Academies

Overview

What is an academy?

An academy is a program that is distinct for its reliance upon self-directed learning, design thinking, and iterative process, and the product of an extensive portfolio demonstrating learning (e.g., original compositions and productions in music academy, R&D portfolio/prototypes in engineering).

Why academies?

The academy represents the intersection of the Landmark educational philosophy for a relevant education:

Relevant education is one that is useful to students moving forward in life. It entails learning practical skill sets that are transferable to broad domains. It provides students with memorable and engaging experiences, within which they develop agency and ownership regarding their education. It’s an education through which they can take pride in their investment of time and energy towards the creation of real, tangible products as artifacts of learning. It’s learning for life, through which students identify, refine, and become better equipped to steward their gifts and talents with excellence, pursuing the unique calling for which God has created them.

Requirements of the academy:

accepted into the program by application/audition (see academy director, listed below)
reliant upon self-directed learning with an expert mentor, requiring 50+ hours of independent study approved by the academy director, and the completion of a “capstone project”: a portfolio of original work/hours and/or in-field recognition (e.g., personal pilot’s license)
most academies come at an additional cost (for private lessons, for building or arts materials, for flight instruction, etc.)

To honor the value of the academy experience offered at Landmark, graduates who meet certain criteria would be given

Recognition in the Landmark graduation program
Recognition during the graduation ceremony itself
Awarding of cords to wear at the graduation ceremony

Earning the academy distinction means :

Completing two year-long courses in the academy offerings

Accruing 50 hours of independent study outside of the school day (approved by academy director) (e.g., Private Lessons offered at Landmark, flight simulator hours/field trips, a summer project in Engineering/Film, etc.)
Presenting a capstone project as defined by each academy (e.g., release of portfolio work on Spotify, presentation of R&D portfolio/prototype for engineering, obtaining personal pilot’s license).

Current Academies

Click on any of the academies below to learn more information.

List of 7 items.

Aviation Academy

These courses, taught by Dr. Jim Lee, pilot, not only introduce students to careers in the aviation industry but inspire students to imagine themselves in the cockpit. The class is equipped with several Gleim flight simulators with flight training courses.

Students earn their independent study hours through hours on the flight simulator, field trips to local airports, studying and passing their private pilot written exam, and participating in internships. Their capstone project can be one of the following: certification, internship, or research.
Engineering Academy

Our lead engineering faculty member is Mr. Baffour Osei, Vanderbilt graduate and passionate educator who champions the importance and efficacy of personalized learning. There are many engineering classes at Landmark, but what distinguishes a student in a class from an academy graduate is the portfolio of research and design and/or prototype that validates the students’ learning.

Students earn their independent study hours through their after-school hours spent in either research or in the lab, accounted for by Mr. Osei. Their capstone project is presented at a spring showcase day where students, parents, and the community are invited to learn--and in some cases, see firsthand--the designs of the students.
Fashion Academy

The Fashion Academy teaches students foundational design, sewing and business skills to help students develop their own online portfolio, market their fashion line, and introduce students to various careers in the fashion industry. The program is led by Mrs. Shannon McBride.

Students can earn their independent study hours through participating in internships, freelance skills application for client needs, retailing their designs, or their capstone collection-making process. The capstone project is a collection of 10-12 looks designed and made by each student, accompanied by their portfolio for the creation of the collection. Their collections will be showcased in a yearly Landmark Fashion Show event organized by Mrs. McBride. Mrs. McBride comes to Landmark after years of experience working in marketing and textiles for Amazon.
Film Academy

Film Academy is led by Billy Dickson asc, who has over forty years of industry experience, including producing Ally McBeal, One Tree Hill, Believe, and many other television series and movies. Twice, Dickson's work with Ally McBeal was nominated for an Emmy. At Landmark, students in the film academy complete two years of consecutive film courses, culminating in work in the advanced courses where students are collaborating as a team on festival-length films.

The independent study work that students accrue is earned through taking on independent projects for the school and community, with a completed portfolio of self-directed creative work showcasing the students' ability to film, edit, and produce. The capstone project for the student occurs at the Landmark Film Festival where parents, students, school faculty, and community are invited to view the student portfolios.
Leadership Academy

A longtime offering at Landmark Christian School, Leadership Academy students participate in a series of modules offered outside of school hours. In these courses, students learn from industry experts on everything from ethics to team dynamics to goal setting and more. The program is led by Associate Head of School, Dr. Daniel Wesche.

Students earn their independent study through their required community service and project hours. Their capstone project will embody the leadership lessons learned throughout the program and will entail the design and execution of a practical leadership experience, field research, or a community service event approved by Dr. Wesche.
Music Academy

Taught by Steven Harriton, music industry professional for over twenty years, this course trains students in the complex world of collaborative songwriting and music production. Through studying well-written music, students will learn to apply well-established songwriting principles to communicate a theme well. Learning how to share ideas to their group and navigate compromise between differing visions of their art is a cornerstone of our interactive project-based learning environment. Production from various genres and time periods will inform students decisions with their own music. Music copyright, licensing, contracts, mixing, mastering, time feel, and music theory from a songwriting perspective will all be discussed.

Students fulfill their independent study requirement through required weekly private lessons in either their instrument or in music production using Pro Tools, the industry standard for engineering in the music business. Their class capstone project is a portfolio of songs in which they have written, performed, produced, and engineered. This portfolio is released to all digital streaming platforms under the name LCS Blackbox Production. This music is also entered into a music library through our partners in Los Angeles with the potential to be licensed for film/TV, earning students’ royalties on their art. Artist showcases at the end of the year, highlight the talent of these budding musicians and giving them live performance experience writing charts and working with musicians and sound professionals.
Visual Arts Academy

Shelia Gilkeson, veteran art educator and arts advocate, is the lead instructor for the traditional arts media. A focus in the visual arts may include sculpture, ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, digital, or a blended selection. Students begin producing a body of work rooted in knowledge and practice gained in foundational classes. Collaborative discussions between students and mentoring faculty launch the student into an artistic study fueled by the student’s passions, curiosity, and media interests.

Students earn independent study hours in the studio outside of class, off-site hands-on learning experiences, museum or gallery excursions, and documented personal studio time. The approved students’ capstone experience culminates in a collaborative show in our Black Box Theater with family and friends celebrating in true art-opening style.