Archive: Around Town

The New Roots Charter School Board of Trustees approved a lease agreement last Friday to rent space in the Historic State Theatre to house its innovative senior year program, according to Principal Tina Nilsen-Hodges.  The arrangements with the State Theater will also include an agreement for regular, non-exclusive use of the theater space for practices, performances, and programming during the school day. New Roots will lease a street-level space to allow disabled access, as well as space on the second floor.

"As a school established to support the sustainable development of Ithaca and the surrounding region--and to grow a model of educational reform that nurtures untapped potential in our youth--we are honored at the prospect of using our resources to support such an vital cultural and community resource," said Nilsen-Hodges.

A tuition-free college preparatory high school, New Roots has designed its senior year program as a "transitional" year emphasizing college coursework, internships, year-long team projects focusing on community sustainability, and development of an on-line digital portfolio for college application purposes, Ms. Nilsen-Hodges said.  Each student will have their own workspace in proximity to seminar spaces and break-out rooms for team meetings.

"Our program is modeled in many ways on the New Visions program," said Peter McWain, Academic Advisor and Lead Teacher.  "But unlike New Visions, the New Roots senior year program will be open to all New Roots students in good standing, as well as interested students from surrounding school districts if there are openings."

McWain spearheaded the development of a New Visions program for Sustainable Community Development in Broome County, New York during the 2009-2010 school year.  that featured a large-scale aquaponics project, developing the Climate Action Plan for the City of Binghamton, and coordinating Earth Day Southern Tier.  McWain will serve as lead teacher and administrator for the senior year program.

“The historic State Theater is the perfect home base for our seniors as they begin the last leg of their journey towards college and careers,” said Ms. Nilsen-Hodges. “Working in the heart of our thriving downtown business and cultural center with the support of faculty mentors, they will experience a structured independence that allows them access to the full benefits of a community-based education for sustainable development while learning work management skills that will benefit them tremendously as they prepare for college.  Ithaca and the surrounding region will be their campus.”

New Roots Charter School is now enrolling students in grades 9 and 10, and has limited openings in grades 11 and 12.

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