We are the EPiC Explorers!
Volume 1
Table of Contents Learning Environment.........................................3 Our Framework..................................................4 Our Philosophy...................................................5 Studio K.............................................................6 Studio 1.............................................................8 Studio 2...........................................................10 Studio 3...........................................................12 Studio 4...........................................................14 Studio 5...........................................................16 Message From Principal...................................18 Our Staff...........................................................19
Learning Environment
Students will learn and work in RE-DESIGNED LEARNING SPACES that include THINK SPACES and CREATION LABS designed to allow students to exhibit their learning through hands-on experiences. Students will work through CROSS-AGED CONNECTIONS allowing students to engage with students outside of their traditional grade level and ENHANCE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH. Students will EXHIBIT LEARNING of state standards through multiple avenues. In addition to traditional standardized tests, authentic PERFORMANCE BASED EXHIBITIONS will be used to measure learning.
Framework E.P.i.C Every Person Inspired to Create Empower Creativity - Equip Students - Engage Communities
Empower Creativity EPiC provides a learning environment where students discover, embrace, and integrate authentic learning experiences to create and design real-world applications of their knowledge. Equip Students EPiC provides a learning environment through a personalized education where students become collaborators, critical and creative thinkers, and communicators. Engage Communities EPiC provides a learning environment where students, families, educators, and experts are fully engaged in authentic learning experiences designed to inspire kids.
Represent our Community EPiC student enrollment will represent the Liberty Public School community.
Student Outcomes
Connect with our Community EPiC students will partner with the community through meaningful relationships.
Students will: -Produce authentic work and showcase their learning -Learn at a personalized pace while acquiring key academic and social skills -Identify, propose, and defend solutions to real world issues -Work independently and in teams to accomplish goals -Engage in a collaborative culture to impact the larger community
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Responsiveness and Refinement EPiC will continuously refine and adapt its practices to foster ongoing innovation. Replicable Operations EPiC will operate efficiently and achieve fiscal responsibility.
Philosophy Empowering Creativity Curiosity sparks PASSION and CREATIVITY. EPiC re-imagines education by encouraging the in-depth EXPLORATION of topics as students participate in the adventures of learning. EPiC students apply their new knowledge by CREATING and EXHIBITING their learning to multiple aud iences. Students will work through CROSS-AGED CONNECTIONS allowing engagement with peers outside of their traditional grade-level which is designed to ENHANCE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH. Students will EXHIBIT LEARNING of state standards through multiple avenues. In addition to traditional standardized tests, authentic PERFORMANCE-BASED EXHIBITIONS will be used to measure learning.
Equip Students Students learn in different WAYS and at different SPACES. EPiC students learn through an integrated curriculum at a PERSONALIZED pace utilizing TECHNOLOGY and dynamic TEACHER INSTRUCTION. Engage Community Students play an important role in our COMMUNITY and WORLD. Learning becomes REAL when students are able to take their learning beyond the classroom walls and ENGAGE with PARENTS and COMMUNITY experts. EPiC students learn in an environment that thrives on COLLABORATION both within the classroom, across grade levels, and with the greater community through speakers, guest instructors, and community-based projects.
Studio K
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Studio K loves to investigate! Through our makerspaces, students explored science, art, mathematics, technology, and engineering through creative problem-solving and collaboration. Students investigated the season of fall by building background knowledge using QR codes linked to text, experimenting with sink and float, investigating the apple by characteristics using scientific tools, and using creative apps to label the parts of an apple. We are building a community of readers and writers!
We are Builders!
Studio 1
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In Studio 1, we strive to be leaders in our community. Practicing effective communication and collaboration with one another, thinking critically about real-life problems, and using our imagination to create are all part of our daily routine. We are learning to be scientists, mathematicians, engineers, authors, and researchers for life. We have the opportunity to explore our natural community through plant experiments, researching and creating field guides, planting and maintaining a garden bed and writing poems about nature. Creating videos to explore ourselves, filming interactive video tours of our school to share with others and participating in team-building activities help establish an environment conducive to investigation.
We are Leaders!
Studio 2 In Studio 2 we are on a journey of discovery through project-based learning. As lepidopterists, we have studied the life cycle of a butterfly, raised Painted Lady butterflies and researched butterfly facts. We had opportunity to apply our knowledge by designing a butterfly garden on the EPiC campus. We wrote letters to local businesses, district employees, and a expert lepidopterist requesting assistance with this project. The community response was overwhelming! We mulched and planted beginning the process of creating a garden that would attract butterflies. We anticipate the spring planting season and sharing their garden for years to come.
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We are Storytellers!
Studio 3
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Studio 3 has been busy making connections in our world. We are learning about the global water crisis and the lack of clean drinking water through reading text, writing opinion pieces, testing water samples and working with experts. We are even designing and testing our own water filters! We have also started blogging and learning to communicate and practice our high expectations for both quality writing and digital citizenship. In math, we have worked hard to solve problems, collaborate, and we are even learning to code. We have also created e-portfolios, where we can share our progress in our personalized learning.
We are Connectors!
