Frequently Asked Questions
for Bridgeport International Academy

• How has Bridgeport International Academy (BIA) been developing?
  
  
• What have your alumni been doing since graduating from BIA?
  
  
• Is BIA accredited?
  
  
• What is required to graduate from BIA?
  
  
• What curriculum does your school offer?
  
  
• Are Advanced Courses available at BIA?
  
  
• What kind of facilties does BIA use from the University?
  
  
• Do you have any programs for International students?
  
  
• What are the Academy's plans for 2008-9?
  
  
• Are there any extra-curricular activities in BIA?
  
  
• Can students who do not live in Connecticut enroll at BIA?
  
  
• Who are your teachers? What courses do they teach?
  
  
• What makes BIA different from other schools?
  
  
• What are some of the unique aspects of BIA?
  
  
• What are some activities the students enjoy at BIA?
  
  
• Does BIA have a Student Council?
  
  
• What is the involvement of the Student Council in the school?
  
  
• What is the involvement of the PTA in the school?
  
  
• Do you offer scholarships?

How has Bridgeport International Academy (BIA) been developing?

Our state approved, college preparatory school began in 1997. In order to focus on academics, five years ago we rented out most rooms in our dormitory and became primarily a day school. We now have a core day student population and have arranged home-stay opportunities for several International students. This was a successful move. We are proud of the academic achievements of our students and the quality of our character education / community service program. In 2001, one BIA student qualified as a National Merit Finalist.

Local students from the greater Fairfield County/Bridgeport community make up the majority of our student body, although there are numerous International pupils from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds. Also, we have established a home-stay program with local host families in order to accommodate the International students who are enrolled at BIA. We have found this more stabilizing and economical than living in dorms; home-stay students have a family environment in a local home. Volunteers from active World CARP and Service for Peace chapters at the University of Bridgeport (UB) provide numerous activities, service opportunities, gatherings, and sports activities in addition to what the school provides.

What have your alumni been doing since graduating from BIA?

Graduates of BIA have been accepted by or are attending excellent Universities such as:

• Cornell University
• New York University
• U.C. Berkeley
• Georgetown University
• Boston University
• Boston College
• Drexel University
• Tuffs University
• Lehigh University
• Emory University
• University of Connecticut
• University of Bridgeport
• SUNY - Stony Brook University
• George Washington University

Is BIA accredited?

Yes.

On June 21, 2001, Bridgeport International Academy obtained state approval from the Department of Education of the State of Connecticut.

On December 29, 2001, BIA received approval from the Department of Homeland Security to issue an I-20 form, which enables an International student to obtain a F-1 nonimmigrant, student visa.

On December 1, 2004, the Academy was granted affiliation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

On March 15, 2007, BIA was elected to the institutional membership and was granted accreditation for ten years by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).


NEASC is the most prestigious national leveled accreditation given to public and independent schools, colleges and universities

What is required to graduate from BIA?

BIA requires students to have at least 23 credits in order to graduate from high school. That includes at least 4 English credit courses, 3 math credit courses, 3 science credit courses, 3 social study courses, 2 foreign language courses, and a variety of electives. BIA also requires 25 community service hours for each year that the student is enrolled.

What curriculum does your school offer?

Are Advanced Courses available at BIA?

Through an arrangement with UB, qualified Juniors and Seniors are able to take two university courses per semester. This program replaces AP courses. Students who take the university courses can accumulate high school credits and also three univeristy credits per a course. Some students have taken courses at the Housatonic Community College at their partnership program as well.

Some UB courses that BIA students are currently enrolled or have enrolled in past years are:

• English composition
• Creative Writing
• Literature and Civilization
• Intermediate Algebra
• College Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Introduction to Statistics
• Applied Statistics
• Pre-Calculus
• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Calculus III
• Discrete Mathematics
• Introduction to Computing I
• Introduction to Computing II
• Computer Graphics
• Computer Concepts
• Communications
• Economics
• International Business
• Psychology
• Principles of Physics I
• Principles of Physics II
• Fine Arts
• General Biology I
• General Biology II
• Elementary Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Intermediate Chemistry
• World Politics
• American History
• American Government
• Introduction to Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Personality Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Psychology Electives
• Beginners Japanese
• Intermediate Japanese
• Beginners Korean
• Intermediate Korean
• Beginners French
• Intermediate French
• Beginners Spanish
• Intermediate Spanish
• Martial Arts

What kind of facilities does BIA use from the University?

