Quad City Times
Mary McHugh
Two hundred students will start embracing STEM in their classrooms when they enter Horizon Science Academy Davenport this fall — as the first cohort.
Prospective parents and students had the opportunity to get a peek at what to expect at the school’s very first open house on May 17 that had a record-breaking turnout. During the event, visitors had the opportunity to tour the classrooms, meet the teachers, connect with other families and learn more about the school’s STEM-focused curriculum. Future students were able to enjoy raffles, giveaways and much playtime with their future classmates.
HSA Davenport will be the 39th school in the Midwest (and the second in Iowa after Des Moines) to open its doors under Concept Schools, a not-for-profit charter management organization that manages charters across the Midwest. As a Concept-member school, HSA Davenport will focus on an education rich in science, technology, engineering and math for students in K-6, adding a grade each year to eventually serve students through high school.
Hannah Keller, Concept Schools’ director of external affairs for Illinois and Iowa, is providing boots on the ground, assembling the teachers and staff for the upcoming school year and connecting with community leaders and organizations to generate awareness and support.
“We will be providing an education for these students that fits with how the world is evolving around us,” Keller said. “This includes getting our kids to be doers. The project-based learning will empower them to get up on their feet, connect with others and be able to apply their skills down the road. The self-motivation we build within these young minds readily prepares them for the future and to lead a successful life.”
“Concept Schools wants to thank everyone in the Davenport community who has welcomed us as its new partner in education,” Concept Schools Chief Strategic Growth Officer Dr. Chris Murphy added in a statement. “As we have for other communities over the last 25 years, we are going to step up for Davenport and provide what every student deserves: a world-class education. We can’t wait to welcome our new kids this fall and become a community staple for years to come.”
Keller said the interdisciplinary learning style, which aligns to the Common Core and state standards, encourages teachers to introduce the STEM variables into all classes, which includes physical education, art, history and more. In addition, teachers will work closely with parents so they, too, become an active participant in the child’s learning.
Home visits will also be part of the equation.
“Historically, there has been an idea that when a teacher talks to a parent, it signifies the child has done something wrong,” Keller said. “But home visits are very important to our mission.”
Keller said that, because the student body is smaller, the school community is more “tightly knit, with each person involved with the child’s development. Educating the whole student helps bridge that gap between home and school, so that students realize they are known, cared about and expected to achieve.”
Learn more about HSA Davenport at hsadavenport.org or contact the school at info@hsadavenport.org.
