Thinking critically and exploring the world outside the classroom through in-depth expeditions fosters love of learning and deeper understanding.
Using guiding questions, students work together on expeditions and with experts to find information and answers, rather than just memorizing facts. Student discoveries build educational experience and desire to learn more.
SELS students share responsibility for helping each other learn. “We are Crew, Not Passengers.” Environmental and local projects that serve the community build pride and show students the relevance and importance of their studies and work in everyday life.
Expedition Express
So Long Railroad!! Wow! Our fall expedition was a great learning experience for all students in our crew. The students are truly experts on the history of the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierra Nevada mountains. Thanks to all the parents for making this expedition a total success.
Now on to our Spring Expediton: ENERGY MATTERS! This physical science expedition will take a close look at what is MATTER, how we use different types of ENERGY in our daily lives, and finishing the year with a focus on SUSTAINABLE ENERGY. Fieldwork options include a trip to the Truckee Donner PUD, KidsZone, and the new Discovery Museum in Reno. I am hopeful the new California Safety Seat Law, effective 01/01/2012 will not interfere with our planned excursions. For those of you unaware of the new law, here it is:
California Child Safety Seats Law
effective 01/01/2012
There are no weight requirements, only age requirements. If your child is under the age of 8 during our fieldwork, please provide a proper booster seat for the driver in charge. With that said, you are welcome to use a booster seat for your child on any scheduled fieldwork.
SCIENCE SCAVENGER HUNT: Thanks to all of you that have donated household items to our crew for our Science experiments this spring. The kids are very excited to get started as scientists. I would love to have the kids make tie-dye "LAB COATS" to wear in class. If you have any of DAD's old white T-shirts or long sleeve button down shirts, please send them in to school sometime this week. If you have extras, please send those in as well, as I am sure some students will be able to use them. THANKS in advance.
CREW NEWS
Technology in the Classroom: Your children have been very excited to learn their way around the computers in the classroom. It's exciting to see all the learning happening with the crew during this portion of our day. Mr. Williams and I have assigned each student a gmail account for their use in class. We will be using the program for peer editing and critique on Google Docs as well as math practice on Khan Academy. As we introduce these programs to the kids, I will keep you posted on how to check their work and practice at home.
Kindles: I have purchased 6 Amazon Kindles for our Reading Groups in the classroom as well. The crew is very excited to have this electronic reader for their reading practice. Since I was only able to purchase 6 Kindles, the groups have to take turns using them. Currently two reading groups are using these devices in the classroom.
Swimming Lessons: Our crew will be heading over to the pool at Truckee High School beginning on Monday, April 30th for swimming lessons. Students will be grouped by previous swimming abilities and given 30 minute lessons for 6 weeks. We will need one male adult chaperone and one female adult chaperone. Please sign up as soon as possible for these dates. The Welch Crew is scheduled from 12:00 - 12:30, which means we will leave SELS at 11:45 and return at 12:45 (approximately).
Nevada County Library: We will be walking to the Nevada County Library on Wednesday, February 1, 15, and 29 this month. Please send your child to school ready to walk in the weather forcasted for that day. We walk rain or shine.
SELS NEWS
Design Principle: Empathy and Caring - this month we continue to show each other how important our friendships are here at school. We focus on this in class during our Morning Meeting and work to incorporate these ideals in our daily interactions at school. REMINDER: We will not have a formal Valentine's Day celebration in February since we strive to meet these character traits every single day.
Dates to Remember:
Our mission is to inspire a diverse group of learners to achieve academic excellence while developing a strong sense of character and community. Our goal is to preserve each child’s natural curiosity and love of learning. Read more >
We are an Expeditionary Learning School. EL strives to foster academic achievement and character growth while instilling a love of learning and a sense of community. Read more >
SELS
11603 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161
Portable buildings M3-M7
Email: truckeecharter@gmail.com
Phone: (530) 448-8115
Fax: (530) 448-8223
Find us on a map
On top of all the teaching and learning, I'm struck by the joy in the faces of all the children as they go about their quest for knowledge. Thanks to all the courageous and energetic people who had the vision to make this school a reality. With all the challenges the world faces today and predictions of disaster, these committed teachers/staff, these engaged families, and these beautiful children are a beacon of hope.
SELS embodies everything that I feel is important in my child's education and I am so grateful that she has the opportunity to learn in such an enriching environment. Teaching our children how to think and how to treat others is critical to their future success. I am thankful every single day for all the wonderful staff at SELS.
What an amazing place. It has been everything for my son that I had hoped he could experience in school. Great teacher, stimulating learning environment, and a deeply caring and nurturing place.
I am grateful that my child is encouraged to interpret concepts and think about how they apply to his life, not just memorize and repeat material. I love that SELS asks kids to think about who they are and how they contribute to the community, locally and globally.
I greatly appreciate that SELS is a heart-centered school that teaches ethics and values along with academics. That approach makes SELS a unique and special place.
I appreciate all the teachers and staff and their responsiveness. I also appreciate all the work the staff are doing to help the kids figure out how to fill each other's buckets!
Our son is bubbling over with excitement for learning. This environment is gifting him with life long skills to succeed. We are so thankful for this school.
All the Adults and students challenge each other the THINK!
SELS is amazing in the way they teach topics hands on and allow the children to learn in practical settings. We couldn't be happier seeing our son flourish so much! Thank you.
I am very grateful to the SELS staff for offering my 5th grader their hearts, as well as their knowledge. Better yet, they make learning fun and adventurous! My youngster is THRIVING at your wonderful school!!
We are thankful for many wonderful ideals and principles at SELS, but what really brings those into reality is the caring, hard-working teachers and staff. We wouldn't have thought that someone else would care as much about the whole education of our daughter as much as we do, but there is a whole team of such people at SELS.
I am so thankful that my 5th grade daughter is a member and student of this beautiful community and school. She is receiving a fantastic education with hands on learning, caring, understanding, creative, out of the box thinking and intuitive teachers. She feels included, important, confident and is growing tons in her knowledge and place in this wonderful community. Thank you SELS for being an amazing part of my daughter's education and Life!
I truly appreciate all the staff, students, parents and families at SELS. It is these people that make SELS so wonderful.
This has become a new 'family" for us!
I am so grateful for the amazing staff; they are the most amazing guides. It is an inspiration to watch them help our children learn and grow into thoughtful, independent, productive human beings!
