Interview Series-No. 6

Parent: Lindsey Butters transitioned her two children from her neighborhood DPS to a charter school in Aurora.

Q. Describe your transitional experience or scenario.

A. We have a 1st grader and a 3rd grader and I would describe our transition as very difficult.  My kids have to wake up an hour and a half earlier for their new school, stay in school 45 minutes longer, and have much more homework.

Q. What circumstances led to this decision?

A. There was nothing wrong with the school we were previously attending, which was our neighborhood school, and our decision to transfer was not based on disliking that school.  There’s a lot we miss about it. We applied to many charter schools and ended up getting into our first choice.  We wanted diversity, uniforms, and a Core Knowledge curriculum. We got all three.

Q. What type of school did your child previously attend and what type of school do they attend now?

A. We formerly went to our neighborhood DPS and now we attend a Vanguard Classical School (a Core Knowledge charter school) in the Aurora School System.

Q. How do the educational experiences differ?

A. Our neighborhood school was great.  We loved the teachers and life was much simpler when my kids went there.  But I felt like my kids needed a different approach to their education.  I felt that they needed a longer school day and I craved putting my kids in uniforms since clothing choice was becoming an all out battle every morning.  I also wanted them to be in a K-8 school.

At Vanguard, each class of thirty has 2 full time teachers and a paraprofessional.  My kids are immersed in Latin 3 times a week, are using the Singapore Math methodology, and are learning a rigorous phonetics curriculum that I find fascinating and continually learn from.  My children are reading not only fiction but also for content – physiology, East Asian Geography, the significance of holy rivers, writing essays properly, they even dissected a cow’s brain one day.  The kids are responsible not only for their own body of knowledge but also their lifestyle–part of their homework is exercise and my kids do it!  I feel like we are in a private school that is open to the public and completely free.

My kids are shell-shocked because they were not getting near this level of work at their old school.  We sincerely miss the kindness and creative approach our neighborhood school took to our kids’ education.  But, I cannot argue with the fact my six year old knows details about Hatshepsut and her relevance in Egyptian history or that my eight year old can spell words well beyond her ability with her knowledge of phonetics.  In our case, transferring to this school has been well worth the sacrifice.

The other benefit of this school is that the teachers take their professional days in the summer so we no longer have to deal with random, no-contact professional days.

Q. What advice can you give that will help others when going through a similar experience?

A. Do exhaustive research.  Each school offers something different and choosing a school can only be done case by case.  Check your judgment of yourself and others at the door and keep in mind that the education of one’s child is an important and private decision.  No one knows better than the parent what is right for his or her child’s educational needs. Above all, be proactive – apply everywhere.  You can always say no if the switch would be too hard on your family.  We have options in Denver; we ought to take advantage of them.

School: Highline Academy

Type: Charter School-(Chartered by DPS)

Website: http://www.highlineacademy.org/site/home

Tours:  Open House- Contact school to inquire about tours.

Enrollment: When applying to a charter school you must contact the school directly for information on the application process.

Main Phone: 720.449.0317

Principal: Gregg Gonzales

Location: 2170 S. Dahlia Street, Denver, CO  80222–southeast Denver

Hours: 7:30 AM -3:30 PM (M, T, Th, Fri) and Wed. 7:30 AM-2:10 PM

Grades: K-8^th grade

Average Class Size: Approximately 460 students attend this school. There are 2 classrooms per grade level. Literacy classes average 19 students and the average math class averages 18 students.

Before/After Care: Kids Adventures is the before and after school program. They also provide activities for the students to participate in during school vacations as well as summer break. After school programs such as Destination Imagination and Girls on the Run are also available for the children.

Facilities/Playground: This school is very unique compared to most traditional public or charter schools I visited. It is located in a renovated warehouse surrounded by office buildings and other warehouses rather than a traditional school building. I attended an evening Open House so I was unable to see the playground. I was told there are two playgrounds–one playground for the younger children and one for the middle school students. The students themselves helped to design them. What a novel idea and great teaching moment! The playground area consists of basketball courts, four square and tetherball courts, along with playground equipment for the younger children. There is no grass area for fields or organized play.

