Seventh Grade

Teachers:

Theresa Storto - Language Arts / Social Studies

Jesse Preston - Science

KCAA will provide a learning environment based on documented research that active learning, experiential investigation and integrated arts are vital for the development of higher level thinking and of the enthusiastic engagement inherent in lifelong learning. Students will engage in integrated learning units developed through the Understanding by Design process, and will be immersed in in-depth studies based on Standards, Essential Questions, Enduring Understandings and appropriate ongoing assessments in addition to periodic district Benchmark assessments and the CSAP.  At every grade level, the DPS curriculum will be infused with active, artistic learning around grade level topics, i.e., ecological concerns of the world, cultural comparisons of ancient civilizations, literary analysis, design and architectural elements, earth in space.  The school schedule will assure that all teachers can plan units collaboratively with specialists in technology, visual arts, drama, dance, music and library to assure rigor and competency in many literacies.  Students identified as struggling in any area will receive immediate assessment, counseling and assistance from classroom and specialist teachers, including the potential of special education identification and services.


KCAA will provide an array of excellent learning resources (in addition to DPS provided curricula) that support investigation and rigorous learning in all curricular areas, i.e., materials from Great Books, AIMS, GEMS, DigiBlocks and Great Source.  The placement of students in Everyday Math, Connected Math and literacy will be based on their mastery of content, as documented by pretesting, not on age of child.  Appropriately challenging materials will be readily available for advanced students in specific curricular areas, as well as specialized support materials for struggling students.  Two librarian-staffed libraries, one in the elementary area, and one on fourth floor, will serve the research and independent reading needs of KCAA students, as well as housing excellent professional collections for teachers.

As a K-12 integrated arts school, the lower school will be actively nurturing young students with arts infused thematic units that inspire experiential investigation, project/performance creation, rigorous academic basic skills mastery and growing arts expertise.  The school is built on a foundation of great educational thinkers such as John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, Jerome Bruner, David Hawkins, Howard Gardner and the philosophy of the world class Reggio Emilia schools in Reggio, Italy.  Such programming is based on the belief of children and young people as powerful learners who think reflectively and who collaborate with one another as they:

Explore and discover

In order to:

In such a learning environment, the individual strengths and needs of students of all ages will become well known by the staff, enabling them to support and guide each child's unique learning patterns and passions.
 
In addition to engaging arts-infused core curriculum, students entering at middle school will be able to select from strands of arts studies that match their interests (as identified by initial interviews) and will lead to career path studies during high school years.  KCAA will be closely linked with Denve's many performance arts organizations, offering opportunities to experience professional arts performances, mentorships and apprenticeships. Preparing students for a twenty-first century knowledge economy, the school will work closely with local programs such as Bridges, CTE, AVID, STEM and Post-Secondary pathways to carefully guide and support each student to graduate from high school fully qualified for college and career paths in many fields dependant on workers with creative and artistic training.