Frequently Asked Questions

GRAHAM EXPEDITIONARY MIDDLE SCHOOL (GEMS) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does GEMS have a connection to The Graham School or The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University?

Yes, The Graham School (TGS) was started 10 years ago by our school’s leaders, Greg Brown and Eileen Meers. TGS’s motto is, “Encounter the World, Engage the Mind” and emphasizes experiential education through a comprehensive internship and volunteer program as well as hands-on learning and engaging curriculum in the traditional classroom setting. Greg and Eileen also started The Charles School (TCS) at Ohio Dominican University 3 years ago. TCS has an experiential focus as well that plays out through week-long learning expeditions and the college courses that students take at Ohio Dominican University. TCS is a five-year high school where students are able to receive their high school diploma and up to the equivalent of 62 hours of college credit from ODU. TCS is also a member of the Middle College Consortium. TGS and TCS, both charters to the state of Ohio, are free to residents of Ohio just like traditional public school districts.

If my student attends GEMS, will they be able to automatically be enrolled at TGS or TCS?

Because GEMS, TGS, and TCS are three separate schools, we cannot promise that your student will automatically be enrolled in either TGS or TCS once graduating from GEMS. However, we will be sure to first alert families at GEMS of our enrollment dates and application information when available.

How is Expeditionary Learning teaching different than traditional teaching?

GEMS teachers will be working together to create a curriculum that connects the core disciplines (math, science, language arts, and social studies). Learning expeditions are investigations of compelling topics, based on state standards, and include several subject areas. Learning will be hands-on with a focus on creating high quality projects that display student progress and knowledge. Students will spend time in and out of the classroom doing research and working with experts.

Does this type of teaching help prepare students to be successful in high school and then in college?

Yes! A focus on authentic research, critical thinking, and quality products, along with an emphasis on teamwork and individual character development help students develop skills that are value throughout life.

How will student learning be assessed?

There will be a focus on a mastery of content and meeting learning targets and content standards set forth by teachers at the beginning of each term. Our grading scale, as used by The Graham School for 10 years, will not evaluate students with traditional report cards. Instead, The Graham School uses narratives, gateways, and other methods designed to evaluate whether a student has mastered the core concepts of our curriculum. Students are not compared against each other. Instead, over time, a student’s work is measured against his/her previous work in order to evaluate individual progress within essential skill areas and across disciplines.

Our evaluative structure measures expectations based on the following scale:

EE (Exceeds Expectations): The Student produces/demonstrates outstanding work, participation, and mastery of subject matter, going above and beyond what is required.  This evaluation indicates that a student has exceeded the expectations that were established for this student by the classroom teacher or placement site mentor. A student who achieves an EE earns credit for the course.

ME (Meets Expectations): The Student produces/demonstrates consistent work and participation, meeting all class requirements, demonstrating full understanding of subject matter.  This evaluation indicates that a student has met the expectations that were established for this student by the classroom teacher or placement site mentor. A student who achieves an ME earns credit for the course.

AE (Approaches Expectations): The Student produces/demonstrates inconsistent work and participation.  Student is failing to demonstrate adequate understanding of the material in all areas.  This evaluation indicates that a student has made strides toward meeting the expectations that were established for this student by the classroom teacher or placement site mentor. The student is on the way toward meeting expectations but is not there yet. Students earning an AE as a final evaluative mark for a semester class will NOT earn academic credit for the class. .

JB (Just Beginning): The Student is so inconsistent with producing/demonstrating work or participation that adequate understanding is not established.  Students earning a JB as a final evaluative mark for a semester class, a year-long class will NOT earn academic credit for the class.

Final Comments on Evaluations at GEMS

Our evaluations are not grades in the traditional sense, because they do much more than sort and rank students. Instead, our evaluation system describes what work looks like when it approaches, meets, or exceeds our expectations. Moreover, our evaluations are presented in narrative form so that the student, the parent/guardian and other interested parties will have a greater understanding of the totality of the student’s performance in a variety of identified essential skills, academic objectives, and experiential abilities.  These evaluations are transferable to other high schools and to colleges and universities.

