage Learners and Enhance Feedback
Connect Students with Real World Experts

The Leader in Me

Leadership. Culture. Academics.

We are proud to be a school that fully embraces the Leader in Me program.

Students are taught social emotional standards by Broward County Schools:

Self-Awareness and Self-Management
Relationship Skills and Social Awareness
Responsible Decision Making

The Leader in Me Program Fosters:

Growth Mindset
Communication Skills & Manners
Bully Prevention and Conflict & Resolution Skills
Empowerment
Human Connection &

The Leader in Me is Franklin Covey’s whole-child and school transformation process. It is an evidence based, comprehensive school improvement model developed in partnership with educators to empower students. It teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.

AGA strives to help students achieve their potential by encouraging all staff, students, and families to use the 7 Habits language regularly. Our mission is to develop active student leaders with creative minds, understanding, compassion, and the courage to act on their personal beliefs.

AGA prides itself on providing opportunities for students to develop their full potential. The Leader in Me is also aligned with many national and state academic standards. The program equips students with the skills needed for academic success in any setting. These skills include critical thinking, goal setting, listening and speaking, self-directed learning, presentation-making, and the ability to work in groups.

Middle School

3 Credits Language Arts
3 Credits Mathematics
3 Credits Science
3 Credits Social Science
Critical Thinking
STEAM

Grading Scale

High School - STEAM Focus

4 Credits Science
4 Credits Technology/Engineering
4 Credits Art
4 Credits Mathematics
2 Credits Leadership
4 Credits English
4 Credits Social Studies
1 Credit PE
5 Electives

Grading Scale

A
100 - 90

B+
87 - 89

B
80 - 86

C+
77 - 79

C
70 - 76

D
60 - 66

F
0 - 59

Middle School Promotion and High School Graduation Requirements

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Athletics

Welcome to AGA Athletics!

Athletics is an important part of the AGA experience, giving students the opportunity to compete, grow, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills both on and off the field. With Middle School, Junior Varsity, and High School programs, AGA offers opportunities for athletes at every level to find their team, challenge themselves, and represent our school with pride.

Come compete. Come grow. Be part of AGA Athletics.

Our Vision
To reach the highest level of success in our district and become excellent in both the athletic field and the classroom.

Our Mission
To guide student-athletes to build their character through sports by modeling SHARK values:
Self-esteem
Honesty
Attitude
Responsibility
Knowledge

Our Purpose
Participation in athletics is a privilege, not a right. The athlete must earn this privilege through dedication, desire, and discipline. In order to achieve athletic excellence, the student-athlete must:
✓ Be a positive role model to peers
✓ Behave appropriately at all times
✓ Demonstrate and maintain academic eligibility

Volleyball

Basketball

Soccer

Flag Football

Cheerleading

Weightlifting

Athletics Calendar

Stay up to date on games, meets, practices, events, and other important AGA Athletics dates

Meet Our Coaches

Athletic Resources

Everything student-athletes and families need to participate in AGA Athletics.

If you have any questions, please contact Harold Pearson, Athletic Director, at hpearson@agabroward.org or call (754) 816-6153.

Student-Athlete Handbook

Review athletic expectations, responsibilities, requirements, and participation guidelines.

Before participating in athletics, student-athletes must:

  • Have a current physical on file

  • Complete the required athletic application and forms

  • Complete required safety/health forms

  • Sign the Athletic Handbook acknowledgment

  • Meet the 2.0 GPA academic eligibility requirement

  • Clear any outstanding prior-year athletic obligations

Sportsmanship Policy

Review AGA's expectations for student-athletes, families, fans, and everyone representing AGA at athletic events.

Athletic Forms & Registration

Access and complete the required athletic forms through PRIVIT.

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Academic Support & School Counseling. 


Student Support Services

Table of Contents

College, Career & Postsecondary Planning


Mental Health & Wellness


If there is an imminent threat or concern, call 911, the Mobile Crisis Response Team at 954-677-3113, or First Call for Help at 954-357-0211. Additional mental health resources can be found on the District’s overview page and the BCPS Mental Health Hotline at 754-321-HELP.

