The Nature Academy is a program for middle-school students who
love to read and write extensively, explore widely, and contribute
meaningfully to their community. Science and its interaction with
societal issues, coupled with character development, form the
foundation for our studies.
Developed
as a school to meet the needs of students looking for a challenge-
academically, physically, emotionally, and socially - the Nature
Academy is committed to offering enriched education. Based on the ideal
of the scholar-adventurer, the Nature Academy offers a rigorous
academic program featuring intensive and extensive math, reading, and
writing expectations. It demands that students not only complete
assignments, but do so at a consistently personal best level- often
exceeding the demands of the assignment.
  Because
we firmly believe in scholarship first, and adventure to follow, Nature
Academy students often have as much or more homework than their peers
attending other local middle schools. Further, we seek to offer
opportunities to act, draw, build, and contribute to the community in
addition to the rigorous reading and writing expectations.
Participation on adventures- be it hiking in Yosemite, snorkeling on
Catalina Island, or kayaking on the Monterey Bay – is contingent upon
students’ academic performance and behavioral excellence. These
policies guide and form our extensive educational adventures into the
world around us- our classroom without walls. Simply
stated, Nature Academy students are fully expected to work hard first,
play hard second, and contribute positively to themselves, their
school, their families, and their community always. We
believe parents and students are extremely lucky to live in a place
where so many excellent and diverse educational opportunities are
available. The Nature Academy follows the overall Charter philosophy of
a choice-based education. When making a choice regarding a child’s
education, looking for the best fit requires an understanding of all
the choices available. Within the SLV Charter program, middle school
students can attend the Nature Academy, Coast Redwood Middle School or
Charter 25 Homeschool (which offers classes for all grades K-12). As
high schoolers the added choices of Coast Redwood and White Oak High
Schools become available. For more information regarding SLV Charter
Schools, go to http://www.slv.k12.ca.us/charter/
Additionally,
within SLVMS a wide array of programs and talented teachers are
available to students. SLVMS also offers additionally supported
classes for students with IEPs in Language Arts and Math. Taught by
multiple-credentialed teachers and supported by classroom aides, these
classes regularly provide the smallest teacher-student ratios available
in the district. SLVMS also has an after school tutoring program taught
by credentialed teachers which, due to funding and time constraints,
the Nature Academy does not offer.
Our
wish is for all students to be able to find the best match for their
educational needs, recognizing that no program is likely to meet all
needs for all students. |
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