Katelin Mills

EDUC 466
Fall 2017

Culture and Community Context

Polaris is the only school within Poudre School District to offer the Expeditionary Learning
model. The K-12 learning community strives to create the ideal environment for development,
experiential curriculum, critical life skills, and community connections for students of every
background. At Polaris, the Expeditionary Learning approach creates life-long learners who can
think critically, solve problems creatively, and adapt successfully to an ever changing world.
Polaris is a choice school meaning it has no boundaries dictating the enrollment of students.
Students are selected via an online application process laid out by Poudre School District.
Class sizes are kept small, capping at 18 at the elementary level and 22-29 for the secondary
level. Polaris is unique in a number of ways. Everyone (including faculty and staff) are referred
to on a first-name basis. Students arent given grades, but rather create portfolios that
demonstrate their learning and present their learning at student-teacher conferences. Teachers
are incredibly supportive both of student and of co-workers. The motto of the entire building is
we are crew, not passengers. Everyone has a role and is expected to do their work.
Kindergarten and first grade loop teach and grades 2-3 and 4-5 are group taught.

Support Structure
There are nineteen secondary teachers, ten elementary teachers, one office manager, one
office secretary, one high school counselor, one K-8 counselor, two paraprofessionals, one
principal, and one assistant principal in the building. The school has a significant amount of
support within the community. There are fundraiser nights at the school a couple times a
semester wherein the school raises money for field trips. Additionally, every fall semester,
Polaris has access to CSUs concepts class for Art Education wherein 1-2 teachers in training
instruct art class in grades K-8.

Demographic Characteristics
In the year 2015-2016
Of 386 students:
87% white (around 336 students)
6.2% Hispanic or Latino (around 24 students)
6.7% other (around 26 students)

English learner: .3%

Free and reduced lunch: 36%
Special education: 6.2%
Gifted: 15.3%
Attendance: 92%

Assessment:
CMAS PARCC Math:
741 (PSD average: 745)
CMAS PARCC English:
754 (PSD average: 750)
CMAS Science:
Grade 5: 649 (PSD average: 644)
Grade 8: 669 (PSD average: 630)
Grade 11: 665 (PSD average:647)
Colorado ACT:
22.5 (PSD average: 22.2)

Data Source: CDE Education Statistics Page

Classroom Environment and Students

Clarissa and I ar in Denises first grade class. This class is really comfortable with each other.
There is good community and their routines are down. Students have jobs for one week that
are switched every Monday. Jobs cover a variety of classroom maintenance. The morning
routine is for students to come in and flip their card in a chart so as to indicate that they are
present. Kindergarten and first grade are loop-taught here so this is the second year of this
grouped together as a whole with the same teacher. There are eighteen students total and as a
whole they work really well together.

School-wide Policies for Management, Safe Schools, Conflict Resolution and Student
with Special Needs
Management:
In Denises class there are very few behavioral issues due to the strong sense of community
and routine. Some management techniques including ringing a bell to get attention. Putting up
a high five for attending skills. Students know that this means they are seated quietly and
ready to listen.
Students with Special Needs:
The paraprofessionals at the school are Maureen Gates and Michael Espinozo. These
paraprofessionals support students with special needs in the school.