Future Ready Institutes

In September of 2019, SDHS was chosen by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee for their 2nd BlueCross Technology Academy in HCS’s Future Ready Institute Programs. BCBST has given our community of Soddy Daisy a tremendous gift that will make a huge impact on our students, our school, and our community! Future Trojans have some great things to look forward to in the area of technology, coding, web design, cybersecurity, and networking. We “officially” launched our program in August of 2020 with over 70 students interested in learning about technology, in the areas of Computer Science (coding) and Web Development/Design.

ALL students have room in their schedules to be BCTA@SDHS and other award-winning programs like Sports, JROTC, and Band. A lot of the students are active in multiple areas of student life at SDHS. Come Join us!

The big news was announced on March 8, 2021. BlueSky Institute information was released for the Class of 2022. Read more

Today, we are enjoying our new BCTA@SDHS Suite which includes:

• A Design Lab with 24 Mac Computers.
• A Coding Lab with 24 dual monitors and docking stations for the students.
• 2 Collaboration Rooms for groups of 4 students, including a 35″ smart TV, PC computer, workspace, and whiteboards.
• Conference Room for 15 people, equipped with 75″ TV, with a webcam for presentations and collaboration.
• SDHS’s Web Team’s Collaboration Room equipped with a Mac computer with Wacom Cintiq Monitor, PC Computer with dual Monitor, smart tv, workspaces, and a whiteboard.  These students run the school website and have their own space!
• Large Group Presentation Space for 50 people, for guest speakers and large group presentations, including a TV wall built with 4 – 75″ smart TVs.
• And don’t forget, the coffee bar for our guest presenters and community partners to enjoy.

Technology include:

• Cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) used for coding, supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Student-created and maintained Cloud-based servers used to run websites and apps using AWS.
• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and more!)
• Some of the coding languages covered in both programs of study: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Java, and Python. 
• Game Engine: Unity
• Monitoring Google Analytics on SDHS Social Media accounts and YouTube Channel.
• Industry Certifications:
  • CompTIA – ITF. (IT Fundamentals)
  • Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification
  • AP Computer Science Principles
  • Duel Enrollment Coding I and II, Web Development
• Access to large format printing using HP DesignJet.
• Various coding resources for students to use, like Arduinos and Sphero RVR.
• Access to equipment to explore VR (virtual reality)
• Computer Hardware includes Mac OS and PC OS.

Additional Activities for Students to participate in:

• Girls in Tech Club
• eSports Team
• Future Ready Institute Ambassadors representing BCTA@SDHS by grade level (including Leadership Training)
• Challenge Projects

Guest Speakers include:

• Joshua Davis – Presented information for Corporate Values and Mission Statement PBL (Fall 2020)
• BCTA Launch Event – Funky Coder – How does Coding and Hip Hop Dancing Relate?  (Fall 2020)
• Dan Foster and Chris Hurst – StratusGrid Cyber Security Month Presenters (Fall 2020)
• Denise Thomas – BCBSTN Intranet (front-side) presentation on how a corporation uses internal news/social media to promote company culture. (Fall 2020)
• James Barksdale – BCBSTN Cyber Security presentation. Find out more about James.
• Tim Skinner – BCBSTN Intranet (back-end) presentation on how a corporation’s intranet functions. (Winter 2019)
• Jennifer Weaver – BCBSTN presentation to Girls in Tech Club discussing career path in IT Fields/College options. (Fall 2020)
• Chelsea Johnson – BCBSTN judge for Robot Pumpkin Challenge using coding, Makey Makey, and a pumpkin (grade level contest – Fall 2020)
• Allison Salmon – Figment Games – Introduction to Game Development for 9th-grade students (January 2021)
• Future Presenters planned for 2021:
  • BCBSTN HR Department working with 11th-grade students on soft skills for employment/certifications.
  • BCBSTN CyberSecurity
  • BCBSTN Network

Jump Start Your College Career by Participating in T.I.M.E

Making Opportunities Now – Empower Yourself (M.O.N.E.Y)

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@SDHSFutureReady   #TIMEisMONEY

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The Trojan Institute of Media and Entrepreneurship offers a unique career-based education through smaller learning communities. At SDHS, our institute focuses on Entrepreneurship and Video Production. In our small learning community, reduced class sizes and individual attention is a huge benefit.

The student will be grouped with other students that share the same interest. The community will help students that are interested in a particular field by providing better learning opportunities based on real-world experiences.

If you think about treating the T.I.M.E.’s small learning community like college: students spend their first two years taking required core classes along with entry-level courses in Video Production and Entrepreneurship. Students would then decide on one or more of these career paths to focus on. More in-depth classes exploring one or more of the T.I.M.E. areas of study would be available for the students during their junior and senior years.

T.I.M.E. is built on four principles:

• Relevant Instruction
• Partnerships Beyond School
• Post-Secondary Jump Start
• Student Choice

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Student Ambassador – Future Ready Institute

Mission: The Ambassadors Program is a student-led organization that represents the student body at SDHS in a variety of roles that range from raising awareness of our various college and career academies among businesses, other outside organizations, parents, and prospective academy students. They also participate in citywide programs.

The duties of the Student Ambassador include:

• Attend Ambassador Training.
• Conduct visitor tours of Soddy Daisy High School and our Future Ready Institute.
• Serve as host for open house events, workshops, college fairs, etc.
• Serve in other leadership capacities as requested.Read more about being an Ambassador.

Apply for SDHS T.I.M.E. Student Ambassador

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What is a Future Ready Institute Partner? A Future Ready Institute School Partner’s role may consist of a business or community organization willing to support the growth and development of Hamilton County’s future talent and able to establish a formal partnership agreement with SDHS T.I.M.E.

The overall partnership will result in the collaboration of the school and partner in preparing students for a successful post-secondary life. Partnership activities will vary, depending on the institute’s needs and business interests, and available resources.

Read more on becoming an SDHS T.I.M.E. Community Partner!

Are you interested in becoming a valuable SDHS T.I.M.E. partner?
Contact: Amanda Baron, SDHS Future Ready Institute Administrator
Bree Dalton, Lead Teacher ( Marketing)
Chris Lane, Lead Teacher ( A/V)
Clint Steele Lead Teacher ( WBL/ Department Head)
423.332.8828

Partnership Agreement Form (PDF)

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During the first semester of freshman year, T.I.M.E, students participate in:

• Field Trip to TV Station (Video Production)
• Field Trip to Camp Lookout for the beginning of the year team building event.
• T.I.M.E. T-shirts (Team Building including all Video Production, Entrepreneurship)

During the second semester of freshman year, T.I.M.E, students participate in:

• Field Trip to TV Station (Video Production)
• Whole Future Ready Institute PBL event to introduce students to the Entrepreneurship program.
• Promoting T.I.M.E. to the community to build our program, make connections, and present our successes.

Future enrichment ideas for 10th-12th grade students in the T.I.M.E:

• Field Trip to Startup Week (T.I.M.E students to network with Community Entrepreneurs)
• Field Trip to Amazon (Marketing, Customer Service, Fulfillment Center Management)
• Field Trip Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta (Marketing, Media, Online Ticket Sales)
• Field Trip to RTIC at the Chattanooga Police Department (Real Time Information Center – Digital Media, Technology)

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