Welcome to the "OWLS"
(Middle School: ages 9 to 12)
and the "FALCONS"
(Junior High School: 12 to 14)
The challenges that face the Owls and Falcons include the application of learned skills to new situations, the study of subjects in more depth and breadth, the requisites of personal organization, accountability, time and resource management. Academic work includes laboratory work and problem solving skills in mathematics, English literature, writing workshop, history from ancient civilizations to 20th-century America, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, ecology, and Spanish. Service work provides opportunities to explore Identity and Values.
Each year there are six sessions of academic work followed by an "Explore Week". (Each academic session lasts five weeks.) Students of this age seek knowledge in the form of facts and the relation to the context in which they function. Their insatiable quest is given focus through student-directed research projects (such as the salt water aquarium the stream table, bird blind, and research-oriented field trips) which teach lessons of patience, perseverance, and thoroughness.
The learning environment is designed to provide maximum opportunity for self-direction, skill building, development of accuracy, diligence, and judgement, ensuring each student succeeds to his full potential.
Individual research projects are carefully monitored, evaluated and recorded to ensure progress. The curriculum is designed to allow flexibility and accommodate every student's own abilities and interests.
As a class, the Owls and Falcons contribute to the Springfield Community by participating in semi-annual stream testing and other activities such as the local Math-a-thon.
Guidelines for Parents of Owls and Falcons
Homework: Parents are asked to support their Owls and Falcons by making time each evening to check to see if they are meeting their course goals. Daily assignments are recorded in their weekly work plan and then filed in their "trapper keeper" which is organized by subject. Homework is the individual responsibility of each student. Part of what the student is learning to master is how to manage, self-pace, and accomplish all his goals. If a student is not able to stay on track during day, he may chose to work on that subject as home work.
Grade Graphs: Each year there are six session of academic work followed by an Explore Week. Each academic session is five weeks. The session format is designed to help students learn organizational, decision-making, and time-management skills. Students keep a graph each week to report their progress toward their goals for the session.
This weekly progress report is cumulative. At the end of the first week 20% of the goals should be accomplished, at the end of the second week 40%, the third week 60%, the fourth week 80%, and the fifth week 100%. The students will complete their weekly progress report and ask their parents to review, sign, and return them to class the following morning.
At the end of each session, students will assemble their portfolios. All course work will be ordered and attached to an appropriate syllabus. The students will then create a report card based on the percentage of goals achieved during the session for each subject area. The student, after reviewing all the finished work, will choose one submission for a final portfolio and submit an essay reflecting on that choice.
Portfolios: The session portfolio, student report card, and student self-assessment form will go home at the end of each session. Parents are asked to review the portfolio with their child. The report card, self-assessment form, and final portfolio pieces with accompanying reflections will then become part of the student's school file.
