Mission Statement
Like all schools, FGCS focuses on academic learning and works to help students achieve their highest academic potential while recognizing that students are individuals who learn in different ways and at different rates. At FGCS, however, academic learning is not an end in itself. We believe scholarship (reading, writing, math, social studies, science, art) lay the foundation for students to work in the other areas of focus at our school - stewardship and citizenship.
Description
Place-based, experiential learning
Place-based, experiential learning means learning from the world around us. We use our local community and environment as the context for hands-on learning, which makes learning meaningful to students and leads to greater engagement and deeper understanding. Place-based learning also helps us teach sustainability, developing in students an in-depth understanding of and concern for their place, their community and their environment.
Integrated, Project-Based LearningOur students learn and apply math, reading, writing, science and other content areas during class time. They also have the added opportunity to connect what they are learning through projects focused on answering a question or solving a problem relevant or of special interest to them. These authentic, in-depth learning activities interest and motivate students because they matter to the students and often make a difference in the school, the local community or the larger world.
Projects are designed to teach skills as well as content, including written and verbal communication, presentation, organization, time management, research, inquiry, self assessment, reflection, group participation and leadership skills. Projects are generally done by groups of students working together.
