PHOTO: Second-graders from Pagosa Peak Open School get a tour with Carolyn at the Animas Museum in Durango to learn more about what it meant to be a student in the past. One student commented, “Life was a lot different back then. It was hard because you had The Great Depression. I’m grateful I don’t have to walk to school in the morning after getting up and doing chores.”
Seven weeks.
13 trips.
110 students.
3 community service projects.
Less than two months into the school year, every student at Pagosa Peak Open School has climbed aboard their bus and left the campus in search of answers to questions like, “How does my school compare to schools of the past?” and “How can I recognize and collaborate with neuro-divergent thinkers?”
Student learning that stretches beyond their school walls also provides students with opportunities for civic engagement. Students wonder, “How can I positively impact my own community?”
While second-graders work toward solutions around providing for mothers and children at the Aspire clinic, kindergartners visit preschools to collect data around what toys and materials are the most engaging. In upcoming months, search your neighborhood for free community libraries created by PPOS students, who are curious about how they can create things with their own hands that positively impact others.
During the holiday season, purchase cards created by PPOS students alongside Aspen House members: your donation goes directly to the Aspen House efforts, supporting adults with disabilities who need a home.
“By engaging with the community through fieldwork, students are able to expand their knowledge of our town and find ways to make it better,” PPOS Advisor Kelle Bruno said. “I want the students to feel like they are able to give back to their community and make a difference.”
Bruno’s class is not only creating free libraries for the community, but also their own class book on “The Tools of First Grade,” where each student will have two pages of the book to write and illustrate about the tools they use during school.
PPOS is a project-based learning school, where students use guiding questions to engage in learning around important social studies and science concepts instead of textbooks. Often students grapple with ethical questions and need to open themselves up to multiple perspectives on issues. As young as five years old, PPOS students are asked not only to share their thoughts and opinions, but also are expected to listen openly to others.
“Fieldwork outside of the classroom is important to student learning and engagement because they can have true to life experiences that guide their thinking,” said Kindergarten Advisor Maggie Saunders. “Our kindergarten students have looked at toys at Walmart, taught games to preschool students at Seeds of Learning, played putt-putt at the Wyndham, and interviewed students and family members about toys. Through all of these experiences, students have built stronger connections to shape their understanding. I am so thankful to the businesses in Pagosa Springs for allowing these special partnerships with us.”
Another opportunity came after making connections with Aspire staff and hearing about the needs of their community. PPOS staff brought this information to second-graders, who considered their role in supporting Pagosa families.
“We were able to connect around the needs of children, and have those needs met by children,” PPOS Advisor Rue Graham said. PPOS students brainstormed ways to entertain toddlers who get fussy in the waiting room, as well as new mothers in need of supplies for home. Students are doing their own fundraising to create gift bags to be distributed to the visitors of Aspire, which will include items such as diapers, wipes, clothing, personal hygiene products, baby formula, and a small comfort item.
“Much of what students have learned throughout this project is their role in being a part of a community,” Advisor Traci Landis said. “Citizenship starts with an understanding and developed care for the community.”
PPOS second-grader Hazel said, “I feel good about it because I like helping people. I feel good about helping our community because your community helps you and you should give back.”
Students began this project building their literacy and citizenship skills by participating in a series of focused read-alouds to explore the question, “What is school, and why are schools important?” Through the text, “Off to Class,” students learned about schools around the world and the challenges some communities face. From there, students looked closer to home: what challenges do we have and how can we help?
“We often live in our own little social and virtual bubbles and don’t get many opportunities to interact with or impact others that are living different lives,” said Alison Beach, whose daughter is in third grade at PPOS. “This is a skill that needs to be intentionally taught and is rare to see in our technology dependent modern lives.”
Through these opportunities for civic engagement, students address Colorado Social Studies Standards Civics & History.
The school is showcasing the students’ project work during their Fall Showcase Night on October 11 from 4:30-5:30pm at the school.
Pagosa Peak Open School is a tuition-free, K-8 district charter school focused on implementing a project-based learning (PBL) curriculum in a Restorative Practices environment. Field work and interviewing experts are foundational to project-based learning. PPOS aims to foster academic excellence, and support our students in contributing to an evolving world through community participation and civic engagement.
To learn more about PPOS, visit pagosapeakopenschool.org
Emily Murphy is School Director at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County. Prior to her appointment as School Director, Emily filled various roles at PPOS including Project-Based Learning advisor, instructional coach, and assistant director.