Thursday, March 28, 2024

Discovery School is a special place for high school students

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Walking into the Discovery School, located on the grounds of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, one senses this is a place of productivity and creativity. In the main open room, teenagers work out of cubicles, which they’ve personalized with bright colors, images and quotes. They type on laptops and study textbooks. Art, maps and posters cover the walls of both the main room and the classroom, showing how both serve multiple purposes.
On a recent Monday afternoon, teacher Travis Blue gave an algebra lesson in the classroom, while para professional Danielle Johnson supervised the remaining students.
This is Blue’s ninth year at Discovery. “I taught special ed at IRMS for three years before my dream job opened up. Before here I lived in Seattle and taught at an alternative school in Green Lake. During the summers I used to work with Outward Bound and Reachout Expeditions, so I really wanted to bring more experiential education into the general ed curriculum.”
At the cubicles, each student worked on a different assignment. Andrea planned her art elective including self-paced assignments in watercolor and pen and ink. Madison added final touches to a presentation on an ancient Chinese civilization.
Jamie worked on English and personal finance. “I like to be able to work on my own at Discovery,” she said. “The smaller environment is an asset. Also, being able to work one on one with teachers.” Jamie has completed most of her requirements and hopes to graduate a semester early.
Will worked his way through an integrated science packet, a mix of biology and chemistry. The packets represent the bookwork that accompanies the horticulture class that would begin second quarter. Will explained, “We use a greenhouse and flowerbeds to plant vegetables.”
Hands-on classes like horticulture and construction provide a break from heavily academic work. For construction, students learn how to use tools like a miter saw, table saw and band saw. “After passing the safety tests we make a plan with all the correct dimensions, get the materials and make something. Last year I made an Adirondack chair,” said Elijah.
“I value real world employable skills,” Blue explained. “A large part of Construction is learning basics, so they can work with carpenters over the summer. Horticulture is about the raising and care of plants from seeds, and facilitating the Discovery plant sale and garden.”
Johnson assists Blue in many ways. “Danielle teaches the English classes. She has put in a ton of work, communicating with the English department to dial in the English curriculum,” said Blue. “She also helps monitor some of the self-paced classes.”
P.E occurs twice a week. In the winter, the school has access to the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery’s acres of snowy terrain for snowshoeing and several kilometers of trails for cross country skiing. In the warmer months, students head out to a wide grassy field for soccer and ultimate Frisbee.
A favorite class for seniors is Contemporary World/Contemporary Washington (CW/CW), which analyzes and compares current structures and policies of the US to those found internationally. Students apply critical thinking skills to examine and debate current events. “First we establish a safe environment to disagree, and then we can start having civil discussions about tough issues,” said Blue.
With only fourteen students currently enrolled, Discovery School represents the less conventional path for students to complete their high school education. “Students choose to come to Discovery. No student is forced to go here. That’s a common misconception,” said Blue. “They have to want it and be motivated.”
Generally, students switch from Cascade to Discovery at the beginning of a semester. They apply and a committee reviews their applications to see if Discovery would be a good fit. Most students come in their sophomore or junior year. Discovery students have the same district requirements as CHS students and take the same state tests.
“Students come to Discovery for one or more of three reasons,” explained Blue. “One, to catch up on credits. If they had a bad start, they can start to catch up with self-paced classes. Two, to get a different social setting. We are a small district, and if you don’t fit into the typical cliques, it can be difficult. Students often come out here to get away from ‘the drama.’ And three, to graduate early. They can get up to a credit extra a year and get out a semester early if they work hard.”
In 1992, Discovery originated through the first ever collaboration between a school district (Cascade) and a federal agency. The partnership is with the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Since its creation, Discovery has served as a model for other schools.
Corky Broaddus, the former Information and Education Manager at the hatchery, along with former Hatchery Manager Greg Pratscher, former school board member Werner Jensen and others, brought the vision of a small high school into reality. “We went to so many school board meetings,” Broaddus recalled. “When I found a free portable classroom from the Wenatchee School District, we could get started.”
The collaboration between the two entities stems from a mutual guiding focus on experiential learning. When possible, Hatchery staff teach applied skills and serve as mentors.
These days the students help with Kids in the Creek and at Salmonfest, running stations for the busloads of fourth graders who visit every fall. They also get to learn about the care and feeding of hundreds of thousands of salmon, dissect Chinook specimens, aid staff in creek health and geological analyses and learn about pollinators and native plant species.
All of these educational opportunities must be puzzle-pieced together within the timeline for each student to graduate. Thus, before each semester Blue works closely with Gina Kelly, the high school counselor, to check each student’s credits and plan the small group classes and the self-paced studies.
Blue must be prepared to help students in lots of subjects and at multiple levels. His motivation for this challenging job is simple. “I have a goal that every student who enters Cascade High School and stays in our district will graduate. I want a 100 percent graduation rate.”
Several students frankly stated, “I would have dropped out,” if the Discovery School hadn’t been an option. They spoke of how Discovery lacked the pressure and drama of the high school. “And the teachers care about you here,” one said. Blue and Johnson, like their predecessors, are held in high esteem by these students.
     “Thanks to Discovery, somewhere between 200 and 300 students have graduated who would not have otherwise,” said Broaddus.

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