How are schools with outdoor classrooms currently using them?
How are schools with outdoor classrooms currently using them?
Building a Better Future will be adding outdoor classrooms to remaining elementary and middle schools. Currently there are outdoor classrooms at Rice Lake Elementary School, Weaver Lake: A Science, Math & Technology School, Zanewood Community: A STEAM School and Brooklyn Middle STEAM School.
Let's take a look at how the outdoor classroom has been used at Brooklyn Middle STEAM School.
- In science classes, students have made observational reports of the seasons based on plant, animal and weather changes.
- In math classes, students have made a life-size graph to demonstrate x, y coordinates.
- In art classes, students have drawn what they see in the outdoor space.
- In English classes, students have read and had discussions about their learning.
- In physical education classes, students have snowshoed, walked/ran cross country and skied.
- In several classes, students have been able to listen and interact with special guest speakers.
- Several meetings have been held in the space, including staff, community and schoolwide celebrations.
Brooklyn Middle STEAM School continues to use this space all year. Check out this recent feature for more.
Our district has been committed to investing in our school buildings in an equitable manner. Investments by city from 2018 to today, including Building a Better Future projects, shows that Brooklyn Park will receive about $2 million more than Maple Grove (Maple Grove 41.6% of dollars, Brooklyn Park 42.5% of dollars).
Yes. The district has owned property in the northwest Maple Grove since 2008. Today, this is the northwest corner of 101st Ave N and Troy Lane.
Enrollment trends were expected to grow when the land was purchased. That expected growth is being seen and experienced in our schools today.
Building a Better Future will be adding outdoor classrooms to remaining elementary and middle schools. Currently there are outdoor classrooms at Zanewood Community: A STEAM School, Rice Lake Elementary School and Brooklyn Middle STEAM School.
Brooklyn Middle STEAM School uses their outdoor classroom all year long, including for science, math, English, art and physical education classes. They've also invited in special guest speakers and held community meetings and schoolwide celebrations in the space.
The safety and security of our students, staff and community is the highest priority of the district. The approved technology levy is funding the technology needed for safety and security improvements at district schools. The bond will be addressing safety and security needs in relation to the physical school buildings. This includes improvements to the entrances at Maple Grove, Osseo and Park Center Senior High Schools and additional safety/security enhancements at all schools in order to meet district standards as well as the latest safety/security best practices.
The majority of construction will be completed in three to four years. The included graphic shows the construction start times for each school. Please note, many of our schools have multiple phases or projects that are part of their improvements so you’ll see construction coming and going in some cases, as well as stretching over multiple school years.
Social-emotional supports help scholars learn to get along with others, which is critical to success in school, life and work. Scholars then effectively apply their knowledge, attitudes and skills to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Research shows that the presence of social-emotional supports enhances academic performance and reduces classroom disruptions.