BIA students have the privilege of using

• the library to study and borrow books,
• Wheeler Recreation Center for physical education classes and sports clubs,
• Arnold Burnham Center (ABC Hall) for Performing arts and Ceramics,
• Marina Dining Hall for lunch and dinner,
• and the UB Student Center

Do you have any program for International students?

BIA has a well-developed program for non-English speaking students, beginning with a full English Language Learner program. Students advance to an intermediate program with content courses in basic English to prepare students for mainstream courses.

What are the Academy's plans for 2008-9?

Every year we develop new course offerings, upgrade our computer technology, and provide teachers with opportunities for professional development.

Mr. Raman Montanaro, who has two daughters attending BIA, has agreed to serve for this year as president of the PTA. And he has indicated that he wants to form a leadership council, consisting of several parents who are willing to volunteer to help support the school.

In October, we administered the PSAT test for Sophomores and Juniors. The PSAT is a national test that helps them to evaluate their strengths and their weaknesses in preparation for taking the SAT examination in the future. Results on the PSAT determine which students are eligible to receive National Merit recognition and therefore scholarships.

We intend to expand our ESL program for International students whose native language is not English. We have new Japanese students coming from the International Studies Institute in Japan in late April. We will be developing a family-style dorm house for them to live in. ESL students can take a variety of courses outisde the ESL curriculum as they are mainstreamed into the regular curriculum step-by-step.

Are there any extra-curricular activities in BIA?

One period per day is devoted to physical and creative activities such as:

• Art – Students gather to express their artistic talents with various activities
• Mentoring – Students watch and teach Kindergarteners and First Graders
• Chorus – Students sing a variety of songs such as Christmas Carols
• Drama – Students practice plays for grade school children
• Yearbook – Students make and decorate the Yearbook
• Martial Arts – Students exercise and learn basic kicks and punches
• P.E. – Students can enjoy playing sports in Wheeler Rec. Center or on the
• Yoga – Students relax and learn basic yoga stances

Can students who do not live in Connecticut enroll at BIA?

Yes! We found that running a high school dormitory is expensive since it requires providing meals, entertainment, transportation, medical attention, recreational activities and staff on a 24 hour basis. A core of families who live near UB are willing to host youth; for those interested in such an opportunity, we will seek a local family for them. This year we had seven home stay students. We will continue to open our dormitory to International students whose parents are willing and able to pay a substantial fee to cover the additional costs. We are working on the renovation of a large house shich we will call Seaview International House.

Who are your teachers? What courses do they teach?

Bridgeport International has a solid core of full-time teachers and adjuncts who teach foreign language, fine arts, and physical education courses. Most faculty members have graduate degrees.

Risun Jager teaches math courses to the students : Algebra I & II, Geomotry, and Pre Calculus. He graduated from New Mexico State University with a BS in Physics, and a minor in Math. He enjoys playing soccer in the afternoon and on weekends with the students, and playing guitar with the BIA band. He was also a professional Ballet Dancer before becomming a teacher.

Eileen Williams is our English/Literature teacher. With a BA in Education, she teaches American Literature, British Literature, World Literature and Writing and Grammar. She also teaches the Yoga class.

Joan van Geldern is the teacher for Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, and Health. She graduated from Washington State University with a Degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She also teaches the Choir Class, and Musical Theater as well.

Tatiana Vyazikina, who graduated from a teacher's college in Uzbekistan and taught there, works as our Modern World History and World Civilization teacher and monitors self-study, correspondence courses, and distance learning.

Nora Spurgin graduated from New York University, and in addition to serving as the dean of students, facilitates our character education and community service course which includes 25 hours of service per semester and discussions and presentations on values, ethical issues, and social and religious topics. Recently, students gave presentations on social issues, and the faculty presented the lives and teachings of the founders of the major world religions, including Judaism, Catholicism, and Unificationism. Two months were also focused on marriage and family life preparation. In addition, Mrs. Spurgin teaches a course entitled College and Careers to prepare students to take standardized tests, complete college applications, and discover their own skills and career interests.

