Branch Line School by Branch Line School

BRANCH LINE SCHOOL C U LT I VAT E L E A R N I N G

M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Branch Line School will guide students in an individualized, small school atmosphere that cultivates intellectual freedom, respect for others, and service to the community in order to produce critical thinkers and informed global citizens.

W H AT I S A C H A R T E R S C H O O L ? Not all charter schools are the same. Although all charter schools are free public schools governed by a local board of directors, some charter schoolÂ boards outsource school development and operations to third-party educational management corporations. Branch Line School is unique in the area by offering an innovative and independently designed and managed educational approach. Charter schools operate on lower state funding than most traditional public schools, but have more freedom to determine curricula and teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept applications from all Michigan students who are eligible to attend traditional public schools. If the number of applicants during open enrollment exceeds the number of available spaces, a lottery is held.Â

Branch Line School was founded with the intent to operate a school that children wake up in the morning excited to attend; to dispel the notion that school must always be boring, tedious or frustrating; and to create a fresh paradigm in which students feel free to explore and discover, and in which they develop a true and lifelong joy of learning.

AT A G L A N C E »» F ree public charter program serving kindergarten through 8th grade »» T uition-based preschool and young 5s/half-day kindergarten program »» Small class sizes »» Year-round program »» M ulti-age classes in cohorts serving students in K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 »» C ommunity-based program with integrated service learning »» Total preschool-grade 8 enrollment of approximately 200 students »» Project-based, experiential learning curriculum »» Extended-day program »» Daily Spanish instruction »» On site enrichment classes »» Technology enhanced learning

Our focus on social awareness and family involvement fosters a community of thoughtful learners.

Branch Line School is a new public charter school opening in Summer 2013. We are introducing an entirely new learning community to Livonia and nearby communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one thatÂ inspires children to become lifelong learners in a nurturing, intimate environment. Dedicated teachers engage children in challenging, project-based learning experiences supported by innovative technology. Small multi-age classes ensure that each student receives personal attention and progresses at a developmentally appropriate pace. Our focus on social awareness and family involvement fosters a community of thoughtful learners. The result is a confident and ethical young person ready to succeed in high school and beyond.

W H AT M A K E S U S D I F F E R E N T ?

Small school atmosphere that cultivates intellectual freedom, respect for others, and service to the community

P R O J E C T- B A S E D L E A R N I N G T E C H N O L O GY AT B L S M U LT I -AG E E D U C AT I O N C O N T I N U O U S L E A R N I N G C A L E N DA R ASSESSMENT FA M I LY I N V O LV E M E N T S E RV I C E L E A R N I N G

P R O J E C T- B A S E D L E A R N I N G

Project-based learning builds on childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural curiosity and desire to explore and discover.

Project-based learning builds on childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural curiosity and desire to explore and discover. This cross-disciplinary, experiential learning approach is student-led and guided by specially trained teachers who help integrate academic concepts and content into real-world applications.

BLSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily technology Mission Statement

integration is cross-curricular

Branch Line School will guide students in and purposeful. an individualized, small school atmosphere that cultivates intellectual freedom, respect for others, and service to the community in order to produce critical thinkers and informed global citizens.

T E C H N O L O GY AT B L S

What is a charter school? Not all charter schools are the same. Although all charter schools are free public schools governed by a local board

What is a charter school? Not all charter schools are the same. Although all charter schools are free public schools governed by a local board of directors, some charter schoolÂ boards outsource school development and operations to third-party educational Branch Line School supplies the tools that are management corporations. Branch Line School necessary for our children to become knowledgeable is unique in the Plymouth area by offering an digital citizens. BLSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily technology integration is innovative and independently designed and cross-curricular and purposeful, supporting critical managed educational approach. thinking, sound judgement, information fluency Charter schools operate on lower state funding and creativity. than most traditional public schools, but have more freedom to determine curricula and teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept applications from all Michigan students who are eligible to attend traditional public schools. If the

Mission Statement Branch Line School will guide students in an individualized, small school atmosphere that cultivates intellectual freedom, respect for others, and service to the community in order to produce critical

M U LT I -AG E E D U C AT I O N

thinkers and informed global citizens.

What is a charter school?

Multiage education supports continuous

Not all charter schools are the same.

learning in which

Although all charter schools are free

each pacing is

public schools governed by a local board

individualized to a student’s needs

What is a charter school? Three cohorts, representing grades all Not all charter schoolsdevelopmental are the same. Although K–2, 3–5 and 6–8, soften charter schools aregrade-level free publicdistinctions schools governed and reduce transitions in directors, a child’s education, by a local board of some charter allowing closer and more in-depth relationships school boards outsource school development with peers and teachers. Multiage education and operations to third-party educational supports continuous learning in which each pacing management corporations. Branch Line School is individualized tothe a student’s needs, interests and is unique in Plymouth area by offering an abilities. Studentsand grow into leadership roles inand a innovative independently designed safe, consistent collaborative environment. managed and educational approach. Charter schools operate on lower state funding than most traditional public schools, but have more freedom to determine curricula and teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept applications from all Michigan students who are eligible to attend traditional public schools. If the

The balanced calendar Mission Statement

is implemented to reduce summer

Branch Line School will guide studentsloss, in create a learning an individualized, small school atmosphere feeling of continuity in that cultivates intellectual freedom, the school community respect for others, and service to the community in order to produce critical

C O Nthinkers T I N U Oand U Sinformed L E A R Nglobal I N G citizens. C A L E N DA R

What is a charter school? Not all charter schools are the same. Although all charter schools are free public schools governed by a local board

