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What is our School About?
Mission: The Classical Charter School of the Finger Lakes will furnish every child with a classical and academically rigorous education in the liberal arts, mathematics and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. We will go beyond basic standard levels of understanding to achieve true proficiency through a structured and systematic Core Knowledge curriculum, phonics based reading program, and foreign language instruction.
Vision:
Through the study of primary source documents and classical literature, we will teach students to be thoughtful readers and articulate writers. They will carry this knowledge through adulthood to become responsible citizens in their communities.
Summary:
The Classical Charter School of the Finger Lakes (CCSFL) is needed as an educational alternative in a school district with no other public (or private) school options. The school will offer a traditional approach to education rooted in the classics. In partnership with Hillsdale College's Charter School Initiative, we will be offering a unique learning environment in which all students will thrive and learn to become successful. Hillsdale College has already given us tremendous support in building the school concept. When we receive the charter the relationship can flourish to include curriculum development, actual school modeling, and professional development of teachers.
We will open as a K-6 on September 8, 2015 with 200 students and add a grade each year to become a K-10 with 400 students in 2019.
The Classical Charter School of the Finger Lakes will be ideally located to service nine school districts in the Finger Lakes area with our unique classical education offering. Our facility was chosen, in part, for its central location. It was also chosen because the building is the former Phelps school with bus loop, cafeteria, gym, and classrooms. It is owned by the Village of Phelps and the Phelps Community Library is housed there now. The building needs no retrofitting, construction, or other facility maintenance before start-up and already has a strong local presence
as a community center offering intramural sports and other extracurriculars.
We will follow the Phelps/Clifton Springs (Midlakes) school district schedule as closely as possible so we will offer 180 days of instruction, typically 8:45am-3:15pm.
In addition to the interwoven and sequential learning that our curriculum choices will provide, CCSFL will also focus on character education. Students will not just learn how to grow their minds, but their morality and virtues will be developed through the continual study of the Eight Pillars of Character. All Classical Charter School of the Finger Lakes subjects of study will be connected with the common link of heritage. Through a historical perspective, students will progress from a broader to a deeper understanding of the world around them, with a feeling of connectedness.
Governed by the Board of Trustees, the Principal will be the leader of the Classical Charter School of the Finger Lakes, and will employ Teachers, Aides, a Business Manager, Secretary, Receptionist, and Nurse. We look forward to offering the Finger Lakes area a classical educational alternative from which all students can benefit.
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