Studio 4 14
In Studio 4, we focus on how to become change makers in their world! We study interactions within their community, discover problems that need attention, and challenge ourselves to solve those problems. We act and fix the problems we see in the world!
Scan here to watch our music video!
As fourth graders, we are empowered at EPiC and given the responsibility to make decisions in regards to our own learning. We schedule our day, set expectations, and work collaboratively on a daily basis. We use 21st century skills to deepen passions and extend their learning. There is no ceiling of learning in fourth grade!
We are Change Makers!
Studio 5
We believe we can be creative all the time. We learn our ideas have value, and the processes towards a product are just as important as the end result. We are learning to stretch towards solutions through our weekly maker challenges and participating in larger events like the Global Cardboard Challenge.
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In Studio 5, we learn and grow every day and are becoming designers of our own learning. We strive to be independent and collaborative in innovative ways and are learning to connect with experts outside of the classroom as well, helping us learn about STEM careers in the real world. Partnerships with Liberty High School science students have allowed us the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships where the high school experts meet with virtually meet with us to review our progress on our science experiments and offer advise and direction. Our gardening project has helped us learn to use real world science and math such as perimeter and area, weight distribution, organic materials, what plants need to grow, and how to organically keep deer away from the plants. Even more importantly, we have learned to teach younger students about the processes for gardening. Throughout this year, Studio 5 seeks to uncover how looking back to past historical events impacts our future, helping to provide a lens by which we can understand exploration, removal of the Indians, the Civil War, even 9/11. We believe learning is exciting. Our classroom is full of discussion, as we challenge ourselves and others to design meaningful learning products while developing even more essential processes along the way. Every day we are showcasing our innovation and creativity, utilizing the best strategies and infusing technology into all areas of learning.
We are Designers!
Message From... EPiC Elementary Principal, Dr. Michelle Schmitz Google. Dropbox. Netflix. Twitter. Innovative companies that have transformed our culture. Creativity will drive the economics of the future, but where in our current educational system do we actually allow the time and space for creativity? When you walk into a classroom can you see a difference between the 1980’s and today’s classroom? Are students “dialing down” when they enter school? And if creativity really is the driver of the economy, what skills do our students need to be successful? In the spring of 2013, Liberty Public Schools began exploring these questions and more, resulting in a 20/20 Vision Innovations Team, comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, and board members. As we started to seek answers to these questions, we crossed the country and visited highly successful, innovative schools. We tapped into experts, read research and investigated different school models, ultimately discovering effective environments that empowered students to learn. Real tools. Authentic audiences. Projects with meaning. Personalized learning. As our team began to assimilate what we had learned, we posed the questions, “How could we reimagine education for our students in Liberty? How could we step outside the box and incorporate our new learning to create a different kind of school? “Every Person Inspired to Create, hence the acronym EPiC, was born. EPiC is not just a school, but r ather an idea, a philosophy, a journey for every person. So what does that look like in a school? How will we infuse this idea into each and every day? We believe that children learn in different ways and at different paces. Moreover, we also believe it is essential that all our students are engaged at a deep level of learning. And we know that learning becomes real when students are able to take their learning beyond the classroom walls and engage with parents and community experts. So then how do we empower and equip students for the evolving, global economy and design a program that is Every Person Inspired to Create? How are we going to make sure students learn the necessary skills to prepare them for life beyond school? Curiosity sparks passion and creativity. EPiC re-imagines education by encouraging the in-depth exploration of topics as students participate in the adventures of learning. Our students will apply their new knowledge by creating and exhibiting their own learning to multiple audiences. Daily personalized learning will be the key--students learning at their own level, leveraging the power of quality adaptive technology platforms. Through project-based learning and dynamic teacher instruction, EPiC students will explore real challenges and create solutions and share in front of authentic audiences. We are excited to bring to life our vision. Come along with us on the journey to Be EPiC Everyday.
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Our Staff Principal
Dr. Michelle Schmitz
Administrative Assistant
Patrice Clark
Office Paraprofessional
Martie Phillips
Counselor
Becky Starnes
Nurse
Amy Love
Blended Learning Coach
Susan Maynor
Studio K
Glenda Monachino, Mardi Mason
Studio 1
Danielle Compton, Steffanie Baker-Booth
Studio 2
Michelle Peck, Christine Torres
Studio 3
Kellie Konrad, Dawn Bennett
Studio 4
Jeni Schwandt, Katie Haberberger
Studio 5
Kelly Hunerdosse, Deb Caywood
Special Services Studio
Mary Oyler, Heather Larkin, Cody Higgins
Specials Studio
(PE) Jason Maeder, (Music) Dana Ross, (Art) Mellissa McCullough
816-736-5730 epic.liberty.k12.mo.us @epicelementary
@epicelementary
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“Makerspace is my favorite time of the day.” -EPiC Kindergartener
“We love learning and making movies on our iPads.” -EPiC First Grader
“This is why I love EPiC! It’s this kind of stuff.” -EPiC Second Grader
“I love all the different places and furniture to do my work.” -EPiC Third Grader
“This is what I’m talking about. I love to schedule my day.” -EPiC Fourth Grader
“I like it here. I get to show my learning in lots of different ways” -EPiC Fifth Grader