Journeys School

Journeys School
Address
700 Coyote Canyon Road
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 83001
USA
Information
Type Independent, Co-educational, Pre-K through 12th grade
Established 2001
Headmaster Nancy Lang
Faculty 31
Enrollment 197
Student to teacher ratio 5.7:1
Campus Rural, 900 acres
10 buildings
Website http://www.tetonscience.org/index.cfm?id=journeys_home

Journeys School is an independent school under the umbrella of Teton Science Schools.[1] Journeys integrates ecology, culture and community for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade students in a college preparatory setting.

History

Teton Science Schools operate in partnership with Grand Teton National Park[2] and were founded in 1967 when Ted Major, a high school biology teacher, led twelve high school students on six weeks of field research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The organization began offering outreach programs to regional public and independent schools in 1991, developing what would eventually be formalized as the Journeys Curriculum. Journeys School was officially established as an independent school and a program of Teton Science Schools in 2001.[3] Journeys School partners with the Teacher Learning Center of Teton Science Schools to offer professional development to visiting teachers.[4]

Journeys School students playing at recess

Academics

Journeys School is an accredited member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools[5] (PNAIS). As an independent, non-profit school that has received full accreditation from an approved accrediting program, Journeys School is a full member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)[6] with voting rights. Journeys School is an International Baccalaureate World School [7] and is authorized to offer the IB Diploma Progamme to students aged 16–19.

Honor code

According to the school's website, three of the values most important to the Journeys School community are as follows:

  1. Students and faculty try hard by working to their full potential at all times
  2. Students and faculty treat others with respect by honoring diverse opinions and backgrounds, representing themselves and the school with high standards
  3. Students and faculty take responsibility for their own actions and their own learning

Pre-K

Classes in the Pre-K are based on the Reggio Emilia approach[8] which focuses on the concept of teachers as learners, the importance attributed to the role of the environment, the use of long-term projects with small groups of children as the major curriculum strategy and the emphasis on children's many symbolic languages.

Elementary school

Journeys School’s elementary language arts program is heavily influenced by the work of Kathy Collins and her book Growing Readers and Lucy Calkins of the Readers and Writers Project at Teachers College/Columbia University. For its Math Program, the elementary school uses the Everyday Mathematics curriculum developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project.[9] The focus of this curriculum is to enable children to learn more mathematical content and become lifelong mathematical thinkers.

Based on the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning, the Journeys School approach to foreign language learning focuses on communication, cultures, comparisons, connections and communities.[10]

High school

Journeys School graduates have earned a 100% college acceptance level with graduates being accepted to over 75 schools.

Standardized testing

All students in grades 9 - 11 take the PSAT (Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test). This preliminary exam gives the students practice in taking standardized tests before results from such exams become part of their record for college admission.[11] As part of the college admission process, students in grades 11 and 12 will also take SAT and ACT exams, depending on the requirements per college.

Campus and buildings

Journeys School on Teton Science Schools Jackson Campus

The Jackson Campus is housed approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Jackson, Wyoming,[12] on an 880-acre (3.6 km2) wilderness site. It comprises 9 new buildings totalling 63,000 square feet (5,900 m2), all designed and constructed on environmental principles, and occupying less than 2% of the site's area. In addition to classrooms, dining facilities and administrative areas, the campus includes two lodges for visiting students and summer workshops, and a Teachers' Learning Center. The architects were Mithun of Seattle.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Teton Science Schools Programs
  2. ↑ National Parks
  3. ↑ Teton Science History
  4. ↑ Teton Science
  5. ↑ PNAIS
  6. ↑ NAIS
  7. ↑ IBO
  8. ↑ Reggio Emilia
  9. ↑ http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/about/curriculum
  10. ↑ ACTFL
  11. ↑ College Board
  12. ↑ Jackson Hole
  13. ↑ Mithun Architects, Journeys School Project

External links

Coordinates: 43°29′31″N 110°48′33″W / 43.49194°N 110.80917°W / 43.49194; -110.80917

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