Gone are the bells, rows, and endless worksheets. Students and teachers at Venture are engaged in challenging learning experiences that are meant to excite and stretch the students. Special effort is given to identifying compelling topics and guiding questions that create a need to know in each student. Studies call for intellectual inquiry, exploration, and community service. On a given day, exploration may take them outside the school building to do environmental research, conduct interviews in local businesses, or carry out other fieldwork assignments. In all of this there is opportunity for students to find and develop areas of personal interest. Our teachers help students discover they can do more than they thought they could--nothing generates enthusiasm better than the feeling of, not simply "being all you can be," but being more than you thought you could be!

The following are characteristic of the school environment:

• A positive, upbeat vibe permeates the school.
• Children are excited to come to school.
• The culture of the school discourages negative activities such as bullying.
• Rituals and traditions are in place to help foster enthusiasm in the school community, such as community meetings involving all grades.
• Students are eager to share what they know.
• Teachers are fully trained in the dynamics of Expeditionary Learning and Venture makes staff professional development a budget priority.
• The Staff also are enthusiastic, active learners which creates an atmosphere of excitement, not boredom.
• Homework is limited, and relevant.

At any given time, when walking through the halls at Venture, you will hear it BUZZING LIKE A BEEHIVE!

"I believe that work of excellence is transformational. Once a student sees that he or she is capable of excellence, that student is never quite the same. There is a new self-image, a new notion of possibility. There is an appetite for excellence. After students have had a taste of excellence, they’re never quite satisfied with less; they’re always hungry." -Ron Berger An Ethic of Excellence

Working for excellence is a way of life at Venture. Students present to parents and other audiences only their “personal best” work. No worksheets, no quick assignments for a grade. Teachers draw students outside of their comfort zone; helping them develop courage to overcome their fears and discover they can do more than they think they can. A culture of craftsmanship, perseverance and significant achievement is pervasive throughout the school.

Students at Venture learn to give and receive feedback on their work in an atmosphere that is friendly and constructive. Revise, revise, revise is the mantra of the school. In other words, ongoing assessment is woven throughout expeditions, pushing students to higher levels of performance in pursuit of excellent work. Students are taught to learn from their failures and persevere when things are hard. They are not penalized for trying again. In short, assessment at Venture is primarily "for" learning not just "of" learning.

Students take personal responsibility for their learning and display their excellent work in portfolios—often showing the progression from draft to final product. They produce work that is purpose driven and responds to real issues. Finished products are prepared for an authentic audience, i.e., most often one that is outside the school and for whom the results have special meaning.

The pursuit of excellence applies not only to academic work, but to character development, citizenship, service and leadership. It is exhibited at every level of the school: Governing Board, Administration, staff, students and parent crews. Excellent student work is on display at the school. Teachers are leaders in their fields and models of best educational practices. They set the example by maintaining a high standard of professional development and personal growth which is evidenced, for instance, in well-prepared, engaging expeditions.

Excellence is always a work in progress, but a culture of excellence aims to have students working in the zone that continually stretches them toward higher standards, while not overwhelming them.

Leadership is born from habits of service and excellence. At Venture, students will learn from the greatest and most noble leaders throughout history. In addition, great effort will be focused on providing students with leadership opportunities at the school where they will learn to think, direct, delegate, articulate, plan and execute.

Leadership skills will be developed through such activities as:

• setting goals and tracking progress,
• the teaching of etiquette and values;
• directing service work;
• providing opportunities for students to be heads of crews;
• mentoring other students;
• public speaking opportunities on a frequent basis;
• presenting research findings to authentic audiences;
• encouraging patriotism;
• studying great leaders throughout history; living books;
• participating in student government resembling a representative form of government;
• leading conferences with parents;
• helping each student find opportunities to share their opinions, be spokespeople, and lead groups;
• exposure to passionate leaders in history;
• exposure to excellent leaders from the community;
• regular study of great speeches throughout history;
• staff modeling proper leadership;
• learning to be a good follower

At Venture, students and staff are strengthened by acts of service to others. Students are taught how to reach outside of themselves, to look at their neighbor and community for opportunities to make things better. Service is real (not contrived), spontaneous, and is modeled by administration and staff regularly.

Students learn to recognize their own connection to the community as they identify needs and work with community members. Each grade participates in at least one age-appropriate project per year that provides significant service to the community. Often these projects are related to and grow out of learning expeditions. Older students take charge of their service-learning by developing their own action plans and performing their own individual projects.