Dr. Hugh Spurgin, a graduate from Collumbia University, teaches courses in U.S. History, American Government, and Modern World History.

Kenya Sohn, the computer administrator with an M.S. in education and a minor in computers from the University of Bridgeport, teaches several computer and computer graphics courses. As a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he serves as the instructor for the BIA Martial Arts course.

Kum Taek Oh, a master ceramist, teaches a much enjoyed, well-attended Ceramics class in a university studio outfitted with pottery wheels and kilns.

For our Korean and Spanish courses, we have two instructors, Paul Yonshik An and Grethel Burch respectively. Students wanting to study other languages are able to enroll in university courses as well. Diana Evenson is the primary instructor for our intensive English program for students whose native language is not English.

What makes BIA different from other schools?

Officially, BIA stands for Bridgeport International Academy. We have high standards on Academic excellence, values, and character education. BIA focuses on creating a global community that stands to bring together people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. BIA has high standards of academic excellence, values, and character education. BIA is a miniature global community that seeks to bring together people of diverse national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Every effort is made to provide each student with a healthy and safe environment for learning values, as well as knowledge that prepares students for a productive and meaningful life.

What are some of the unique aspects of BIA?

Many BIA students have studied in a variety of languages, countries, methods and schools. As a small school, BIA can properly credit students for their varied past educational experiences and offers students an opportunity to tailor their academic curriculum and social experience into one in which they will thrive. While students must meet strict graduation requirements, we are flexible in our curriculum, offer personalized instruction, and provide opportunities to make-up courses through correspondence and distance learning courses.

Our course offerings would not be complete without mentioning the wealth of opportunities available at the University. BIA has a special arrangement with UB for Juniors and Seniors to take a maximum of four university courses per year which means 12 or more college credits. This enables BIA students to broaden their horizons with a variety of English, science, mathematics, computer, psychology, foreign language, music, and fine art courses. They will receive both high school and college credit (This may vary by college). Thus, it is possible for a student to graduate from BIA with nearly one year of college credits, which is a tremendous financial benefit. Also, graduates of BIA receive a 30% discount in the costs of tuition at UB.

What are some activities the students enjoy at BIA?

Although our students have a full day of classes, many are involved in a variety of activities and clubs after school every day and over the weekends. Part of the reason for this is the fact that admission for a new club are relatively easy, only requiring a petition to the Student Council, and since most of the students live in the same general vicinity, it allows students to meet at any reasonable time, whether formally or informally, quite easily. A few of the clubs and after-school activities that are being run currently this year are:

• Student Council
  Composed of appointed/elected students who represent the student body, and help run the various activities that the students engage in each year.
• The WAIT Team
  WAIT (Washington AIDS International Teens) is a performing arts group that educates youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and empowers youth to use their talents to make a difference in the world, revolutionizing the culture and modeling abstinence and faithful life partnership. Many of students have joined the Bridgeport chapter of WAIT, which has been going for 5 years.
• Volleyball Club
  Some students enjoy playing on the volleyball club, an afterschool team that play for fun and love of the sport. We take advantage of the University's Wheeler Recreational Center and the beach for volleyball courts. The volleyball club is run by Mr. Sohn.
• Softball/Basketball Club
  Baseball is America's pasttime, but it is also very popular in the orient as well. This club, therefore, serves as a great way for students to join together and play a sport that people love. Thanks to the bountiful number of Softball Courts in Seaside Park, this makes the sport relatively easy to play. However, during the winter, the softball gloves are hung up, and all the students focus their attention on basketball, using Wheeler Recreation Center's newly redone basketball court.
• Soccer Club
  Soccer is a sport played in virtually every nation in the world, and we make no exception to that here. Led by Mr. Jager, our math teacher and soccer enthusiast, the students find a way to participate in one of the world's most popular sports. There is even talk that the soccer club might be able to play a few matches against local UB teams, exhibition style. Our students are able to take advantage of the Seaside Park's huge soccer fields, and may be able to use the UB soccer field in the future.
• Music Club
  The artistic talent in our students does not end with art, we also have a musical community as well. Using the school's 2 keyboards, drums, and many of the student's privately owned guitars, the music club is sure to make a lot of noise. Supervised by Guk-won An, and led by student Insung Harbour, the sounds the club makes must be heard to be believed.
• Service for Peace
  Service For Peace is an international not-for-profit organization that brings diverse groups together in service in order to cross barriers of race, religion, class, creed, or national origin, and address urgent social needs. There is a branch in UB that corresponds with the BIA community. Students in the past have often worked with Service for Peace as a way of fullfilling their community service requirement. One major event that almost all students attend is the yearly Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, run by Service for Peace.
• UB Tae-Kwon-Do classes
  A few students have joined the UB Tae-Kwon-Do class. This class is run by people who are part of the UB Martial Arts program, which is the first American Institution to have a B.A. in Martial Arts Studies. Martial arts has been long hailed as an activity which teaches self-discipline, determination, inner peace, and self-defense. While there is a fee associated with the program, many of the students have reported good things about the classes.
• The University Singers
  "The University Singers" is an unauditioned mixed-voice chorus, open to University of Bridgeport students, faculty, staff, alumni, and BIA students, as well as community members. The group exists uniquely as both a UB student organization and a credit-bearing course, to serve the different needs of our student population, as well as a community service. The Singers perform 4-6 times per year in a variety of venues, including on-campus concerts, performances in the greater Bridgeport area, and for campus-wide events such as the International Festival and Commencement.
• Community Service
  All students are required to fulfill a minimum of 75 hours of community service while attending BIA. This is one aspect of developing character and an awareness of community responsibility. BIA students have worked with the Boy Scouts of America, Service For Peace, SLAM, hospitals, elementary schools, and numerous other community projects.

