Robert Burke, Principal
"The vision of community that the childhood classroom provides can color children's ideas
and expectations about equity, cooperation
and citizenship for a lifetime."
(author unknown)
Welcome to the Open School's Web Site!
We at the Open School believe that students entering the world of the 21st century will need enhanced skills, knowledge, and attitudes to prepare them for a lifetime of learning, change and transition. In addition to having the skills of reading, writing, reasoning, speaking, listening, and computing, students must also acquire the skills necessary to become collaborative workers, effective communicators, community contributors, and complex thinkers. The curriculum at the Open School is designed around students acquiring such skills.
We believe in setting high expectations and providing children with a nurturing, safe, and supportive learning environment. The Open School community holds the conviction that our future depends on how well we prepare each child to be educated and responsible. We believe learning is a journey and that journey should be meaningful and fun. Our experienced staff is dedicated to reaching and honoring every child and giving them the best educational opportunities possible. Each child is important to us. The Open School is a special place where we make the extraordinary ordinary!
We recognize that each child is a unique individual growing and learning at their own rate and in different ways. We also recognize that children have varied talents and that these talents can best be nurtured through a diverse curriculum that is enhanced through rich learning experiences such as visual and performing arts, technology, and community service opportunities.
The success of our school community depends on the collaboration, commitment, and involvement of parents, students, teachers, and community members. Working together with our community we can continue to meet our goals and share our vision with others. Our families are a vital part of our school community. We believe they are our most valuable resource in helping our students to succeed. We believe that collaborative decision making and strong staff and parent involvement make our school a dynamic place to learn and work.
We want to hear from you. Your suggestions and comments are vital to the success of the Open School.
Sincerely,
Robert Burke, Principal
"Literacy makes us civilized. The arts add enlightment and enduring resources for thoughtfulness. Science and technology makes us powerful. And being in a community with others can make us free."
-Excerpted from Literacy in Science, Technology, and Language Arts (1998)