Area school recruiting students willing to “Be Smart, To DO GOOD”
Centered on the Expeditionary Learning (EL) model, Milwaukee Environmental Sciences combines engaging projects, academic rigor and character education to provide an innovative, high quality school for Milwaukee area families.
Recruiting students willing to work hard and exercise the philosophy of “Be Smart, To Do Good,” Milwaukee Environmental Sciences, located at 6600 W. Melvina, will hold an Enrollment Day Pancake Breakfast Saturday, February 22 beginning at 10 am through noon.
At the breakfast, families will learn more about the MPS non-instrumentality charter school focused on science and witness the school’s success in action.
In its first year, the college prep school has seen students making strides to move ahead academically and be prepared to compete globally with their peers around the city and state.
“Our school culture is beginning to evolve.
Staff, parents, students and community members have joined together to promote our new, rigorous learning environment, to engage students and prepare them as self-directed learners and problem solvers, while encouraging thoughtful, caring and action-oriented future citizens of the world,” said Roseann Lococo, Principal.
Through project-based learning, students at Milwaukee Environmental Sciences, which serves children in grades K4 through 6 in 2014-15 and growing one grade level each year to eventually serve students K4-12, are postured to become thoughtful, action-oriented citizens.
“At Milwaukee Environmental Sciences, learning has purpose.
When students go on learning expeditions, they create a product for a real audience—whether it is a plan to save energy in a building or develop a class book to share with guests, learning is meaningful,” said Dave Libert, Project Manager.
This winter, classrooms are exploring real-life topics like solar power, the energy use of the school building, and Milwaukee’s energy use — even the youngest students are exploring the motion of dominoes down a ramp and bringing their questions to a little scientist’s discussion.
Inside the building, learning is active — from growing plants in the class to pedaling a bike generator to power a TV — kids are up and moving to learn.
“Expeditionary Learning is kicked into gear here a Milwaukee Environmental Sciences,” said Ryan Maxwell, EL Midwest Regional Director.
“We’ve come a long way since opening our doors in August. Daily circle ‘crew meetings’ take time to build the community in the class.
Students and teachers talk about grit, collaboration, integrity and many more character traits as they work to solve their own problems and issues in the class.”
“We know that learning about the world means you have to go out in it. EL is all about letting kids explore to learn!
Investigative field work will take kids to explore the city and its different forms of energy — going out to community partners and bringing in experts from the field to make the topics come off the desk and alive in their world,” Maxwell added.
Year round education, sets the stage for high standards for student learning and frequent practice.
The focus on accelerated academics is further reinforced by extra support for students through tutoring, by employing an “intervention” period during the school day, skill-focused after school programming and weeklong “intensives” during intercession.
Before and after school care is also available.
Interested families who are not able to attend the pancake breakfast are invited to contact Ms. Roseann Lococo, principal, at (414) 353-3830 and/or visit the school’s website – theenvironmentalschool.org – for more information.
Prospective families have their best chance of enrolling in their first-choice school during MPS’ Three-Choice Enrollment period, which runs from February 3-21. Learn more at mpsmke.com/enrollmps.