Special & Core Programs: The “Reach” program strongly emphasizes the school’s core values. Highline wants to teach their students how to succeed in diverse environments such as college, the work place and the community. The five values taught are: responsibility, empowerment, aspiration, citizenship, and honesty.  The children are taught these character traits then asked to implement them in their daily routine.  Each month students are selected and recognized for demonstrating these values. Handprints, representative of these children, line a school wall in the cafeteria. Students may be recognized for “reaching out” (community service), “reaching in” (self-growth), or “reaching up” (academic excellence).

Highline has a strong community partnership with the University of Denver’s School of Psychology (a psych clinic is stationed on the premises). University students work with some of Highline’s students (permission granted by parents) one on one or in small groups. From year to year, you can also find student teachers and tutors from various colleges also working with the children. I love the idea of schools partnering with universities. It’s a win-win situation for the children, the staff, and the university students. Everyone learns something or has something to offer. Also, seventh grade students spend a day at DU each year. They go to college classes where the professors teach to their level. The students eat in the dining hall. This field trip is a big thrill for the kids and reinforces the importance of education and college.

Highline’s curriculum consists of a Core Knowledge program. It is the means by which they teach at this school. The program emphasizes a sequential and integrated approach to learning (interdisciplinary approach). The school has outperformed DPS in most subject areas at all grade levels on the CSAP.

Some other programs for the students are:  a student council for middle school students, many after school sports such as volleyball, tennis, and flag football and the opportunity for children to interact with other students from varying grade levels on special projects. There is performance grouping for the students in math and literacy. Children are grouped together by their performance skills (not their age). If a child needs to be challenged in a specific subject, they may move up to the next grade level for instruction.

Impressions: A friend told me about Highline Academy a couple of years ago so I wasn’t surprised when I found myself driving down a street lined with warehouses on my way to the Open House. I took a turn into an industrial park lined with warehouses and office buildings. If you didn’t know anything about this school, I’m sure many parents would be surprised at its location and its unconventional setting. I told myself to keep in mind the exterior of a building doesn’t make the school; it’s the community, the leadership, and the learning within the walls that does. Inside the facility looks like a school for the most part. Highline Academy has one more year in the building. The school will move to another location within the southeast neighborhood and they are currently considering several options nearby.

The school building itself is small. A small, safe community is something they pride themselves on. There is no kitchen in the cafeteria. Hot lunch is made at another school close by, brought to Highline, and sits on warmers until the students arrive for lunch. I was told (didn’t see it on the tour) a library and two computer labs are in the building. One computer lab is reserved for teachers and students working on special projects; the other lab is for technology instruction.

During the Open House that evening, I made my way down a long, narrow hallway passing by offices and some classrooms. Chairs were set up in a foyer like area while the principal, staff, as well as students, sat on stools facing the 40 or so people gathered. The staff and students welcomed us by sharing words which best represented their school such as accepting, family, diversity. I really enjoyed the intimate feel of this gathering. This school prides itself on community, and I got that vibe from the moment I arrived.

The new principal, a former educator and assistant principal at Highline, gave an overview that included Highline’s mission, curriculum, and the many things that make their school unique. Some of these things included the core knowledge program, Spanish instruction beginning in Kindergarten, small class size, a competitive and growing athletic department. A Question & Answer session followed.

We then broke into small groups to ask specific questions relating to the grade levels that our child would be enrolling in. A couple of teachers and students answered the various questions people had. What a clever idea it was to have teachers representing various grade levels sharing their expertise with the parents! I asked the students during the Q & A to share what they loved about their school. One child responded, “Our school is accepting of all children. Everyone knows each other and it feels like a family.” The other student liked the winter concert and the 5^th grade students partnering with the Kindergartners for Reading Buddies. I loved the idea of students being included in this Open House. The students were well versed in answering the questions and their school spirit was contagious. The students then led us on a tour of the building. It was also nice that staff members joined the tour for more in depth responses to the questions we had.

