What Makes North Park Unique?
At North Park we are committed to preparing our learners for more than high stakes tests – we prepare them for successful lives in the 21st Century economy. We provide ample opportunity for practicing the 4 C’s (communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking) in addition to our core academic standards. Our programming is flexible and personalized and responds to the ever-changing needs of our learners and the skills needed to be successful. It is our promise to attend to the learning needs of the whole child – not simply the part that performs on high stakes tests.
- Learning Studios – This is ground zero of the elementary Learning Studio concept.
- We developed our first Learning Studio in 2012 for second graders. Since then we have added additional Learning Studios to support our 21st Century learners.
- We have conducted tours for over 1,000 educators since 2012. North Park is where professionals come to learn about 21st Century Skills programming.
- At North Park we honor brain research that tells us the body and mind are totally interconnected.
- Our Learning Studios are comfortable spaces that honor the physical needs of our learners and provide the flexibility needed for our programming.
- Focus on 21st Century Skills building
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- STEAM
- We integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math throughout our learning day.
- We integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math throughout our learning day.
- Project Based Learning
- Our staff has been trained by the Buck Institute for Education to use project learning to integrate multiple disciplines into student driven
- Our staff has been trained by the Buck Institute for Education to use project learning to integrate multiple disciplines into student driven
- Personalized learning
- Each student is unique. We help each of them find the nexus of their passion and aptitude.
- Each student is unique. We help each of them find the nexus of their passion and aptitude.
- Presentation skills
- If our students are to become adults who have various roads to success from which to choose they will need to have excellent ideas and the ability to effectively communicate them. Our learners begin working on presentation skills in 2nd Grade helping them to become experts by the time they enter the workforce.
- If our students are to become adults who have various roads to success from which to choose they will need to have excellent ideas and the ability to effectively communicate them. Our learners begin working on presentation skills in 2nd Grade helping them to become experts by the time they enter the workforce.
- Teacher collaboration and co-teaching
- Every North Park teacher is trained and participates in collaboration and co-teaching practices. Collaboration of the highest order is the foundation of how we conduct ourselves.
- Every North Park teacher is trained and participates in collaboration and co-teaching practices. Collaboration of the highest order is the foundation of how we conduct ourselves.
- Family Engagement
- PAS – A new parent engagement pilot for 5th grade families beginning Fall 2015.
- Home Visit Project – Our staff is trained to reach out to families and conduct voluntary home visits. Each grade level visits up to 20 homes two times each year building strong partnerships that support student success.
- REACH – a 6 week program educating parents to advocate for their students and support them to college and career readiness.
- Assessing student’s skills and knowledge in a developmentally appropriate way without reliance on test scores.
- Arts
- Music composition
- Digital arts
- Video production
- Composting and Recycling – North Park received the Anoka County Integrated Waste Champions in 2013 for our innovative recycling and composting program that has reduced our waste by over 90%