School Choice Update #2 - April 2015

A Look Ahead

Opening Activity
MSA Conference Highlights
Next Steps
Share

Opening Activity
Tower Challenge
Challenge: Create the tallest index card tower that is freestanding and remains self-supporting for 10 seconds. The
tower must hold a prized trophy (stuffed penguin).
Materials:
100 index cards
12 inches of tape
Scissors
**No other materials are allowed
What is the problem?
What do you need to know before you start?

The Design Process

School Choice Process

State Designation
Minnesota Desegregation Rule:
The rule requires schools and communities to work together to design
and implement educationally justifiable, effective, voluntary strategies
that provide meaningful choices of integrated learning environments for
students and their families.

Why?

Survey Results
Community Survey - Magnet School Themes

Survey Results
Community Survey - Echo Park Respondents

Survey Results
Echo Park Staff Survey - Magnet School Themes

Additional themes: Technology

(2), Year Round Option, Consumer Math & Personal Finance, Project Based Learning,
International Baccalaureate

MSA Conference Highlights

Small group attends the National Magnet
School of America Conference

Raleigh, North Carolina, April 22 - 25

Conference Strands
- Leadership for New Schools (Leadership)
- Engage! Encouraging Parent-advocates (Advocacy, Engagement Strategies, Models for Parent Leadership)
- Growing 21st Century Learners (Curriculum & Instruction)
- Anticipating the Future (Staffing - Growing Magnet Teachers)
- Considering Our Challenges (Magnet School Design, Sustainability)
- Your School Community (Community Relations)

School Tours

A.B. Combs Magnet - Leadership Theme

http://combses.wcpss.net
Good leadership requires more than natural ability. With its emphasis on leadership and character development,
students at Combs develop a real-world skill set that includes communicating effectively, collaborating, making ethical
decisions and motivating others. They show initiative, participate in service learning, and practice specific and
intentional goal-setting. Combs is a second time winner of the Ronald P. Simpson award and an inspiration for Stephen
Covey's book The Leader in Me.

Farmington Woods Magnet - IB Theme

Http://fwes.wcpss.net
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme at Farmington Woods seeks to develop the whole child to
become a responsible member of a community. IB-trained teachers work together to create units of inquiry that inspire
students to think about big ideas to promote international understanding and a global perspective. Students begin a
study of Spanish in kindergarten and use technology to explore the world around them. Students work to answer
questions such as: Who are we? Where are we in place and time?

School Tours

Brentwood Magnet - Engineering Theme

http://brentwoodes.wix.com/brentwoodes
The Engineering magnet program at Brentwood brings together science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in
ways that make learning fun. Students work together to ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve as a way to solve real
world problems and improve learning in all subject areas. Through this approach, students begin to see how those
subjects are relevant to what they are studying in the classroom and the real world.

Douglas Magnet - Creative Arts & Science

http://www.douglaselementary.net
The Creative Arts and Science Program at Douglas emphasizes learning and expression through the integrated arts.
Arts teachers and science teachers are specialists who work closely with classroom teachers to help bring the arts into
math, science, social studies and language arts. With the addition of a science learning lab and a specialized science
teacher, all students are provided expanded hands-on science instruction beyond that taught in the regular classroom.

Similarities to EP

Units of Study
RAN Charts - Inquiry
Guided math
Word wall
Classroom set up
Student centered teaching
Student leadership - Student
Council and Patrols
Posted behavior expectations for
hallways and other areas other
school.
Vertical team meetings, grade
level team meeting for literacy
and math
Schedules

Specialists time
Recess before lunch
Classroom jobs
Technology - SMART boards,
document cameras, projectors,
computers, Ipads
School mascot
Readers and Writers workshop
and Word Study
Traditions - Walk to School, Math
Masters, Ice Cream Social,Track
and Field, etc.
Excellent staff!
Providing opportunities for
students to share their musical
talents

Similarities to EP

Celebrate what you

want to see more of.

- Tom Peters

Conference Take-Away

Ignite Ideas...See Possibilities

Ignite Ideas...See Possibilities

Ignite Ideas...See Possibilities

Student leadership body titled Student Cabinet with roles like Secretary of
Safety, Secretary of International Affairs, Secretary of Health and
Wellness, etc.
Wall of Traditions: photos (Math Masters, Carnival, Geography Bee,
Patrols, Walk to School, Track and Field, Music programs, etc.)
Dining Room as a place to build community and social etiquette
Student Ambassadors-give tours
Classroom Greeters
Individual goal-setting and tracking by students
providing opportunities for all students to share and grow their talents
(singing group, basketball routines, storytelling, Lego-building)

Ignite Ideas
Leadership is communicating a persons worth
and potential so they can see it in themselves.
~ Dr. Stephen Covey
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
7 Habits of Happy Kids
www.theleaderinme.org

Recommendations
- Leadership is a component of the magnet
school programming
- STEM is a component of the magnet school
programming
- Inquiry is a component of the magnet school
programming

Learning from others...

Leadership in Technology
Academy of Leadership and ___________
Math, Science and Leadership School
Center for Inquiry and _________
School of Engineering
STEM Magnet Elementary School
School of Science and Engineering
Academy for Mathematics and Science
STEM Academy
STEM Pre-Engineering Magnet School
Engineering and Technology Magnet School

Share Your Voice

www.plickers.com

Next Steps
1. Parent/Community Meeting
2. School Board Meeting/Workshop
3. Announce Magnet Theme
4. Establish Magnet Leadership Team
5. One-day Magnet Bootcamp (Optional)
(Beginning of May)

(Middle of May)

(Middle of May)

(End of May)

(Summer Date)

Share Your Voice

www.plickers.com

Time to Pause
What questions do you have?

Time to Share
On an index card please write:
1 word that resonates with you or describes
your thinking about what was shared today

Closing
All children have gifts and talents
that they are waiting for an
educator to recognize,
acknowledge and celebrate.
~ Sir Ken Robinson
Highly awarded for his work around creativity and innovation in schools
and businesses.