Student Safety & Reporting



About our department

Student Support Services

Avant Garde Academy’s Student Support Services team supports the whole student, providing guidance in academics, personal and social-emotional development, college and career readiness, and overall student well-being.

Questions or Concerns?

AGA values open communication and encourages families to work directly with our school team whenever a question or concern arises. Parents should always begin by contacting their child’s teacher, as the teacher is closest to the situation and is usually best positioned to provide information and help resolve the concern. The Parent/Student Handbook similarly emphasizes direct communication between families and school personnel. Contact a teacher through the Staff Directory.

If additional assistance is needed after speaking with the teacher, parents should contact the appropriate Department Chair. Depending on the nature of the concern, families may also seek assistance from their child’s School Counselor, ESOL Coordinator, or ESE Specialist. AGA provides specific opportunities for parent input and support for students receiving ESE and English Language Learner services. 

Teacher → Department Chair → Student Support Services/Administration, as needed

School Counseling

Our School Counselors provide individual and small-group counseling, classroom guidance, academic planning, and college and career support. Their programs align with Florida standards and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model.

Guidance Appointments

Students: Submit a Guidance Request Form through HERE. Students will be called down during their elective period.

Parents & Guardians: Contact a counselor through the Staff Directory. Team members will respond within 24 hours in most circumstances.

Transcripts

For official transcripts, contact Ms. Arguello, IMT/Registrar, at marguello@agabroward.org.

BRACE

Mrs. Avelina Damonte: BRACE Advisor

adamonte@agabroward.org

Provides assistance with post-secondary planning:

  • college/university searches

  • college application processes

  • scholarship information

  • financial aid application

  • internships and summer programs

  • ACT, SAT, ASVAB registration

  • letters of recommendation for college

  • career planning 

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Dual Enrollment & Acceleration

Acceleration
Students at Avant Garde Academy have access to advanced academic opportunities designed to accelerate college readiness and academic achievement.

  - Dual Enrollment — Broward College
  - Dual Enrollment — Florida International University
  - Advanced Placement coursework across multiple disciplines
  - Earn college credit while in high school.

FAFSA, Bright Futures & Scholarships

Explore financial aid and scholarship opportunities, including FAFSA, Bright Futures, and AGA scholarships.

Family Counseling


The family therapists address a variety of family and emotional problems in counseling and provide therapy for individuals and families free of charge. When someone experiences emotional difficulty, they may suffer repercussions that lead to problems in their general daily functioning. For students, this is often evident in the academic arena. Frequently, school-related problems may be symptomatic of those troubles.

Family therapists also address problems related to trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, stress management, communication skills, personal issues, and many more. 

Mental Health Resources

Avant Garde Academy is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of every student. Families can access additional counseling, wellness, crisis, and community resources through Broward County Public Schools and local organizations.

Community Crisis Support:

If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate emergency, call 911.

BCPS Resources:

BCPS Mental Health & Wellness Portal — Mental health information, wellness resources, counseling, crisis support, and community services.

BCPS Family Counseling Program — Free counseling services for BCPS students and families. 754-321-1590

BCPS School Counseling — Resources for academic, personal, social-emotional, college, and career support.

BCPS Help Is Here — Connects students with trusted adults and mental health resources.

BCPS Community Resources — Local resources for mental health, crisis support, housing, food security, and family services.

Reporting Abuse

Report Child Abuse

If you know, suspect, or someone tells you about: 

  • Physical abuse

  • Sexual abuse

  • Child-on-Child Abuse

  • Neglect

  • Abandonment

Child Abuse, Abandonment and Neglect Policy

Section 1006.061(1), Florida Statutes requires each district school, charter school, and private school that accepts scholarship students under section 220.187 or section 1002.39 to post in a prominent place a notice that pursuant to Chapter 39 all employees and agents of the district school board, charter school, or private school have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Read more about reporting child abuse.

Section 1006.061(2), Florida Statutes, requires each district school, charter school, and private school that accepts scholarship students to post at the school site and on the school’s internet site (if available) the policies and procedures for reporting alleged misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. The notices must include the contact person to whom the report is made and the penalties imposed on those instructional personnel or school administrators who fail to report suspected child abuse or misconduct by other instructional personnel or school administrators.

