PROGRAMMING
at our new school

The East End Community School is Portland's first elementary school of choice. Both the learning space and the programming have been designed to give students increased opportunities to learn through in-depth interdisciplinary studies with a strong arts component.

A strong research based literacy program will support the use of Expeditionary Learning.

This student-centered methodology is highly responsive to each child's learning profile. Two credentialed literacy coaches work with teachers both in and out of the classroom to help them increase their instructional effectiveness.

Each of the three wings of the school will have the characteristics of a small school atmosphere. Students will remain in the same wing from grade one through five, thus assuring the opportunity for building strong communities, within the school itself, and extending out to surrounding the community as well.

Each wing is semi-autonomous with regard to designing and executing programming. As the most important member of their children's learning team, parents will be invited to colaborate with teachers.

The East End Community School will continue to integrate Expeditionary Learning (EL) into the framework for learning. EL emphasizes active involvement, character growth and team building. The hallmark of Expeditionary Learning is the learning expedition. Expeditions are challenging, interdisciplinary, real work projects and in-depth studies that act as primary curriculum units. The expeditions are the venue within which students work toward achieving the standards of the Learning Results in reading, mathematics, and the content areas.

The techniques of the Responsive Classroom approach will be practiced to create and maintain a positive school culture. The use of this approach is intended to build and refine students' social skills and academic engagement, and establish the positive classroom and school climate that supports increased learner investment and independence.