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LAFAYETTE - As the school year gets under way at Lafayette Charter School, the school is reinforcing its special focus: agriculture and technology; character building; differential instruction, in smaller class sections; and involving the community in the education process.

A different school

The Lafayette Charter School's mission is to create a positive learning environment for general education enhanced with agricultural concepts and electronic technology, to benefit students, school and community, according to Lead Teacher Andrea Harder.

The curriculum is based on core subjects - reading, math, English, writing and spelling, social studies and science - also incorporating art, music, health, agriculture and technology.

The school places a special emphasis on agriculture and technology. It has an on-site greenhouse. Students are involved in the planting and germination process. An agriculture fair is held in March, and all students in grades K-8 participate. The technology curriculum is offered to grades K-8.

Another area of attention is physical education - students in grades K-8 receive 40 minutes of daily PE.

Character education is also part of what makes the school special. Thirty-six character traits are taught over the school year, and weekly assemblies focus on character traits presented by the students.

Thanks in part to its smaller size and close-knit atmosphere, the school offers "differential instruction" - teachers align instruction to each learner's needs. Class sizes are small - the average class size is 15 students.

The school offers piano lessons on-site, and the winter and spring music programs are performed by all students.

It seeks to engage the community - monthly coffees are open to the public. The school also provides multi-generational learning opportunities, as students interact with residents of the Good Samaritan Home.

Enrollment

The LCS serves students in grades K-8 and also offers a tuition-based Pre-K program. PreK is offered three days a week, to students ages 3-5. The kindergarten program is all-day, every-day.

Enrollment this year is as follows: 18 students in preschool; six in kindergarten, 13 in first grade, 16 in second/third grade, 17 in fourth/fifth grade, and 19 in six, seventh and eighth grade. The older grades are in mixed-age classrooms. Another six students attend a satellite site in Starland, the Hutterite settlement in rural Gibbon.

Enrollment trends are stable, said Harder.

Factors for success

This is LCS's 11th year of presenting "another choice in public education," noted Harder. While some charter schools have closed over time, LCS is going strong.

Harder recapped some factors that make the school successful.

Parents are taking an active role in their children's education, she stressed. Teachers, who have a strong say in running LCS, feel "ownership" in the school - "taking pride in our school and what we do."

The school boasts strong community involvement; sound board governance (all board members have received training); and, as a member of EdVisions Cooperative, receives professional help and guidance.

"Committees help to run our school, so the voices of many are heard and we all have a say in the shaping of LCS," said Harder.

"Our mantra is 'Learning, Caring, Succeeding' and, really, that explains who we are best."

Past achievements

Over the past year, LCS celebrated many achievements, said Harder. They include:

Having its charter renewed for another five years, with the GFW school district;

Another year of receiving a state finance award for good management;

Receiving a Trailblazer award from EdVisions Cooperative, a group that provides services to schools;

Students showing growth in the their academic achievement;

An active PTO organization that meet four times during the school year.

Facility

improvements

The school started the school year with some facility improvements, reports Business Manager Sandra Stugelmeyer.

Over the summer, building owner Tad Ulrich had new energy-efficient lighting installed in nine rooms. (Charter schools do not own but lease their premises, by law). The work was done by Valley View Electric of New Ulm. The cost of the lighting will be partially paid by Xcel Energy through a rebate program.

"We are excited to see the difference our new lights will make in our electric bills and in our students' ability to focus on their work better," said Stugelmeyer.