River Mountain Academy - Nevada State Public Charter ...

1 River Mountain Academy Key Information: The purpose of this Charter is to improve the academic achievement of students. Mission Statement: River Mountain Academy instills high standards for academic excellence, healthy living choices, responsible citizenship, and environmental concern through place-based education. Geographic location: We are open to all students living in the State of Nevada , specifically to those living in Henderson. Projected Enrollment: First year projections- 360 students in K-5, 40 students in Pre-K Applicant Contact Information: Sarah Ter Avest: 922 Anchor Drive, Henderson NV 89015 (702) 327-4324 Jennifer Snider: 1157 Paradise River Road, Henderson, NV 89002 (702) 465-0787 1 Mission, Vision, and Educational Philosophy Narrative , Purpose The purpose of this Charter is to improve the academic achievement of students.

2 Narrative , Mission River Mountain Academy instills high standards for academic excellence, healthy living choices, responsible citizenship, and environmental concern through place-based education. Narrative , Vision River Mountain Academy will be recognized as a school that unfailingly puts children first on all levels. Our highly qualified group of teachers and dedicated staff members will use the school s mission and vision to guide everyday instruction and learning. academic Excellence: At River Mountain Academy , we believe that one of the first steps to student success is to provide our students with spaces designed to enhance learning.

3 Our students will learn in larger classrooms, at least 30 square feet per student, to ensure active learning, movement and discovery. Our students will learn in smaller groups, 20 students to 1 teacher, which will increase individualized learning experiences, differentiated instruction, one on one learning, and instructional support. Our students will also be provided with other indoor and outdoor learning spaces designed to extend learning through art, music, technology, science, physical education, cultural studies, and place based environmental education. Healthy Living Choices: Members of the school community-students, parents, family, faculty, and staff-will pledge to maintain healthy physical and emotional habits and will do their best to take advantage of wholesome opportunities in the surrounding community.

4 Responsible Citizenship & Environmental Concern: Drawing upon the immediate and surrounding community in which we live, students will have the opportunity to learn about and help solve the environmental and social concerns that impact them most. Teachers will utilize the local community as a 2 resource for learning that supplements the traditional curriculum and allows for unique learning opportunities. Students will be grounded in the history, culture, and ecology of their surrounding environment before moving on to broader subjects. This type of real world learning not only allows students a deeper connection with the community around them but also ensures engagement, promotes intrinsic motivation, leads to greater comprehension, and allows students to demonstrate learning in multiple ways.

5 Narrative , Philosophy River Mountain Academy believes that each child is a unique individual needing a secure, caring, and engaging atmosphere in which to grow emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. To achieve this, the educational program will draw upon the ASCD Whole Child Initiative ( ) A sampling of the integration of the Whole Child Initiatives into River Mountain Academy includes: Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle. Each student learns in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.

6 Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and broader community. Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults. Each student is challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and participation in a global environment. Mission Specific Goals and Objectives Narrative , Assurance regarding performance frameworks 3 Goal 1 - Eighty (80) percent of students enrolled at the school for a three consecutive year period will achieve performance measured within one standard deviation of the State average of the State annual assessment.

7 This goal is applicable to students who upon the third consecutive year of enrollment, are registered in the third through fifth grade. Goal 2 Seventy-five (75) percent of students, who have attended the school for two consecutive years, will meet or exceed grade level standards in accordance with the Nevada academic content standards (NVACS) annually. Narrative , Assessment tools/data/artifacts, if applicable The Criterion Referenced Test (or other standardized assessment subsequently adopted by the Nevada Department of Education) results will provide evidence to determine attainment of goal one.

8 River Mountain Academy will collect and use quantitative data to include but is not limited to: Renaissance Learning s STAR assessments, Study Island, Lexia Learning and/or ST Math and qualitative data such as: student notebooks, portfolios, observations, discussions, and cooperative learning strategies to support student academic and personal growth to attain goal two. Narrative , Reasonableness of goals, if applicable Ensuring that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged requires us to continually ask questions and examine evidence related to implementation.

9 Curriculum and Instruction Narrative , Curriculum Model The school s reading, writing, and mathematics curriculum is based on the Nevada academic content standards (NVACS). Science Curriculum will be based on the Next Generation Science standards through the National Science Teachers Association. The Nevada State standards will be used for other content areas such as social studies, music, visual arts, health, physical education, computer and technology, and Spanish. To succeed in college, other postsecondary education, and the workplace, 4 students need higher-level thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills as well as knowledge of the world and its people.

10 These are all products of the curriculum that challenges students to work harder as they investigate a wide range of real-world subjects. The faculty of the school will develop curriculum maps specific to the standards being measured. These curriculum maps will serve as the basis for lesson plan development to ensure that all standards are addressed. The curriculum maps will largely be aligned to curriculum, standards , and student goals. In addition to the curriculum provided teachers will use supplementary resources to support student engagement and academic success.