Novato Charter School
| Novato Charter School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
940 C St. , , 94949-5060 | |
| Coordinates | 38°03′20″N 122°31′30″W / 38.05554°N 122.52490°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, charter school, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school |
| Motto | "Education as it should be" |
| Founded | July 19, 1995 |
| Opened | August 7, 1996 |
| Status | Open |
| School district | Novato Unified School District |
| NCES District ID | 0627720[1] |
| School code | 21-65417-6113229 |
| NCES School ID | 062772006035[2] |
| Director | Nikki Lloyd |
| Grades | K-8 |
| Gender | coed |
| Enrollment | 249[2] (2011-2012 school year) |
| • Kindergarten | 42[2] |
| • Grade 1 | 28[2] |
| • Grade 2 | 26[2] |
| • Grade 3 | 25[2] |
| • Grade 4 | 26[2] |
| • Grade 5 | 26[2] |
| • Grade 6 | 27[2] |
| • Grade 7 | 24[2] |
| • Grade 8 | 25[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 24.90[2] |
| Website | http://www.novatocharterschool.org/ |
Novato Charter School (NCS) is a public charter school located in Novato, California that serves children from kindergarten to eighth grade. The school is a part of the Novato Unified School District. All students who reside in the state of California are eligible for admission to the Novato Charter School.
The Novato Charter School is an educational community which is committed to the healthy growth and development of the whole child. Through a curriculum inspired by Waldorf education methods, our teachers nurture the imagination in the early years, building a foundation for abstract thinking, gradually and appropriately challenging the intellect throughout the grades. This philosophy places equal emphasis on a solid academic program, artistic expression, social development, and attention to the inner life and natural rhythms of the child.
History
The impetus for the Novato Charter School began with a small group of founding parents who were actively involved in the Novato public school system. In researching alternative programs, the group learned of Senator Gary Hart’s charter school legislation (SB1448). This bill, passed in 1992, was intended to encourage parents, educators, and members of the community to try innovative approaches to education in order to find ways of improving student learning. This legislation allowed for the development of 100 charter schools in California.
In February 1994, an expanded group of founding parents began meeting to explore the possibilities of a common vision for educational reform. Once they discovered a solid common ground, they decided to move forward. They addressed the thirteen elements set forth in the legislation in the form of a petition to the local school governing board. Once they had the required signatures from district teachers indicating their support, they submitted the petition to the Novato Unified School District Board of Trustees. The Trustees came back with a set of conditions to be met. These were addressed, and on May 23, 1995, the petition for the Novato Charter School received unanimous support from the Board of Trustees. The petition and conditions were then sent to the State Board of Education for approval. On July 19, 1995, final approval was received and Novato Charter School became California’s 89th charter school.
In August 1996, the school officially opened with kindergarten through fifth grade enrollment. An additional grade was added each year, and now the school goes from kindergarten to 8th grade.
Philosophy
Novato Charter School is a community of parents and teachers using educational methods that nurture and inspire creativity, critical thinking, and motivated learning. As an institution committed to educating the whole child, the school endeavors to foster the unfolding of each child’s full potential. Using Waldorf-inspired methods integrated with current best educational practices and State standards, our teachers nurture the imagination in the early years in order to build a foundation for abstract thinking. The child’s intellect is appropriately challenged in the middle years and through 8th grade. This education places equal emphasis on a solid academic foundation, artistic expression, social/emotional development, and attention to the inner life of the child. An integrated project-based approach to learning emphasizes the child’s relationship to the natural world, thereby promoting respect for the environment and humankind. The goal of the Novato Charter School is to nurture the whole child with the objective of enabling students to become self-motivated, competent lifelong learners.
Vision Statement
The Novato Charter School is an educational community which is committed to the healthy growth and development of the whole child. Through a curriculum inspired by Waldorf methods, our teachers nurture the imagination in the early years, building a foundation for abstract thinking, gradually and appropriately challenging the intellect throughout the grades. This philosophy places equal emphasis on a solid academic program, artistic expression, social development, and attention to the inner life and natural rhythms of the child.
Our School is committed to creating a healthy community which reflects and supports our common values. We believe that children develop social responsibility and feel a greater sense of significance in a small, supportive environment which promotes close, long-term relationships with classmates and teachers. In an atmosphere of respectful, clear communication, cooperation, and parent participation, we believe children flourish and grow to be healthy, capable, contributing human beings.
We believe that teaching children to care for and respect the earth encourages global responsibility and promotes environmentally conscious living. The celebration of seasonal festivals is an integral part of this as children joyously experience the earth’s natural cycles. By reducing or eliminating exposure to electronic media and encouraging a cooperative rather than a competitive milieu, a child’s inherent creative and intellectual abilities will naturally unfold. At the heart of this approach is the recognition that teaching must be presented to children in a way which fills them with wonder, reverence, and enthusiasm.
References
- ↑ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Novato Unified School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Novato Charter School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
External links
This article "Novato Charter School" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
