Thoroughness Standards. The WPCS will also strive to meet the Thoroughness Standards described in Idaho Code § 33-1612. WPCS will achieve these Standards through its basic curriculum and the unique aspects of the school. Instruction of the curriculum will be accomplished using an aligned proactive method. A combination of a strong emphasis on kindness and a reward system which honors children who are hardworking, responsible, honest, and respectful creates an environment allowing students to maximize their learning potential. We will incorporate memorization and dramatization of classic poetry, quotations and other literary materials noted in the CORE Knowledge Curriculum. Multiple learning opportunities are afforded the WPCS students. Some are familiar, some are novel, but all strive to make learning relevant and purposeful and to actively engage the learner. Problem-solving groups apply knowledge they have acquired and practice new skills by tackling both real world problems and problems simulated to model the current work world. WPCS’s learning program is built on the belief that all children can learn. It recognizes that talent is individual and that children may excel in any or all the academic areas. All academic talent will be encouraged. In keeping with WPCS’s mission, we recognize that education is more than the assimilation of facts. Proficiency in a discipline means that the learner becomes a capable practitioner and has a sufficient foundation to pursue advanced study. The Charter School emphasizes both the acquisition and application of knowledge. The staff at WPCS will model essential traits of good character and will ensure a safe, kind environment allowing students to acquire essential information and attitudes that will help them lead productive lives. The learning program supports WPCS’s mission of developing lifelong learners. It is designed to stimulate the desire to learn, and is based on the belief that all learners possess an innate and unique creativity that can be developed given the appropriate environment. It allows for the joy of knowledge, self-statement, and the thrill of exploration. It is flexible to accommodate the individuality of learners and to evolve as WPCS learns and grows. WPCS ensures that children are not penalized for the rate at which they learn. The faster learner is continuously presented with new challenges, while the slower learner benefits from an academic improvement plan.
Thoroughness Standards. Xxxxxxxxxx’s educational program and goals will fulfill each of the educational thoroughness standards, as defined in Section 33-1612, Idaho Code. Standard 1: A safe environment conducive to learning is provided. Goal: Monticello not only provides for the physical safety of students, but also for their emotional and intellectual safety. The learning environment enables students to feel comfortable taking emotional and intellectual risks. Objectives: • Procedures and guidelines for physical safety are included in this charter petition, Monticello policy, and the student handbook, including procedures for fire drills; city, state, and federal health, accessibility, safety, fire and building codes; zero tolerance for weapons, harassment, drugs and alcohol, and more. • Students utilize work plans to give them a sense of control over their learning. • Grades and labels are not used around students to make comparisons. • Students advance through the curriculum at their own pace to minimize frustration. • Failure is presented as something positive: the process of identifying incorrect or incomplete ideas. Persistence is the paramount virtue. • Students are given specific lessons about how to respect the space and privacy of others, how to use the Montessori materials correctly, and how to keep their environment (the classroom) clean and uncluttered. Standard 2: Educators are empowered to maintain classroom discipline. Goal: Students will feel confident, interested in learning, and maintain a high standard of personal comportment. Teachers will preempt classroom discipline problems by identifying students’ needs and making every effort to address them. Objectives: • Teachers utilize authentic Montessori materials which are inherently designed to attract the interest of children and create a meaningful context for learning • The classroom environment is highly ordered to help students understand the sequence involved in their learning. • School-wide expectations for student conduct and procedures for handling unacceptable behavior are clearly communicated in the Student Handbook • Extrinsic rewards are not used in connection with academics • The administrator supports teachers through ongoing training and by enforcing the Code of Conduct.
