SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (SLCs) AT CHURCHILL

Overview

Small Learning Communities are a way of looking at school in which groups of students and staff members with shared interests come together to learn. The smaller size of the SLCs, as well as the chance to spend two to four years with the same group of teachers and students, promotes closer relationships and more opportunities for success. SLCs provide choices of various ways to learn the core high school curriculum, as well as specialized areas of study like natural resources and media arts. Students will have the opportunity to learn inside and outside of the classroom, at school and in the community.

All Small Learning Communities at Churchill share some common features:

• a rigorous curriculum based on state content standards
• active, student-centered learning
• service learning activities
• teacher and peer mentoring for all students
• an integrated program across different subject areas
• better opportunities to build connections among students and staff
• multicultural learning
• a college preparatory curriculum
• community involvement and interaction

Several SLCs are geared toward fulfilling state academic requirements for the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) during the ninth- and tenth-grade years. Others are intended for students of all grade levels. As enrollment in each SLC is limited, interested students should select primary and alternate choices; a lottery will be used to determine enrollment in SLCs, if necessary.

Enrollment in SLC programs will also provide students with advanced study opportunities in preparation for many of Churchill High School’s CAM (Certificate of Advanced Mastery) programs.

When considering enrolling in an SLC, please be sure to note what particular credits each SLC offers, as well as what credits you need to graduate.