The DCS experience can be recognized by these elements:

      Students:

▪       Develop growth mindset, valuing effort over intelligence

▪       Have a positive experience

▪       Know how they learn best

▪       Are involved in decision making

▪       Are engaged in their school and community

▪       Become resilient to failure

▪       Exhibit confidence, empathy and humility

▪       Have a voice in leadership and school culture

Parents:

▪       Are trained and engaged in the Discovery philosophy and practices

▪       Are empowered in and out of the classroom to interact with students, to present ideas and offer their talents

▪       Meet their commitments in the classroom and school-wide

▪       Read communications

▪       Participate in events

Classrooms:

▪       Have regular class meetings to deal with conflict, based on positive discipline approaches. Meetings might also focus on topics like thinking maps, writers workshop or other topics relevant to what students are learning in the classroom

▪       Have posted class agreements regarding behavior to reference

▪       Have relevant and limited homework

▪       Use communal supplies

▪       Meet a variety of learning levels

▪       Take up to 10 field trips each year, which are connected to classroom learning

▪       Support collaborative environments with tables or groups of desks

▪       Promote hands on learning

▪       Encourage student discussions

▪       Pursue student interests

▪       Respect student input

 Teachers:

▪       Integrate extended learning into core curriculum

▪       Enable small groups

▪       Empower parent support

▪       Present thematic units

▪       Collaborate across grade level

▪       Provide narrative assessments

▪       Model good behavior

▪       Use parents delivering some lessons to support hands on learning

▪       Apply consistent discipline across all classrooms

▪       Communicate effectively with parents

▪       Participate in professional development

▪       Have a voice in leadership and school culture

▪       Advocate for the Discovery mission and philosophy

 School:

▪       Community is built through shared resources and talents by teachers and parents.

▪       Familiarity is built through events (class, grade, school) and education (training, lectures).

▪       Curriculum meets and exceeds state standards.

▪       Teaching values depth of understanding. 

▪       Critical thinking and problem solving are emphasized.

▪       Life skills are incorporated.

▪       Community participates in annual fundraising.

▪       School is a place where students are listened to and are physically            and emotionally safe.