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It’s all in the presentation

On Presentation Night, students take center stage at Vermilion Country

Jodi Summit
Posted 11/26/14

TOWER—In most schools, students typically demonstrate their achievement through test scores, worksheets, and other assignments from teachers. But at Tower’s Vermilion Country Charter School, …

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It’s all in the presentation

On Presentation Night, students take center stage at Vermilion Country

Posted

TOWER—In most schools, students typically demonstrate their achievement through test scores, worksheets, and other assignments from teachers. But at Tower’s Vermilion Country Charter School, students show their progress in other ways as well, such as at community presentation nights held three times during the school year.

Students and staff staged the school’s first such event of the new school year last Thursday, drawing dozens of parents, fellow students, and interested members of the community. It’s a chance for students to showcase at least some of what they’ve been doing at school for the past several weeks, as well as to preview exciting projects planned for this winter and spring.

Evidence of student work was on display throughout the school. Posters, computer Powerpoint presentations, and artwork were set up on walls and tables. Visitors had a chance to see the students’ work and ask questions.

One of the highlights of the evening was an introduction to the school’s new student constitution. This year the school’s day-to-day operations are being run by a number of teacher and staff committees. And the advisors wanted the students to become part of this process.

A group of students, working with teacher/ advisor Sara Baird, studied both the United States and Minnesota constitutions

“We are a democratic learning community,” Baird said.

Dustin Leseman described the process the students went through while developing the school’s new constitution. The student government seminar class also consulted, over the Internet, with students at the Avalon Charter School in St. Paul, and studied samples of their documents. Once drafted, students presented the document to each advisory, which each voted to ratify it. The school constitution was ratified by consensus, with all the students supporting the document.

The finished document will now be displayed at the school, and processes are in place to make changes as needed. The student congress is open to all interested students, and will meet at the beginning of each school year, and then as scheduled.

The constitution sets up legislative, judicial, and executive branch powers, and also sets forth a bill of rights. The congress, comprised of students, has the ability to pass bills, which can either be signed into enactment, or vetoed, by the executive branch, made up of school staff.

The judicial arm of the student government will consist of a mediation team, which will receive special training and work under the direction of the school’s Culture and Discipline Committee.

This focus on government is moving forward with other projects that will be taking place this winter and spring. Advisor Clint Hughes is working with three students who will be participating in the Minnesota Youth in Government program in January. The school has received $3,000 in grant funding to support this program for the first two years. Students have studied the processes of state government and have even drafted bills that will be presented during the student congregation.

Advisor Jenny Mounsdon and Office Manager Sara Milbridge are working with a group of 15 students who are hoping to attend a week-long Close-Up trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City. Students have been studying the nation’s capital and working on fundraising for the trip. Fundraising is off to a strong start, but the fundraising goal is very ambitious, as students attempt to raise enough to cover the entire cost of the trip for the group. The Close-Up trip is planned for late April.

Mounsdon also gave a preview of this year’s robotics program. Students take part in the FIRST Robotics competition in Duluth in late February. The robotics team will start meeting in December, and will join the tournament kick-off event on Jan. 3. The school has received $6,500 in grant funding for robotics so far this year, which will help cover equipment expenses plus the tournament entry fee, which is $5,000. Students will still need to raise funds to cover the cost of the trip to Duluth for the three-day event. Last year students stayed at the Edge Waterpark Hotel.

Several students took the opportunity to discuss their projects, taking turns at the podium. Alex Kangas described how he had retrofitted a classic video game console, upgrading the internal computer and graphics systems, as well as giving the console a jazzy new exterior. Jacob Karasti gave an overview of a study he had done of local wild plants that have medicinal properties. His interest in the topic grew from in-school seminars on wilderness survival and bushcraft skills.

Some of the students in the school choir performed songs, under the direction of teacher Karin Schmidt. In addition, seventh-grader Andrew Sauls gave a rousing guitar performance of the ‘50s hit “Why Must I Be a Teenager in Love.” Andrew is one of three students taking guitar lessons at school this year as part of the independent study music seminar.

Project-based learning

Learning at the school is set up around six-week blocks. Students are divided into four multi-grade advisories, and work under the direct supervision of one advisor. During each block students get to choose two different teachers and/or staff led seminars, as well as work on projects of their own design. Each student in the school has their own personal learning plan, and student progress and credits-earned are tracked through an online program called Project Foundry. In addition, all students take math classes using an online, adaptive math program called Aleks Math. Each student has a reading plan and a writing plan. Students participate in daily fitness and athletic activities including a formal karate program taught by Clint and Jess Hughes. The school is also sponsoring a three-on-three basketball program, and students are using the gym at the Wellness Center on the Vermilion Reservation.