Culture and Community Context
The Lab school for Creative Learning is a school of choice on the north side of Fort Collins, CO. The Lab school is an Expeditionary Learning school that is part of the Poudre School District since 1992. Located between City Park and Colorado State University gives the school a beautiful and culturally rich environment. Fort Collins is in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and has been recognized by Money Magazine as the best place in the Country to live along with many other things.
The Lab School provides the students with experiences not found in most schools. The students are involved with service learning, fieldwork, and adventure trips that are related to the unit learning targets. The overall environment is different from most schools I have been in. The teachers and even the principle go by their first name, which creates a community where everyone is responsible
“Expeditionary Learning is a comprehensive school model that encompasses learning expeditions, active pedagogy, and the building of character and culture. Students and teachers engage in authentic, multidisciplinary studies that create a depth of knowledge and love of learning. These learning expeditions connect students to the larger world through fieldwork, experts and compelling questions. Through adventure, personal discovery is fostered, confidence is built, and trust is developed.” –Lab School
Support Structure
The school has an active support structure of parents and volunteers. They have “Friends of the Lab (FOL)” that is a fund raising group based on selling things. From feedback they are moving towards a Direct Donation Pledge that raises funds instead of selling. The funds support the students and the school as a whole.
Unlike the other schools in the district the students are in a multi grade classroom. (k-1, 2-3,4-5) The students stay with the same teacher for 2 years, which is a great way for teachers to document long-term growth and build lasting relationships with each student.
Due to the it being a school of choice there is no bus transportation, therefore parents are responsible to get their children to school each day. The lab school has a great support of parents and they have organized car pools that can be used by families.
Two times a week there is a school wide community meeting. It is a time for parents, students and faculty to showcase their school and achievements along with any announcements they might have.
The Lab school doesn’t have an art program imbedded in the school. They have arrangements with Colorado State University where student interns from the art education program are fully responsible for lesson planning and leading art activities every Friday.
Demographic Characteristics
| Grades Offered | Grades KG-6 |
| Total Students | 129 students |
| Gender % | 46% Male / 54%Female |
| Total Classroom Teachers | 9 teachers |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 15:1 |
| Asian | 2% |
| Hispanic | 7% |
| White | 87% |
| Unknown | 4% |
| Eligible for Free Lunch | 29% |
| Eligible for Reduced Lunch |
2% |
Classroom Environment and Students
I was in was Brittany’s 2/3 grade classroom. The class is located in the corner of the hall and is connected to both of the k-1 classrooms, and the bathroom. The classroom is large, consisting of 4 main areas; the cubby area, reading area, art center, computer, and the world map that they start each and everyday on. The room has a lot of natural light, and has two doors that lead outside. Overall the feel of room translates to the mood of the students.
Mg is always has a positive attitude and ready to learn. She is always working and thinking of new and better ways to do her projects. Mg participates in class discussions and always wants share.
Mt is very inquisitive and sometimes reluctant. He is can be on the goofy side but always refocuses and produces wonderful creations.
Sp loves princess and will try to incorporate princess in whatever she does. She is a perfectionist and slowly becoming more of an explorer with materials.
Ca is very creative and always has a story. She is not afraid to ask how things work as well as find on her own.
Sh is very set in her ways and is slowly exploring new techniques and options. She works very fast and has become a critical thinker of her own work.
Jk is a Broncos lover and has so incorporated Payton Manning in whatever he does. He strives to discover the unknown.
Ja is quiet and reserved. He is realistic thinker but slowly becoming more and more abstract in his work.
J is very creative and currently designing his own comic book. He is very knowledgeable and pursues a variety of ideas.
N is creative and thinks outside the box. He is always evaluating and changing his work to make it more dynamic.
Si loves owls and mustaches. She is sometimes bossy but also a hard worker and would work all day if we let her.
Ka is a very intelligent kid who always needs a job to do. He thinks outside the box and will keep adding to his work.
Ke is very smart and talkative. He loves to make jokes but quickly refocuses and thinks outside the box.
C is very quiet and serious for the majority of the time. She is a hard worker and sometimes her worst critic but always produces great works of art.
Co is very talkative and loves goofing off but when set with a task he will work till it is done.
Sy is very quiet and reserved but slowly talking more and more in class. He is a hard worker and thinks outside of the box.
L is talkative and friends with Co. He is thinks outside of the box as well as asks good questions.
A is straightforward and knows what she wants to do. She is creative and has a lot of technical experience in making art.
St is vibrant and innovative. She looks to fix her own problems and invents new tools to work with.
School-wide Policies for Management, Safe Schools, Conflict Resolution and Student with Special Needs
Classroom Management at the Lab School uses a three refocus structure that focuses on attending skills based on the schools 6-Ps.
1. First Re-Focus: ask about behavior in a friendly, respectful tone.
2. Second Re-Focus: name the behavior, tell desired behavior
3. Third Re-Focus/ In-Hall Conference: ask student to step outside of the room. Tell the student this is their third re-focus
4. Problem Solving Contracts
5. Admin Support in Office
Poudre School District policies for safe schools
1. A designated and trained crisis response team
2. Lockdown, fire evacuation and severe weather procedures
3. Access and building check-in procedures
4. Staff training and a plan for yearly drills of procedures
There is no specific special needs program at the Lab school, you can always contact the school to get a hold of the head of the integrated services instructor.
“Safety is job #1, no reforms in the world will work unless our schools are safe!” (Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, September 2002)
Zoë Cibuls 