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Willow Creek Academy Charter Mission
“Willow Creek Academy is a charter school serving socially and academically prepared elementary school age students who demonstrate the ability and promise of succeeding in a challenging educational community. The school embraces, celebrates and welcomes a diverse school community. Willow Creek is committed to providing an environment where children’s individual learning styles are recognized and where teaching and learning consistently demonstrates and encourages respect, responsibility and compassion.”
The following elements are integral to the implementation of Willow Creek’s Mission Statement:
1. Parent/School Contract. Annually, parents and or guardians of each student enter into a signed agreement to guarantee: that their child is school ready every day; that the child’s family commits to providing 50 hours per year per child of volunteer time; to attend all scheduled parent/teacher conferences; authorize assessment as may be requested by the school to diagnose their child’s academic and/or social competencies or deficiencies; and commit to continuing and encouraging their child’s education in the home, through actively encouraging reading and homework. This element is required based on research which overwhelmingly demonstrates the positive effect of parent involvement in a child’s education.
2. Academic Excellence. Students are expected to demonstrate progressive mastery of academic subject matter. To this end, students are active learners, demonstrating the ability to read and analyze material in a variety of disciplines; communicate articulately, effectively and persuasively when speaking and writing; apply mathematical knowledge and skills to analyze and solve problems and demonstrate scientific literacy.
3. Curriculum and Instructional Methods. Willow Creek Academy offers a rigorous and challenging academic program, emphasizing developmentally appropriate, inquiry driven, project based instruction, which is aligned with California State standards. The academic program is organized in a manner designed to encourage the development of higher order thinking skills. The curriculum integrates the “core” disciplines of language arts, mathematics, history/social studies and science through the use of environmental studies, and the arts.
4. Environmental and Ecological Focus. Willow Creek Academy emphasizes environmental education throughout its curriculum. Environmental education provides a framework for interdisciplinary, collaborative, student-centered, hands-on engaged learning which supports the academic goals of Willow Creek. Using environmental education as a basis, students are becoming stewards of both their built and natural environment.
5. Life-long Independent Learning Skills. Students are encouraged to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills equipping them to be life long learners.
6. Physical Education. In order to develop and maintain healthy bodies, students are presented with physical education which emphasizes healthy competition, teamwork and individual skill development. Nutrition and other healthy life style components are reinforced through work in the school garden.
7. Technological Orientation. All classrooms offer a sufficient number of computer workstations for each student to incorporate their use in research, review and document production. Students are taught to use technology as a tool for learning and communication rather than an end in itself.
8. World Languages/Cultural Appreciation. Students at Willow Creek study at least one language other than English. Currently Spanish is offered to every student at Willow Creek. It is hoped that in future years a second language will be offered. Through language study, combined with history and social studies, students are able to develop an appreciation of both their own cultural heritage as well as that of others.
9. The Arts. The arts (Visual Art, Music, Drama and Dance) are used to complement traditional academic studies by assisting students to appreciate, interpret, experience, create and/or perform artistic work.
10. Community Responsibility. Willow Creek students participate in the larger Bay Area community, taking advantage of both institutions (such as the Bay Model and the Marine Mammal Center) and individuals (poets, writers, artists). As a result of the interaction with the community beyond the school campus, students are expected to create service learning projects which enhance both their learning and contribute the larger community.
11. Personal Worth and Leadership. The entire Willow Creek program is designed to encourage the development of compassionate, literate students who are prepared to take their place in an ever changing world. Throughout the time a child is at Willow Creek, they are supported in their quest to become self-reliant, independent individuals who are able to make decisions based on critical analysis of information and put those thoughtful decisions into action. It is also expected that Willow Creek graduates will be able to work effectively in large and small groups as well as independently on behalf of themselves, their families and the larger world.
Willow Creek Academy provides a rigorous, inquiry driven, project-based learning environment that encourages differentiation of instruction as much as possible. The core curriculum emphasizes educational experiences that prepare students to meet or exceed state curriculum and testing standards. Willow Creek Academy students are taught and encouraged to identify what needs to be known, assisted in locating needed information and skills, and then to take action or make decisions beneficial to themselves and society. The Willow Creek community is organized and designed to encourage students to be active participants in their education, resulting in well educated, thoughtful and responsible community citizens.
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