The Name
The Biome reflects our belief that the learning environment is critical to student success and must be responsive to the talents and individual academic needs of children. Just as a savannah biome supports a diverse array of life and interactions, The Biome will support the diverse academic needs and abilities of our students, and will encourage meaningful interaction of students and adults who will contribute positively to the school and larger communities.
Curriculum Approach
The Biome will be a model for integrating student-centered learning, project-based opportunities, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) within a nurturing, academic ecosystem. The Biome’s curriculum and overall course of study will include the following core features:
• Intensive provision of concentrated literacy and math instruction in the early grades;
• Ongoing use of integrated/multidisciplinary units and lessons from kindergarten through grade 8;
• Annual STEAM-focused and project-based thematic units, beginning in kindergarten and
increasing in rigor and emphasis through grade 8; and
• Year-end culminating portfolio presentations for 3rd – 8th graders.
Initially, school leadership will use research-based purchased curriculum in literacy, math, science, and social studies to provide a foundation for ongoing curriculum development; however, the curriculum will ultimately be customized by experts with the aid of experienced classroom and school leaders, thereby ensuring that the curriculum remains rigorous and applicable to real-world settings.
Grades Served
The Biome will begin serving students in kindergarten and first grade, and will grow by one grade each year, eventually operating as a K-8 school by 2022-23.
Student Benefits
The Biome’s students will be dynamic and creative thinkers, working within an innovative environment with expert classroom leaders in whole- and small-group settings to first develop the core math and literacy skills that serve as prerequisites for ongoing learning, and then apply these skills in progressively challenging and aligned lessons and projects. A strong foundation of literacy and math in the early grades (K-2) will ensure that The Biome’s students will be prepared to engage in accelerated STEAM coursework and projects, culminating in students leaving The Biome with a portfolio of work exemplifying their experience and learning over the course of nine years. Students will benefit from a school climate that
respects and nurtures their individuality, while enabling them to grow in confidence through real, measurable achievement. The Biome’s students will graduate from 8th grade well-exposed to STEAM coursework and careers, comfortable with and energized by interacting with a variety of stakeholders in their community, and on track to thrive in high school.