New Urban School-Farm Opening in South Madison

Taking advantage of middle school age students’ intense curiosity and motivation to act upon that curiosity, an exciting new charter schoolin south-Madison called Badger Rock Middle School will offer students, as well as the surrounding community, a much-needed place to learn, create and gather. And grow—literally and figuratively.

“The community support has been fantastic,” says Jamie Domini, Badger Rock project coordinator. “I connect with people every day who tell me that hearing about this project has completely inspired them. People are hungry for schooling that is more holistic and just makes common sense."

“Learning by doing will be central to our school,” continues Domini. “Students will routinely be engaged in real world problem solving with members of the community to learn the skills necessary to become active citizens, ready to take on 21st century challenges.”

The curriculum will offer a project-based, holistic approach to learning. Food, farming and health will be central to students’ experiences, such as growing food on-site with the help of Milwaukee’s Growing Power. The food will be used in the school’s lunch program, and future plans hope to one day grow enough food to sell to the surrounding community as a student-run business management project.

Students will receive the traditional blocks of mathematics and language arts. But they will also collaboratively work in teams on science and social studies projects during “multi-age, real world investigative blocks” and select their own learning experiences from a menu generated by both teachers and students during “emergent interest blocks.” Domini says they also hope to develop a chef in the classroom program where students and parents can learn to cook together. The programming will include an optional, but highly encouraged, summer program to give students the opportunity to learn outdoors and garden during the growing season.

Badger Rock will open its doors on September 1, 2011, and this first year of 40 sixth graders will share in the unique experience of growing a school from the ground up (pun intended). They will be able (even called upon) to help mold their own learning environment— an experience which will, in turn, instill leadership, creativity and a sense of ownership over their education, as well as develop “mentors” for each incoming class of sixth graders.

This new school has truly been a collaborative effort—a wonderful example to the school’s future students. Current project leaders include the Center for Resilient Cities, Growing Power in Milwaukee, The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, Sustain Dane and the Madison Area Community Land Trust, all in partnership with a host of community leaders and other organizations who will provide continued program guidance and development. For more information about Badger Rock Middle School and enrollment, visit Badger Rock Middle School.