There are two classrooms per grade level K-8^th grade. Some of the classrooms I observed had no doors. I thought about how distracting it must be for students within the classroom to deal with noise in the hallways especially when children are making transitions. Some of the classrooms were more traditional with desks in a row while other classrooms had desks grouped together indicating cooperative learning. The first grade classrooms were not classrooms at all. They were found in an area of the school with only a dividing wall separating them from the hallway (the divider walls were not from floor to ceiling). One of the Kindergarten classrooms was set up like this as well.  Due to this arrangement, some classrooms felt very small and crowded while others were spacious. Again, I couldn’t help but think of the noise distraction and how disruptive it must be for young children when concentrating on the task at hand. A staff member on our tour assured us that children adapt quickly.  I confess that I got hung up on this non-traditional school environment and I’m very supportive of the charter school movement. It’s definitely not for everyone. Families looking at charter schools tend to be looking for non-traditional learning environments so I doubt they would have an issue with this.

The children wear uniforms because the focus is supposed to be on academics and not one’s attire. The diverse student population represents over 40 countries. I thought that statistic was pretty amazing and how lucky for these children to be immersed amongst other children with such varying backgrounds! I also liked the fact that Highline purposely sets aside a specific percentage of their enrollment for children of low-economic status (about 30% of children qualify for free and reduced lunch). This allows for even greater diversity.

Another student-focused program I learned about was their Ambassador program. When a new student arrives at Highline they are immediately partnered with a buddy for a period of time. This buddy shows them the ropes so to speak and helps make their transition from their old school to their new one, as comforting as possible. What better way to help a new student acclimate to his/her new surroundings! I loved the idea of this program. If you are looking for a school that hosts an alternative approach to learning, along with a small, close knit, diverse community where children are granted various opportunities to “reach out” to help one another while developing leadership skills in the process, Highline may be the school for your child.

We welcome your comments and impressions on your experience with Highline Academy.

School: ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL of EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING (a.k.a. RMSEL “rem-zul”)

Website: http://www.rmsel.org/

Type: RMSEL-Public School of Choice (BOCES-Board of Cooperative Educational Services)

Open Houses/Tours: Tours are on the first Thursday of every month (except April) September through May at 8:30 AM.

Admission Process: Please visit the enrollment page of the RMSEL Website for full details.

Main Phone: 303-759-2076

Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Executive Director: Kerry Lord

Operations Director (and Enrollment): Leann Asgari

Location: 1700 South Holly Street, Denver, CO 80222 (Hampden / Virginia Vale Neighborhood)

Ages/Grades: K-12

Average Class Size: 24 – never to exceed 25

Before/After Care: Afterschool programs are run by the YMCA as well as various enrichment programs run by parents, staff and community members.

Facilities and Playground: RMSEL is located in the former Ash Grove Elementary school in southeast Denver. The building is old and certainly nothing special to look at.  The playground, though I didn’t get much of a tour of the outside, looks aged and in need of a serious upgrade too.  This is one of those cases where you simply can’t judge a book by its cover.  There is a lot more to RMSEL than meets the eye. 

Special & Core Programs: The RMSEL philosophy is based on the principles of Outward Bound and organizes its curriculum around multidisciplinary learning expeditions. They place a high value on interdisciplinary learning, collaborative learning, active engagement in real issues, content and skills, development and demonstrations of deep knowledge, higher-order thinking skills and effective communication, service and character.  The have the usual PE, art and technology specials and once students reach the high school grades they have Spanish.  Due to budgetary issues, the music and Spanish programs have been limited.

Impressions: If there is any indication of how great a school is by how crowded the open houses are, then the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary learning must be something very special.  It was a snowy and freezing morning yet there must have been 80-100 brave and interested souls crowding the auditorium.  I was greeted by just about the cutest and friendliest students (one 5^th grader and one 6^th grader). At the door they directed me into the room and over to a table where the Director of Operations, Leann Asgari, stood answering questions and explaining the nuances of the student portfolios on display.  The wall was painted with the school motto: “We Are Crew Not Passengers.” Now how about that!  A school that encourages students to be leaders and not followers that requires being involved and not going along for the ride, and one that develops and nourishes each student’s talents by allowing the study of personal interests.  Education at RMSEL is about taking a journey; not simply a ride through mandatory subject matter.

