Purpose: Every year, before any other staff development starts, we gather together all first and second year Academy teachers (regardless of years of experience at other schools) to begin the conversation about those things that distinguish The Academy from most other schools. Hopefully, at the end of these days, teachers will understand the philosophy of the school and be starting to modify their teaching style to accommodate it. A secondary purpose is to introduce all of the new staff to each other and start to build a sense of camaraderie and peer support.