What is a charter school? Not School’s all charter schoolscalendar are the same. Branch Line balanced offersAlthough all charter schools publictime schools governed a 6-week summer breakare andfree provides a local board schedule of directors, some off on a by more cadenced than the charter school boards school development traditional school year.outsource The calendar shares andLivonia operations to third-party educational Plymouth, and other local school district breaks, management Line School but features a shortercorporations. summer breakBranch and more uniqueoff in scheduled the Plymouth area by offering an frequentisweeks throughout the innovative and independently designed and year to give students and staff well-deserved managed educational approach. respite. During these breaks, students may attend tuition-based “intersessions,” which are optional Charter schools operate on lower state funding fee-based camps that offer relaxation, recreation than most traditional public schools, but have and rejuvenation. The balanced calendar is more freedom to determine curricula and implemented to reduce summer learning loss, teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept create a feeling of continuity in the school applications from all Michigan students who are community, and provide a rhythm that gives eligible to attend traditional public schools. If the students regular, dedicated time for rest and play all year long.

What is a charter school?

Our assessment program requires

Not all charter schools are the same.

students to develop ideas,

Although all charter schools are free

integrate knowledge and

public schools governed by a local board

complete tasks that have real-world applications.

Branch Line School is formed with the What is a charter school? purpose of allowing students to learn in more meaningful than can be demonstrated Not ways all charter schools are the same. Although all by traditional grades andare test scores. charter schools free publicOur schools governed assessment requires students by a program local board of directors, some charter to develop ideas, integrate knowledge and school boards outsource school development complete tasks that have and operations toreal-world third-party educational applications. Student progress is recorded management corporations. Branch Line School in comprehensive rubrics is unique incontent-area the Plymouth area by offering an according to the child’s individual pacedesigned and innovative and independently and not managed in comparison to otherapproach. students. educational Assessment is ongoing and allows teachers to Charter schools operate on lower state funding continually identify and respond to strengths than most traditional public schools, but have and weaknesses. Digital and paper portfolios, more freedom to determine curricula and student-led conferences, teacher observation teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept and student self-assessments are integral applications from all Michigan students who are components of tracking student progress. eligible to attend traditional public schools. If the Branch Line School will also administer the MEAP in accordance with state law, and an additional standardized test as a data point in measuring school-wide performance.

What is a charter school?

Personal Not all charter schools are the same. relationships Although all charter schoolsamong are freeparents, staff,

and students public schools governed by ateachers local board are crucial to sustaining a trusting learning community.

What is a charter school? Not all charter schools are the same. Although all charter schools are free public schools governed Â by a local board of directors, some charter schoolÂ boards outsource school development and operations to third-party educational Branch Line School welcomes the whole management corporations. Branch Line School family intoPlymouth the learning is unique in the areacommunity. by offering Parents an ultimately have the mostdesigned important role in innovative and independently and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational success, and Branch Line managed educational approach. School removes the barriers to meaningful Charter schools operate on lower state funding involvement and participation that are than most traditional public schools, but have prevalent at more traditional schools. Personal more freedom to determine curricula and relationships among parents, staff, teachers teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept and students are crucial to sustaining a applications from all Michigan students who are trusting learning community. In addition to eligible to attend traditional public schools. If the our open-door policy, our structured program for volunteer parent aides and instructors is a vital resource for cost-savings, freeing limited financial resources for use in other areas.

SERVICE LEARNING

thinkers and informed global citizens.

Our assessment What is a charter school?

program requires

students Not all charter schools are the same. to develop ideas, Although all charter schools integrate knowledge and are free

tasks that have public schools governed by acomplete local board real-world applications.

What is a charter school? Not all charter schools are the same. Although all charter schools are free public schools governed by a local board of directors, some charter schoolÂ boards outsource school development and operations to third-party educational Branch Line School believes that children can management corporations. Branch Line School make a difference in their communities. As is unique in the Plymouth area by offering an an integral component of the project-based innovative and independently designed and curriculum, students identify community managed educational approach. needs and work with teachers to plan and executeCharter projectsschools to meetoperate those needs. Projects on lower state funding have defined learning objectives thatschools, allow but have than most traditional public studentsmore to experience real-world application freedom to determine curricula and of academic content and understand their teaching philosophies. Charter schools accept connection to the greater Service applications from world. all Michigan students who are learningeligible fostersto empathy among students attend traditional public schools. If the inside and outside of the classroom.

RESPECTFUL

SUCESSFUL

PEACEFUL

PURPOSEFUL

CHEERFUL

RESOURCEFUL

J OY F U L

A fresh paradigm in which students feel free to explore and discover, and in which they develop a true and lifelong joy of learning.

THE FULL CHILD

PURPOSEFUL Branch Line School students are actively engaged in developing goals, creating projects and identifying real-world applications for their learning. CHEERFUL Branch Line School is filled with laughter, excitement, collaboration and interaction. PEACEFUL Branch Line School students make their world better by actively participating in the greater community with ongoing service-learning projects. RESOURCEFUL Branch Line School students are encouraged to be independent and learn how to seek answers to their questions.

SUCCESSFUL Branch Line School students are guided to their highest potential in an environment that fosters diligence and love of learning. Â J OY F U L Branch Line School students enjoy empowered, playful learning in a warm, nurturing and supportive community. RESPECTFUL Branch Line School students, staff, friends and families treat each other with unconditional dignity, kindness and empathy. Â

BRANCH LINE SCHOOL 16360 HUBBARD S T. | LIVONIA , M I 48154 734.335 .0663 | I N F O @ B R A N C H L I N E S C H O O L .O R G