RMSEL has been accredited as a “School of Distinction” which includes high graduation rates (last year it was 100%), student satisfaction and rigorous academic standards. What makes this particularly interesting is just as the students are continually learning, so too are the staff.  The teachers at RMSEL spend at least two hours a week (after or before school hours) on continuing education – they are expected to do so or they will not last long at the school.

As I sat there and listened to the Executive Director, Kerry Lord, and the Administrative Director, Keri Melmed, speak passionately about their school, I felt inspired by their enthusiasm and dedication to a community of thinkers and doers.  What I keep trying to remember is that as we look at schools, we cannot forget that it is our children that will be spending their days in this environment.  Is it the right place for them – not us?  Do we like or dislike this school because of our own mores and values or do our little ones need a school like this to help them blossom into the person they are already beginning to be?

Of all of the school tours and open houses I’ve been to, I felt the most informative and helpful to be those that included the students in the mix.  There really is no excuse for leaving out the exact people that your children will be exposed to as peers.  At RMSEL, those that greeted me were 5^th graders and 6^th graders.  Every DPS, private, faith-based, charter, etc. goes up to at least 5^th grade.  There couldn’t be a better way to teach leadership, social skills and self-confidence than having them greet or speak to adults.  At RMSEL, a panel full of students, 5^th through 12^th grade spoke about their experiences at the school.  They were articulate and exuded confidence and pride in their school.  Their little hearts may have been beating with fear– but we never would have known it.  How many of you can get up in front of a crowd of 100 people and speak without notes or serious medication?!

While visiting the classrooms, once again, they were nothing special too look at but what was within those walls did seem special.  The students were engaged, friendly and by the sheer number of wool hats being worn, sure didn’t mind that it was freezing cold in the building!  I witnessed two way communications between students and teachers.  Groups of students in a classroom are called a “crew” – which is their motto. The kids encourage fellow classmates in their crew.

It may be too early to tell, but if your child is showing signs of interest in exploration or design or oceanography or physical fitness – perhaps botany or paleontology or photography or sustainability, this might be the school for them.  Though the students are encouraged to explore any subject which is of great interest to them, more often than not, it seemed to be something in the area of the sciences.  No matter what the interest, it was clear that each student, throughout their years, is strongly encouraged by crewmates and staff and become heavily invested in succeeding.   

School: The Odyssey School

Type: Charter School (chartered by DPS)-Expeditionary Learning School

Website: www.odysseydenver.org

Tours: Monthly tours start in September. Some evening tours are available closer to the time of the lottery in February. See website or contact school for dates and times.

Main Phone: 303.316.3944

Executive School Director: Marcia Fulton

Location: *Update: new address 6550 East 21st Ave. Denver, CO 80207

Hours: 8:10 am- 3:15 pm

Grades: K-8

Average Class Size: Approximately 224 students attend. There are 24-25 students in each “crew.” In 6^th – 8^th grade, crews have fewer of students because they are divided into groups for certain subjects.

Before/After Care: Kaleidoscope Corner and My Enrichment-a program that provides afterschool enrichment classes to students at Odyssey, Bill Roberts and Westerly Creek.

Playground: Since the school is about seven years old, the playground area is in great condition. Any child would love this outdoor play arena. There is a very large blacktop for organized play, a basketball court, and a giant field which includes a baseball diamond. There is a small, thriving garden that is cared for by the students.

Special & Core Programs: The Odyssey School is a dynamic Expeditionary Learning community dedicated to fostering each child’s unique potential and spirit of adventure through exemplary standards of character, intellectual achievement, and social responsibility. The school draws its direction and strength from Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Design Principles. These educational principles provide a powerful framework for personal growth through physical challenge and service. The curriculum is designed around rigorous, purposeful, project-based learning expeditions tied to Colorado State Standards. Learning expeditions are long-term, in-depth investigations of a topic engaging students through projects, service, and fieldwork. This educational philosophy differs from a traditional approach where each subject is taught separately. There are generally 2-3 expeditions during the school year.