Students who participate in service-learning activities excel academically. Effective service programs improve academic grades, increase attendance in school and develop personal and social responsibility. When children understand that their service is real and makes a difference for someone -- and that the results will be on display—they want to achieve at their highest levels.

In addition to service projects, other simple, day-to-day service is observed on a regular basis at the school -- such acts as: students helping other students, cleaning the school, opening doors for others, picking up dropped items, putting up chairs, and more. The idea that "if it's to be, it's truly up to me," is in evidence throughout the school.

We are crew, not passengers.

Respect is the fruit of wisdom. The person who is most respectful is probably most wise. At Venture, students choose to be respectful because they have gained wisdom, or because they trust the wisdom of teachers and parents. Children learn respect most directly from parents and teachers who model proper respect.

However -- though the goal is to have students choose respectful communication, dress, and actions -- if they do not, basic standards will be maintained through encouragement, correction, and, where necessary, formal discipline.

Integrity is fundamental to being. Integrity means being truthful, but it also means accepting responsibility and honoring commitments. Good people sometimes make mistakes. A person of integrity will honestly face and correct their mistakes, and that is an example we can respect. Sometimes we try but fail. Not all worthy objectives are realized despite one"'s honest and best efforts. True success is not always measured by the fruits of one's labors but by the labors themselves--by one's striving." -Todd Christofferson

Integrity is at the core of every other value. Without integrity our other values can never be fully realized. To our students, personal integrity is more important than a grade or a test score. Honesty is not just the best policy; it’s the only policy. We don’t think it is old-fashioned to positively affirm statements like the following:

• When we say we will do something, we do it.
• When we make a commitment, we honor it.
• When we accept an assignment, we fulfill it.
• When the School Board creates a policy, we follow it.
• When we borrow something, we return it.

Venture teachers and administration lead by example by demonstrating integrity in their interaction with students, parents, and other staff. Such acts as spreading rumors, exaggerating weaknesses or speaking ill of someone to someone else are not in keeping with Venture standards. Teachers model integrity by always going to the source.

Venture teachers and administration honor students for demonstrating integrity in difficult situations, and encourage them to always stand up for the right. They encourage students to speak their minds, but in optimistic, respectful ways. They encourage students to understand and take responsibility for their own actions and how their actions affect others.

A feeling of trust abounds throughout classrooms and among students, staff, and parents. Differences of opinion are respected, and inoffensive, due to the relationships of trust that exist in the school community. Being in the safe and secure company of those they trust, children will be more open to learning.

For all that can be said about it, integrity is best nurtured, not so much by lots of talk about it, but by the examples and tactful teaching moments of teachers, parents, and students of the school community. Our goal is to develop commitment to these values both in word and deed. Our aim is to have the aura of the community say, "This is how we do things here -- with integrity."

A feeling of deep gratitude for our many liberties and to those who have sacrificed to protect them will be fostered among Venture students. They will understand what is great and unprecedented about the United States in world history. Knowing what is truly remarkable about America helps students more accurately assess current situations to identify both strengths and weaknesses, and to constructively work to protect and revitalize American values.

Students begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance; they know the Founding Fathers and what they stood for; they learn about and experience the democratic process; they understand and appreciate the historical context of the founding of this great country.

Teachers provide readings and other assignments that illustrate patriotism. They ensure major American historical figures and the accomplishments are studied in every classroom. Patriotic holidays (Veteran's Day, Columbus Day, President's Day, Patriot's Day) are observed and discussed in some form in every classroom.

"The world is our classroom" is a reality at Venture where the use of the natural and community settings allow learning to extend beyond the confines of the school walls. Camping, summer and winter outdoor sports, and solitude experiences provide significant educational and personal growth opportunities for students.

Utah is unique with its beautiful landscapes and national parks. Venture will give the students the gift of partaking of this beauty mingled with the challenge of conquering fears and accomplishing more than they thought possible. Students will develop an appreciation for the natural world and a desire to protect and respect nature.

Though their is value in being outdoors just for outdoors' sake, most outdoor experiences at Venture will be targeted field-work that is part of carefully planned, hands-on, in-depth learning expeditions. Furthermore, adventure is not something that is found only out-of-doors, many adventures will take place within the school walls. Exploring new intellectual ground in an exciting investigation is just as adventurous as repelling down a breathtaking ravine.

A feeling of excitement is alive within the Venture community. The characteristic background noise "buzzing like a beehive" is a sign that students and teachers are participating in, preparing for, or anticipating their next great adventure.

Get into it!

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