Does BIA have a Student Council?

Yes, BIA offers a student-run council with an advisor. Student Council is a group of dedicated and responsible students who devote much of their own time and effort in order to organize, discuss, and implement almost all school social functions. The positions include President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, a representative from each grade level as well as an International Representative for students whose families are in another country. All Student Council members, with the exception of the president, are selected by the entire student body through an election process. The president is elected by the school's staff by proving that he/she is responsible, diligent, and motivated enough to be suitable for the position. Each student council meeting is held once a week for about an hour and it consists of discussing and organizing past and future events. In an interdependent circle, the members learn to cooperate and work with many others.

Some organized activities that student council has participated in are:

• Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
• Halloween Party
• "Lock-In"
• New York Trip
• Snack Shack
• Mother's Day Funderaising
• Car Washes
• Valentine's Day Funderaising

What is the involvement of the Student Council in the school?

As with most schools, our Student Body has a representative body that helps to run the many programs and events that happen throughout a regular school year. This representative body is called the Student Council. Student Council members are elected for various positions during a school-wide election after campaign speeches are given. After being elected, this Student Council takes on the responsibility of mediating between the administration and of leading and listening to our incredibly diverse community. Helping to make events that can bond our students together across boundaries, it has had an immense positive impact in the school. A few of the intiatives that they spearhead are:

• Halloween Party
• Christmas NYC trip
• Six Flags trip
• Camp Sunrise
• Lock-ins
• The Snack Shack
• Clubs
• Operation Koki's Kool

What is the involvement of the PTA in the school?

The PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) meets once a month at the school to give the parents and teachers a chance to meet and discuss the progress of each student. The PTA leaders plan the meetings and organize events. They have speakers come in and talk about academic development, school system development, and financial aid for college to the parents of Juniors and Seniors. The PTA is actively involved with the students' events and activities and are always willing to help out in any way.

Do you offer scholarships?

We try to keep our costs as low as possible. At the present time, we do not offer scholarships although that is our goal.

For more information, please contact BIA

BIA intends to hire more teachers in the near future. Our Academy has a particular need for English and ESL teachers, although we will consider applications from both experienced and new teachers in a variety of disciplines.If you are interested in helping to build a college preparatory school in an exciting, dynamic location or in attending BIA, please write to Dr. Hugh and Mrs. Nora Spurgin, Bridgeport International Academy, 400 Linden Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604; phone (203) 334-3434; send an email to hdspurgin@bridgeportacademy.org ; or consult our website: http://www. bridgeportacademy.org.

• TEL: (203) 334-3434 • Fax: (203) 334-8651 • E-mail: hdspurgin@bridgeportacademy.org Copyright (c)2004 All rights reserved