b'STRUCTURED,INTENTIONAL CULTURESTRUCTURE UNLOCKS JOYOur structured, intentional culture means teachers and scholarsNashville Classicals athletic program initially started as a co-op program with know exactly whats expected of them every day. Everyone feelsanother school, but Coach Parker quickly realized they needed their own team to part of the same team.maintain their school culture on the court and hold scholars accountable.Research shows there is comfort in routines. Our community allows scholars to step outside of their comfort zone as they learn, take risks, and develop the critical thinking skills they need to be lifelong learners. CULTURE GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND ONTO THE COURTAt Nashville Classical, excellence is a habit and extends beyond the classroom. When Coach Parker Kids know exactly where to sit and how to sit, how tolaunched Nashville Classicals athletics program, she knew it was an opportunity to bring Nashville walk in the hallways, how to set up their materials atClassicals structured, intentional culture to the locker room, gym, and beyond. the start of every class because they have these reallySports saved my life, she said, explaining that she grew up attending public schools in Nashville clear expectations, and it unlocks all this other time forSTUDENT CULTURE and saw many friends struggle later in life after their education fell off track. If it werent for sports learning and joy. They dont have to worry about whatholding me accountable, I wouldnt have done my work. I wasnt motivated by my teachers or my is my teacher wanting me to do right now. Instead, theyAt Nashville Classical, scholars areparents. I did what I needed to do to ensure I got the grade I needed to play, she said. can really focus on learning and enjoying what theyreexpected to put both character andNow, Coach Parker is teaching these lessons to a new generation. learning. It makes the classroom a safe space. academics first by demonstrating F.I.R.S.T.All scholars in Nashville Classicals athletic program agree to and sign the schools Athletic Code habitsFocus, Integrity, Resilience,of Conduct, committing to model exceptional behavior and academic performance, and facing lost Sarah Paquin, Founding Teacher Scholarship, and Team. To elevate the importance of these values, a newplaying time as a consequence when they dont follow through. Scholar athletes are expected to be program for 7th and 8th-grade scholarsleaders across the school and their community, mentoring younger scholars, leading pep rallies, and STAFF CULTURE allows them to serve as role models tohelping across the school. younger scholars on the FIRST HabitsSeveral boys who struggled with behavior regularly in 5th and 6th grade totally turned around in For five straight years, Nashville Classical has scored in the topTeam. Once they are on the team,7th and 8th grade because they felt accountable to their teammates and their school, Coach Parker national quartile on the The New Teacher Projects Insight survey. said.Whether they play the sport for the rest of the semester or the rest of their lives, I know 97% 95% 92% scholars can serve as restroom monitors,theyre building habits that are critical to their future success.arrival and dismissal captains, office helpers, and peer tutors.of teachers agreeof teachers agree orof teachers agreeor strongly agreestrongly agree Theor strongly agreeMy schoolexpectations forDay-to-Day implements aeffective teachingoperations at rigorous academicare clearly definedmy school run curriculum. at my school. smoothly.94% of Nashville Classical Teachers who were offered a contract returned for the 2023-2024 school year. The program started with basketball and cheerleading during the 2021-22 school 12 | Our First 10 Years year. Soccer, Theater, and Jazz Band were added to offer a full suite of enrichmentsOur First 10 Years | 13during the 2023-24 school year, serving over 100 scholar-athlete-artists.'