WHAT IS THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL?
The Greenspire School is a charter partnership with Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) that will offer a unique educational program for middle school students based on purposeful connections between people, communities and the environment that sustains us all. It will incorporate Montessori philosophy and method, place-based education in collaboration with many community partners, hands-on learning indoors and out, and small, multi-age classes.
The Greenspire School will immerse students in learning through biology and chemistry in relation to watersheds and rivers; through development of mathematics and geometry skills in relation to simple machines and building projects that are utilized in agriculture and the community; and through an understanding of the role of humans as stewards of the environment developed through the study of history and civilizations and their corresponding literatures, economic systems, physics, patterns of energy use, environmental impacts and technologies.
WHEN WILL THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL OPEN?
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the school will be open for 6th and 7th graders in the fall of 2011!
WHAT EXACTLY IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?
A charter school is a public school without the boundaries that a local, neighborhood school has. It is one that arises to fill a specific need within the area it serves. It must give assurances that its program will result in superlative education to the extent that an authorizer is willing to put its good name to the charter.
All public schools – local, neighborhood public school and charters – must meet Michigan scholastic standards, through the MEAP and other indicators.
WHERE IS THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL LOCATED?
Sitting on nearly 500 acres of state and local parklands, The Greenspire School is centrally located at 1026 Red Dr., Traverse City, in the Grand Traverse Commons, near Building 36 and the TBAISD building.
The Greenspire facility was specifically designed as an environmentally sound school, a teaching tool in and of itself. Our vision of the outdoor classroom, then, includes in it the interaction between our facilities and nature. Our facilities currently include a chicken coop and maple syrup shack. As a public charter school, we anticipate student construction of a greenhouse to deepen experiential knowledge of the agricultural curriculum.
IS THERE TUITION FOR THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL?
There is NO tuition. We will be a charter public school and will receive per pupil funding from the State of Michigan, just as all other public schools do.
HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL THERE BE?
Greenspire will enroll up to 40 students in grades 6 and 7 in Year One. Plans for an addition to the school building will permit an increase in enrollment up to 180 students in subsequent years.
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WHAT WILL THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL CURRICULUM BE LIKE?
The Greenspire School’s curriculum aligns with Michigan state standards. Students will study the core disciplines through thematic inquiry that is driven by project based, fundamental problems to be solved and with select components chosen by the student. Where applicable, the teacher will reinforce key concepts through either formal or informal individual or group lessons.
The occupations, or project areas that form the core of our school’s curriculum, are horticulture, architecture and construction, food science, and inventors’ workshop. In these occupational projects, students do practical work while studying the science, math, and other subject areas related and needed for their work. Students will be supported and guided by the teachers and, whenever possible, knowledgeable community experts. For example, in the horticulture occupation, students will be responsible for investigating and learning the required knowledge and skills to run an organic garden for their own consumption or for sale at the local farmers market. The students study the integrated field of horticulture that includes biology, chemistry, and earth sciences. They also learn business, project management, and math skills. These occupational projects thereby provide an opportunity for students to learn and apply their knowledge in engaging and real work. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
WHAT WILL THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL’S INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD BE?
Our model of place-based learning has students design projects that they then carry out with the assistance and consultation of their teachers and specialists from the community. Within this framework, students will engage in varied methods of instruction:
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Individualized and small group instruction
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Large Groups: for student and guest presentations, productions, and large group morning meetings known as "council"
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Socratic Method: a specific pedagogy of question and responses
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Multi-age instruction: mentoring provides positive teaching opportunities and allows students to work at their own pace in specific academic areas
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Key Presentations/Stories: brief, lively, story-like presentations by the adult/teacher to establish common background information, common vocabulary necessary for study, or common story frameworks
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Personal Connecting Journaling: students connect the concepts and information they have digested with their own lives and experiences through the sustained meditation and thought that journaling demands and inspires
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Uninterrupted Learning Times
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Outdoor Education
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Test Writing and Peer Corrections
WHAT ELECTIVES OR OTHER SERVICES WILL THE GREENSPIRE SCHOOL OFFER TO STUDENTS?
Greenspire will offer physical education, foreign language, various arts, after-school clubs and other activities based on student interest and parent volunteers, as well as activities like athletics resulting from our cooperative relationship with TCAPS. At regular intervals throughout the year, Greenspire teachers will offer information sessions on curriculum and methodology for parents and the community in addition to classes on “Parenting Adolescents.” Whole school outings will be offered to students at the beginning of the year and in the spring, with smaller, more frequent field trips part of the daily routine.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION? WHO CAN GO TO THIS SCHOOL?
As a public school, requirements for admission are similar to any other public school. Enrollment will be open to students in 6th and 7th grade the first year. Class sizes are limited which means that students are placed on a waiting list, after a lottery process, if there are more applicants than spots available.
For the first year that The Greenspire School is open as a charter school, all students who submit their applications by the deadline will be admitted if there are 40 or fewer applicants. If there are more than 40 applicants, there will be a lottery drawing.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions, feel free to email info@greenspireschool.org or phone 231-946-4400.