Biography of Argo Navis School
Argo Navis School is a progressive pre-K through middle school in Los Angeles, CA , that promotes an environment of joy and discovery in education While traditional school systems focus on teaching children through textbooks, lectures, and exams, Argo believes education should be project-led and teacher-facilitated, emphasizing learning through exploration and creation The school’s curriculum is guided by what students find most interesting in the world From this launching point, all subjects, including math, science, history, and other subjects, are taught in an immersive Spanish-speaking environment.
Argo Navis was founded by Ryanne Plaisance, a visionary leader whose goal was to tailor the school’s academic curriculum to the unique ways students learn best. Her educational model also considers both the students' emotional aptitude and their individual learning abilities She believes that when a child’s emotional intelligence is elevated (that is, their relationships with others at home, school, or play), their academic performance is also elevated.
An annual, three-week trip to Costa Rica places students directly in a Spanish-speaking culture Regular contact with different cultures can help students learn the importance of tradition, inclusion, and engagement with people of all ethnic, racial, and cultural identities Students leave the classroom often, exploring nearby communities and local attractions to learn by discovery instead of a textbook The school is also unique because its learning path includes financial literacy, an essential life skill neglected in traditional learning models.
Education Reimagined
Argo Navis School is a next-level private school that considers all paths to student health and wellness In the lunchroom, a vegetarian menu boasts healthy grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a wide range of culturally unique main entrées. The school believes that smaller class sizes are critical to helping instructors manage the entire class and benefiting the students
Plaisance discovered that more individualized attention allows the teacher to better understand each student’s unique needs while giving each student more chances to participate, ask questions, and receive help from each other For these reasons, the student-to-teacher ratio at Argo is consistently 8:1 compared to the average for California, which is 22 students per teacher
Individual and Project-based Learning
The entire educational system at Navis supports its culturally and geographically diverse community of students. To meet the needs and imaginations of its student body, the school promotes individual learning plans delivered through different modalities, including instructor-led, peer group, online, and blended The goal is to establish which method best supports the student by developing an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) early in the student’s educational life. Their individual cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional strengths are used to shape clear learning objectives as they progress
The project-based learning program ensures that students apply what they learn in class in the real world. This is the revolutionary nature of the Navis learning technique Group projects are determined by what the class wants to discover, putting them in the driver’s seat of their education Instead of learning only from a workbook, students travel to locations within the city This could be a visit to a marine biologist, a museum, or to watch a highly skilled artist’s crafting method
Modern Curriculum
Argo Navis School flips the table on the failures of traditional school curricula, which still leave students unable to pass standardized tests for college entrance They partnered with education experts and organizations that offer unique learning opportunities and field experiences. For example, weekly field trips start in preschool and graduate to weekly field studies in elementary school The school takes full advantage of the entire Los Angeles landscape, cultural scene, and ethnic communities to teach long-standing principles with a modern approach.
In addition to the common core curriculum required of all American students, the curriculum at Argo will also include other educational standards, such as:
● Computer Science Standards
● International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
● Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
● World Language California Standards
Signature Programs
What sets Navis apart from other private schools is its signature programs, which aim to achieve the highest quality standards across grade levels These programs are specifically designed to leave an unforgettable impact on the student’s life outlook and enthusiasm for learning. Wherever the exploration takes them, across the globe, in the depths of the seas, or into thick and lush wilderness, they are typically left with humility and awe The result is discovering how vast and wonderful the world is and how each and every student can impact the survival of humanity, wildlife, and planet Earth.
Community Partnerships
Argo Navis School has been featured in many noteworthy mediums, including the Boston Herald, K12 Digest, and the Inspired Stories Podcast "Rethinking Education," which featured Ryanne Plaisance discussing entrepreneurship and the challenges of launching a private school from nothing. In 2017, she also received the Comerica "Woman of Promise" award at the Crypto com arena
Argo Navis has many active community partnerships that benefit public and private schools' administrative and educational success Located in Los Angeles, the school is surrounded by gifted athletes, artists, and musicians eager to share their talent and wisdom Situated near over 100 museums, hundreds of miles of coastline, and some of the most colorful birds in America, Navis takes community partnership to the next level in educating children