The mission of each Springs Charter School is to empower students by fostering their innate curiosity, engaging their parents, and promoting optimum learning by collaboratively developing a personalized learning program for each student.
Bear River Student Center celebrated Valentine’s week with a special Kindness Week celebration, reported Site Facilitator Gabbie Brooks. Students participated by writing thoughtful letters to staff and classmates and adding hearts to the school’s Kindness Tree. Gabbie said, “It was a wonderful experience, and we loved seeing so many students spreading kindness throughout the school.”
Kindergarten and first-grade students at Springs’ Temecula Student Center (TSC) welcomed members of the local fire department, reported Melissa Targos, program facilitator. They taught the students about emergency preparedness, the importance of having a safety plan, and how to stay safe in real-life situations. Students then enjoyed an up-close look at the fire truck and safety tools used by the department.
Palm Academy’s 5th/6th class participated in a soccer match with faculty on the school’s new soccer field, reported Desirae Mayes, revolving substitute. The class was selected for the game because they took first in a school attendance competition, having the fewest absences among the grades TK-8 at the school. The soccer game’s final score was teachers 5, students 2.
Springs’ CITE (Career Technical Education & Internships) hosted a Career & College Fair. One hundred thirty high school students had the opportunity to speak with 34 representatives from a variety of industries. Students explored options in higher education, skilled trades, healthcare, public safety, the military, and both public and private sectors. According to Maureen Roye, director of CITE, throughout the event, students actively engaged with representatives by asking thoughtful questions and learning about opportunities beyond high school.
February was Respect Month at the Corona Student Center (CSC), reported Site Facilitator Morgan Ford, during which students participated in activities and discussions that focused on kindness, responsibility, and showing respect to themselves and others. The month’s activities included a pep rally “where students came together to recognize positive behavior, school spirit, and what it means to show respect every day.”
The Del Rio Student Center welcomed the Western Science Center Mobile Science Lab, shared Principal Kim Ballantyne-Morse. Students in grades 1-5 had the "hands-on" opportunity to explore fossils of extinct animals that once inhabited the region, as well as non-extinct animals and plants.
Charter schools are independent public schools with rigorous curriculum programs and unique educational approaches. In exchange for operational freedom and flexibility, charter schools are subject to higher levels of accountability than traditional public schools. Charter schools, which are tuition-free and open to all students, offer quality and choice in the public education system.
The charter establishing each such school is a contract detailing the school’s mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. In California, charters are granted for five years. At the end of the term, the entity granting the charter may renew the school’s contract. Charter schools are accountable to their authorizer, and to the students and families they serve, to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract.
Like traditional public schools, charters receive state funding based on a formula for each child enrolled in the school. Many charters also do additional fundraising to obtain grants and donations to pay for programs that are not fully funded by state or school district formulas. When lawmakers passed the Charter Schools Act of 1992, California became the second state in the country (after Minnesota) to enact charter school legislation. The intent was to allow groups of educators, community members, parents, or others to create an alternative type of public school.