When your child steps inside Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi) Charter School, a tuition-free TK-12th grade public school in Castaic, California, they know they are family. Everyone knows their name, from teaching staff to students to parents. We spend a lot of time together—our students are with us while learning the alphabet, multiplication tables, periodic tables, ways to grow plants in space, and critical-thinking habits to serve them well in college. This sense of family is a powerful benefit of attending our small, engaged public school.
Safe, Inviting, and One Less Transition
Our TK-12 culture is built on positive teacher-student-family (or, as we call them, facilitator-learner-family) relationships. Learners are never a number you are known and supported for who you are. Because we know our learners so well, we can personalize your education and experiences.
Families that attend TK-12 schools have fewer transitions and enjoy the ability to remain in a safe, developmentally appropriate environment that nurtures learners right where they are, suggests a Harvard Education Magazine study. The familiarity of the buildings, scheduling, and staff gives learners confidence as they grow. When learners feel comfortable, they are able to take risks and tackle new challenges. Also—who doesn’t love fewer drop-offs when you have multiple kids in school?
One of the biggest advantages of being a TK-12 school is the opportunity to build lasting relationships. Our learners grow from new students to empathetic middle and high schoolers who look out for the younger learners and become mentors to them. These older learners also have facilitators who have known them for years and advise them long after they leave their classroom. A learner may have a special connection with a second grade facilitator and still stop by the classroom as a seventh grader just to check in. There is security and support in knowing your teachers are there for you beyond the time you have in their classroom.
Making TK-12 Great
A big benefit of a TK-12 continuous school is you have time to build upon skills year after year. At SCVi, we believe that consistency is crucial for learners. It builds confidence and independence. Here are some ways we build upon skills:
– Multiage Environments: learners work on skills and concepts that are appropriate, based on where they fall in the learning continuum, regardless of their age. Additionally, multiage social interaction promotes leadership and positive social-emotional behaviors. Older learners model problem-solving and communication skills for their younger peers and vice versa. Multiage education also allows each learner to spend at least two consecutive years with the same facilitator. This process results in seamless transitions from one year to the next.
– Project-Based Learning (PBL): By using PBL as our core foundation throughout their years at SCVi, we empower learners to discover how to communicate, collaborate, connect and engage in creative ways. Learners practice time management strategies and ways to research so that by graduation, they are better able to apply their knowledge and skills to new situations.
– Arts Education: Creating art is integrated into our projects and curriculum at SCVi. By nurturing artistic talents and encouraging creative thinking, we encourage learners to develop the resilience and innovation needed in today’s rapidly changing world.
– We value social-emotional learning (SEL) and use the Leader in Me’s educational program, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. These habits stress the importance of self and social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills. SEL is at the heart of all we do and it complements our academic learning all day long. Having the chance to build upon these habits year after year really encourages lifelong behaviors.
Speaking of skill building, our new (and very exciting!) Aerospace Learning Pathway starts in kindergarten, learning about how animals fly, and finishes in high school as learners can build the foundation for a career in aviation.
At SCVi, we help students get to know their strengths and areas for improvement. We offer many ways to build confidence, from Presentations of Learning (POLs), Showcases of Learning, Learner-Led Conferences, to a final Senior Portfolio presentation. Students feel comfortable being challenged, learning new things, and taking risks. Our TK-12th graders learn how to fail and start again in a supportive atmosphere with trusted adults ready to help and guide.
We know when we send our graduates out into the world, they are prepared. They have had the benefit of consistency, support, mentorship, and a school family for up to thirteen years.
Get all the benefits of a small school community for free. Join our supportive, tuition-free WASC-accredited school and enroll today!
About SCVi:
Santa Clarita Valley International School (SCVi) is a free public charter school empowering TK-12th graders to become conscientious, compassionate, and responsible citizens of the world. We use project-based and social-emotional learning concepts to inspire and motivate lifelong learners with the skills they need to lead in the 21st century. We incorporate technology into every component of our curriculum, and we value and encourage development of leadership skills by inspiring confidence and character in each of our unique learners. Join our innovative school today!