One example of an expedition 2^nd and 3^rd graders would engage in is the Cardiovascular System. During this expedition you might find the students dissecting cow hearts, creating heart healthy recipes, and visiting the Bonfils Blood Center. These are a few of the many engaging activities that occur while learning about this topic in-depth. At the conclusion of the expedition, the students present their findings to a panel of doctors. The children work both individually and in small groups. Daily reflection is a vital part of their day as well.

There are also the six “Habits of a Learner” that are an integral part of the culture.   Students are expected to be both academically brilliant as well as thoughtful people and life-long learners.  Every few years, the students go through a passage process whereby each student must prove in a portfolio and through a panel presentation that they are proficient in the “Habits of a Learner”.  The six Habits are: Revision, Inquiry, Perspective Taking, Responsibility, Collaboration/Leadership, and Stewardship/Service.

Impressions: The Odyssey School is located “smack dab” in the middle of the Stapleton Neighborhood. On my first visit about two years ago, I was surprised to learn that it shared the same building with another Stapleton neighborhood school, Westerly Creek. It’s unfortunate it doesn’t have its own building and grounds, but they certainly do make the most of it! The building itself is seven years old and that’s how long the Executive Director, Marcia Fulton, has been there. I recently spoke to her about the school. She was a pleasure to talk to and enthusiastic about what Odyssey has to offer children. I also attended a tour of this school about two years ago. The presentation tends to be somewhat corporate, like some say, complete with a Power-point slide show, Q & A forum, and tour of the facility. I thought it was a well-organized presentation and was the best way to accommodate a large audience. I counted more than 75 parents in attendance at my tour!

As stated above, this school shares the same building as Westerly Creek Elementary. Indoor space (such as the auditorium and cafeteria) as well as the outdoor space (playground), is common ground for both schools. When walking down a hall at the Odyssey school, you will be led directly into Westerly Creek. Overall space is therefore limited.

There is a diverse student body represented at Odyssey. As we made our way around the school, I remember the children being very engaged in their classrooms. A few students I spoke to were thrilled to chat with me about what they were learning and I was impressed with their candidness. It’s a far cry from a traditional school where classrooms of students are sitting at desks in rows with teacher led instruction. In most of the classrooms at this school, students were on the floor, working in groups, and conversing around tables. The teachers at Odyssey are highly qualified, passionate educators who are skilled facilitators guiding children through the learning expeditions. It was great to see a mix of both female and male educators. They collaborate with their colleagues, parents, and community members to ensure a rich, learning experience. Typical grade levels are not found here, instead, a configuration of classrooms consist of the following: Kindergarten/1^st grade are a loop, 2nd/3^rd grades  and 4th/5th grades are multi-age, 6^th grade is self-contained with a designated math teacher, and 7th/8th is multi-age.

The school is dependent on parent volunteers. Marcia told me that the volunteers help make the program possible. Volunteers are needed to help out with daily classroom activities and to assist on field trips (some which are overnight). It’s a real time commitment being a part of this school but at the same time, a testament to the program’s high expectations, standards, and achievements. There is a Family Counsel (a.k.a. PTA) that runs two big fundraisers a year. It feels like a real cohesive community.

It’s been said that children have to be very independent to be a good fit for this school, but contrary to that belief, Marcia feels that each child naturally adapts. She believes it’s the parents who must buy into the unique educational philosophy. Odyssey has become a very popular choice for Denver families especially those who feel strongly about the expeditionary philosophy. Marcia stated she has seen an upward trend each year in applications. This year alone there were 300 students on the wait list with 20 slots open at the time of the lottery. The lottery takes place in February and priority is given to those who qualify for free/reduced lunch, along with siblings of students that currently attend.

I am very impressed with Odyssey’s website. It is creative, informative, and current. The website describes in depth about the Expeditionary Learning model. One of the staff members, along with a parent is responsible for keeping it active.

We welcome your comments and impressions on your experience with The Odyssey School.