Report Educator Misconduct

If you know, or someone tells you about:

  • Obscene language

  • Drug and alcohol use

  • Disparaging comments

  • Prejudice or bigotry

  • Sexual innuendo

  • Cheating

  • Testing violations

  • Physical aggression

  • Accept or offer favors

All employees and agents of a public school district, charter school, or private school, have an obligation and legal responsibility to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators, which affects the health, safety or welfare of a student. 

Failure to report misconduct may result in penalties up to termination of employment and revocation of educator misconduct. 

School Counseling

Our School Counselors provide a comprehensive counseling program focused on academic success, personal growth, mental health and well-being, and college and career readiness.

Counseling services may include individual counseling, small-group sessions, classroom lessons, academic planning, college and career guidance, and referrals to additional resources.

Counselors use student data to guide their programs and align their work with Florida standards and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model.

Parents and guardians are always welcome to contact the school for support, resources, or guidance.

Service Hours

Service Hours are required!

A minimum of 40 community service learning hours is required to earn a high school diploma. Hours must be logged on the appropriate forms, and any volunteer location must be a non-profit organization. Keep in mind that 40 hours is the minimum and, as with anything academic, going above and beyond is always better. Earning additional volunteer hours will not only assist a student’s “well-roundedness”, but will also create more scholarship opportunities and make a student’s academic resume stand out amongst the crowd.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14 and the third leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022). Awareness is one of the most critical steps to prevention. This starts by talking about suicide with our youth, recognizing warning signs, and understanding risk factors. The National Association for School Psychologists (NASP) offers tips for parents and educators on risk factors, warning signs, what to do, and reminders. Together, families, educators, and community partners can support our students and save thousands of lives.

Tutoring Information

Additional academic support is available to Upper School students through scheduled tutoring sessions. Students can access subject-specific support from teachers during designated tutoring hours.

2026–2027 Tutoring Schedule

View the current tutoring schedule, including available teachers, subjects, and tutoring hours HERE

Student Life

Table of Contents

Upper School Clubs

6 - 12

High School SGA

Males Explorers

Spanish Honor Society

High School National Honor Society

Middle School National Junior Honor Society

Science National Honor Society

Tri-M

National Art Honor Society

Mu Alpha Theta

Middle School Art Club

Office Aid Club

National English Honor Society

Middle School SGA

ISA Leadership Encounter

Silver Knight

Chess Club

Middle School Debate

Drama Club

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Daily Private Victory

Daily Private Victory (DPV) — Daily Private Victory is a student development initiative that incorporates Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Life Management, and personal growth to support students’ emotional wellness, decision-making, and overall success. Folder HERE

Service Learning Academies

Service Learning at Avant Garde Academy includes hands-on experiences addressing real life problems in the community through local, national, and global perspectives.

6 - 12

Community Outreach Academy
Senior Connections Academy
Elementary Mentorship Academy
Family Support Academy
Cultural Awareness & Inclusion Academy

Community Service Academies

Peer Tutoring Academy
Literacy Leaders Academy
STEM Help Desk Academy
College & Career Readiness Academy

Academic Support Academies

Campus Beautification
Environmental Action Team
Urban Gardening / Hydroponics Academy
Sustainability Awareness Campaign Team

Environmental & Sustainability

Drama for Community Academy
Music Outreach Academy
Visual Arts for Service
Media Production Academy

Arts & Performance Service

Student Leadership Team
Public Relations / School Ambassadors
Podcast / News Team
Event Planning Academy

Leadership & Communication

Tech Support Academy
Coding for Kids Academy
Digital Literacy Academy
Robotics Outreach Team

Innovation & Technology

Fitness & Wellness Leaders
Mental Health Awareness Team
Nutrition & Healthy Living Academy
Adaptive PE Support
Peer Mentoring
Mental Wellness Activities/Events

Health & Wellness

Student Government / Advocacy Academy
Law & Justice Academy
Community Problem Solvers
Voter Awareness / Civic Responsibility (HS)

Civic Engagement

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Spirit Shirts