Is GEMS open to students with disabilities?

GEMS is open to any student who resides in Ohio, regardless of disability or academic standing, and will provide support for students on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

What evidence is there that Expeditionary Learning is an effective model?

Extensive research on the Expeditionary Learning model, along with small school success statistics, indicate that the model is very effective for all types of students. Please visit the EL Schools website for further data – http://www.elschools.org/results/evaluation.html.

Who are the teachers? What are their credentials? What qualifies them to teach in this kind of school?

All of our teachers will meet the standards for being highly qualified and licensed in the state of Ohio. Our team of teachers will be meeting throughout the summer for professional development and planning for the upcoming school year’s curriculum. Professional development includes an appointed school designer from EL schools, visits to other EL schools and planning & learning retreats. Additionally, GEMS teachers have several planned professional development days and weekly meetings dedicated to collaboration and planning.

What will the school and class sizes be?

We are aiming for 120 students our first year with class sizes of 20-25 students.

Will there be a lot of field trips?

Students will be doing fieldwork that will lead them off campus at various times. They will also get a chance to participate in team building activities on and off campus. Off campus learning opportunities will depend upon the needs of the curriculum. Details will follow as the curriculum is developed.

Will the school meet state standards?

Yes, all learning expeditions begin with the state standards, which are infused throughout the middle school experience and intertwined throughout the curriculum. GEMS will abide by all state and national mandates that pertain to all public schools.

Will students be taking any achievement tests?

We will be administering all state-mandated exams such as the Ohio Achievement Test. We will also provide the opportunity for PSAT.  Further, we will utilize the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment twice each year to help gauge student leavening levels and achievement.

How is EL different than Outward Bound?

Outward Bound is an adventure wilderness organization that works with youth on 7-28 day intensive experiences. Expeditionary Learning uses some of the OB design principles, but is dedicated to creating rigorous schools that prepare students for post-secondary education and experience successful relationships throughout each student’s life.

How is service incorporated into the school?

All students are expected to fulfill a service requirement. Often, service opportunities will be intertwined within our curriculum and learning expeditions.

Will there be a dress code?

There will not be uniforms nor will there be a specific dress code. However, modesty and appropriate attire will be expected and addressed when necessary. More information will be included in our parent-student handbook.

What is your philosophy of student discipline?

All disciplinary matters will begin with personal character development and school culture. Expectations will be presented at the beginning of the school year and revisited throughout the year during daily small group advisory time (Crew) and other school-wide and classroom discussions and presentations. Student responsibility and personal education plans will be visited on an individual basis to compliment these efforts.

How will you establish a positive school culture and effective learning environment?

Through the use of traditions rituals, students will be introduced to our expectations of students and the student body as a whole from the beginning of the year. Daily Crew time, weekly town meetings, student government, and team-building activities are all examples of how we will build support and structure to our school’s culture.

Where have other EL schools been started?

Currently, there are about 150 EL schools (primary, middle, and secondary) within the US. EL Schools was formed about 25 years ago and continues to grow as a network of schools. For more information on other EL middle schools, please check out a few online at http://www.elschools.org/aboutus/profile_categories.html#Middle.

Where can I find more information?

Stay posted for updates and continuing news and other information on our school’s website at http://www.GEMSschool.org.

What are the steps for becoming a student at GEMS?

GEMS is a public school where enrollment is open to any student residing in the state of Ohio. Applications are available at our Open House events and online at http://www.gemsschool.org/application.

Where will the school be located?

This is a top priority. We are looking at a variety of different scenarios and are concentrating in areas around and between The Charles School at ODU and The Graham School. We will keep you posted!

Will transportation be provided?

Columbus will provide busing to students living with the Columbus City School district. Applications for receiving transportation will be available early this summer and due back to GEMS for submission to the busing office in August. Any transportation needed to and from fieldwork outside the classroom will be provided by GEMS.

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