Walk into this school and you'll probably see and hear the following:

• An extended day from 8:00 AM to 3:10 PM
• School rules that develop the values of kindness, safety, responsibility, and mutual respect
• Evidence of school-wide learning challenges for students, staff and families to conquer together, such as naming everyone in the school, reciting all the presidents, or solving math challenges
• Multi-age classrooms with flexible groupings and block scheduling for math and language arts
• Leadership skills posted that include challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart (The Student Leadership Challenge, Kouzes and Pozner, 2008) and evidence of student leadership in action
• Empty classrooms when students are on an expedition or a service learning project
• Development of Life and Social Skills , including student greeters who describe what they’re learning
• Colors on the wall, based on research, that alternatively calm spirits and welcome creativity
• A flexible environment including alternative lighting, seating, writing surfaces, and other accommodations for individual learning needs and learning styles
• Specific plants, based on research, that contribute to air quality and building health
• A rocking chair in each classroom provided as an additional option for student movement
• Teachers who manage classrooms effectively with both high expectations and high support
• Students moving between learning groups
• Parent volunteers fulfilling their Family Service Requirements with a parent lounge and resource center that invites community-building
• Collaboration between every child and adult connected with the school/center
• Older students trained to mentor and be quality leaders for younger students
• Critical, creative, and logical thinking skills listed on the walls and evidenced in student work
• Evidence of the current universal school theme and cross-curricular learning themes
• A middle school schedule that acknowledges the different circadian rhythms of adolescents
• Personal learning plans with student agendas for organizing and reflecting upon one’s learning
• A variety of learning centers
• Hands-on models, construction materials, and sensory tables
• Musical selections, based on research, playing at various times during the day
• Music, Spanish, Art, and P.E. teachers team-teaching with other teachers to integrate the subjects as well as spending concentrated time in their own classrooms
• Friday workshops that are standards-based and allow students to connect with community experts and pursue unusual fields of study such as print-making or the local bat population