In our Expeditionary Elementary School, One City will maintain its commitment to offering a play-based learning program for our children in our 4K and Kindergarten classrooms. At the same time, our children will engage in two-types of project-based learning: teacher-led and child-led. In kindergarten, they will begin their journey into more significant time periods for academic learning under the guidance of their teachers.
Teachers will construct learning expeditions that are of interests and importance to children and their future learning needs. Children will also have access to tools and resources in school and in the community that will enable them to build on their learning through self-discovery and play. It will be a fun time for your child and our teachers, alike.
One City’s teachers currently engage children in teacher-guided learning activities and projects, at all age levels, every day. Our one and two-year-old spend shorter periods of time on these activities than our three, four and five-year-old. However, as children get older, the projects they engage in become more complex and involve more in-depth learning in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science (STEM).
One City offers a technology-free classroom environment. Our children do not use handheld devices or computers in their classrooms. The only exception are assessments our children may complete to determine their learning growth and development
Our Elementary School Programs
Anji Play Early Learning Program
Anji Play is a national standard for development and learning for children enrolled in kindergarten in China. It was developed and tested by Ms. Cheng Xueqin, Superintendent of 130 public kindergartens that serve 14,000 children ages 3 to 6 in Anji County, China. All children in China are required to attend kindergarten from ages 3 to 6. The government and parents each contribute towards the cost of kindergarten education. One City is the first AnjiPlay school site outside of Mainland China.
EL Education, formerly known as “Expeditionary Learning”, is an exciting whole-school educational program that enables us to involve all learners in a dynamic, creative, project-based and student-centered learning program that keeps children excited, engaged and appropriately challenged in the learning process.
Zearn Math connects math to the real world in ways that take the fear out of math and build scholars confidence, helping them achieve true understanding lesson by lesson and year after year. Zearn was developed by a group of mathematics experts and New York City math teachers who came together to improve mathematics education in the city’s public schools.
Scholars enrolled in One City Expeditionary Elementary School (OCEES), in grades 4K and above, attend school for 219 days during their school year compared to scholars in other traditional public schools in Wisconsin that attend school for 180 days.
Our scholars begin school the first weekday in September and complete the last Friday in July of the following year, every year. We also offer a tuition-free full-day 4Kprogram unlike other local public schools that offer half-day 4K programs.
Our children typically attend school from 8:00 am to 4:30pm daily. Start and end times are staggered during the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of the One City community. Presently, OCEES is the only public school in Wisconsin offering both an extended day and year school program.
Student Support Services
One City Expeditionary Elementary Schools offers a broad set of supports to both scholars and families as part of its two-generational model.
For scholars, this includes a full range of Special Education services that are coordinated by our Special Education Department including speech and language pathology, occupational therapy services, IEP administration and support, etc. as well as with families and scholars directly.
One City’s Vice President of Family and Community Initiatives and team work to pair scholars and families with opportunities that are beyond the scope of a typical school program. This includes organizing Families and Schools Together, an 8-week family engagement program that runs multiple cohorts throughout the school year. The team also organizes One City’s Extended Learning Academies, which expose scholars to a range of extra-curricular offerings during the school day.
All One City scholars have access to daily free meals (breakfast, lunch and afternoon/afterschool snack) through One City’s participation in USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision.
Extended Day Learning Academies
One City enhances its curriculum for children by offering 4 to 8-week co-curricular learning experiences that many parents without financial means cannot afford for their children.
We offer marital arts to support the development of strong character and positive self-discipline. We offer visual and performing arts, sports and fitness programs, and opportunities for children to engage in free-play with materials that inspire complex problem solving and group learning.
Our children will also learn to swim, ice skate and play soccer. They will learn yoga and mindfulness, and take field trips that build on their personal interests and learning in school.
Welcome to One City Elementary School
Welcome
Dear Families
Mr. Faren D’Abell
Welcome to One City Schools! Whether your family is new to One City or you’re a veteran Baby Badger, welcome to our continuing adventure for you and your child at One City Expeditionary Elementary School.
We owe this occasion to the hard work and passion of hundreds of community members who believe that quality early childhood experiences build the foundation for future success among for our children. We also need to recognize Kaleem Caire, founder and visionary of One City Schools, who planted the seed that has sprouted into our new beginnings and yet has much to grow.
This year marks a new time for the world and a new time for One City Schools. We moved into our new facility at 450 Coyier Lane on August 31, 2020. We occupy 26,000 square feet at our beautiful facility that sits on nearly 26 acres of land with nearly 2 miles of hiking and biking paths, a pond, and woodland play area thanks to the City of Madison forestry department.
One City was one of the only public schools in Dane County to open for full day, five days a week in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. We feature a longer day – 8 ½ hours each day for scholars which includes a large amount of time utilizing our outdoor space for explorations tied to our curricula.
We utilize the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) curriculum for Reading/Language Arts (including integrated social science and science) as well as Zearn Math.
In the time of COVID-19 we are limiting in-person instruction to 15 scholars per class and moving between remote learning and in-person learning only happens at the trimester break if space is available online. Remote learners are provided with an iPad and access to both live (synchronous) and recorded (asynchronous) instruction as well as one-on-one and small-group tutoring remotely.
If you’re interested in enrolling, please contact our Vice President of Family Engagement, Marilyn Ruffin at mruffin@onecityschools.org
We’re looking forward to partnering with families, the community, businesses and philanthropists to make this a stellar year. Welcome aboard!
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