Our Mission and Beliefs
We guide students to develop the capacity, knowledge, and social awareness to be actively engaged in their communities.
We know our students well and tailor our approach to meet their aspirations and needs
We help students achieve success by encouraging curiosity, investigation, and critical thinking
We strive to end the statistically predictive barriers that race, gender, and special capabilities have on student success and engagement
We teach through a lens of interconnectedness helping students know themselves, others, and the world around them
We recognize and honor the diverse histories and experiences of students, families, and the broader school community
We value kindness, honesty, and trustworthiness as necessary building blocks of character
Sustainability at SCL
Our sustainability curriculum is based on the work of Shelbourne Farms’ Sustainable Schools Program and provides students with a curriculum that links knowledge, inquiry, and action while helping them build a healthy future for their communities and the planet.
On an average day at SCL, you might observe middle school students researching ways to reduce waste in our oceans, second graders pulling weeds in our gardens, and kindergartners preparing kale chips. These lessons help students develop their own understanding of the web of connections that make up their community and their roles in it. Students’ personal appreciation and experience of interdependence give them the foundation for understanding and supporting global decision-making in the future.
Partners
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Earth Charter Indiana
Earth Charter teaches children to be environmental advocates. Our educators work alongside their team to coordinate field trips that enrich our sustainability-oriented curriculum. We also participate in their Eco-Science Fair each Spring.
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Butler University
Butler University’s music program provides after-school lessons to our students at a discounted rate. Research shows that music makes us better communicators, boosts our immune systems, and makes us smarter, in addition to just being fun!
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Second Helpings
Second Helpings delivers lunch items to our school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They prevent edible foods from becoming food waste by distributing sandwiches, granola bars, and fruit to churches, community centers, and schools.
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Sustainable Schools Project
We utilize Shelbourne Farms’ Sustainable Schools Project to orient our sustainability curriculum. They believe that educators and students are leaders in creating change toward a healthier and more just world.
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White Pine Wilderness Academy
White Pine Wilderness Academy teaches outdoor efficacy and offers the opportunity for our students to further develop a wholesome relationship with nature.
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Efroymson Family Fund
The Efroymson Family Fund is a CICF fund that provides financial support to a wide array of issues including arts and culture, historic preservation, and the environment.
What else makes SCL unique?
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Project-Based Learning
Our educators utilize project-based learning (PBL). PBL is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. Students work on a project over an extended period of time—from a week up to a semester—that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by creating a public product or presentation for a real audience (such as their family members and/or fellow students).
By learning in this manner, students develop deep content knowledge as well as 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills
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Interactions Across Grade Levels
SCL facilitates a buddy program to help students form meaningful relationships across grade levels.
These relationships help students gain valuable social and emotional skills such as self-management, social awareness, listening, and empathy. Although it’s tempting to think that younger students benefit the most from this program, older students reap remarkable benefits as well. The opportunity to mentor younger students solidifies their social-emotional competencies.
