Social:The Nova Project
| The Nova Project | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
2410 E. Cherry St. Seattle, Washington 98122 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Alternative, Public |
| Established | 1970 |
| Principal | Eyva Winet |
| Faculty | 25 |
| Enrollment | 250 Students |
| Information | (206) 252-3500 |
| Website | http://www.novaknows.com |
The Nova Project, also simply known as Nova, is a small public alternative high school in Seattle, Washington, in the Seattle Public School District. Nova is a social justice oriented school that embraces differences and self-expression. Its aim is to be a "democratically governed learning community of broadly educated, creative, and independent thinkers who work collaboratively and demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility."[1]
About
Nova was founded by a group of students, parents and teachers in 1970.[2] The curriculum is multidisciplinary and project-oriented, with an emphasis on individualized learning contracts,[3] internships and community service.[4] Nova functions through student-run, teacher-supported committees that decide school budgeting, the hiring and review process of staff, discussion forums, orientation of new students, and cultural affairs.
The credit system is competency-based which means students receive either full, partial or no credit. Each student picks a teacher to be their coordinator to design a personal learning plan and graduate time. At Nova you do not need to graduate after the traditional number of years of high school in the United States which is four years. Some students graduate in as little as two years and other students take five or six. Nova classes include every grade (9-12). Class size varies but they tend to be quite small ranging from ten to twenty students however some classes can be smaller for example classes for students with special needs or lab based science classes. Nova students have the option of creating "independent contracts" with their teachers to earn credit for extracurricular projects and activities. It is common for Nova students to co-teach classes with their teachers, generating curriculum and building facilitation skills in line with Nova's student-led philosophy. Like other Seattle Public Schools students, Nova students may participate in the Running Start program and take classes at a local community college.
Nova is a safe space for students of all identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds and is an advocate for mental health awareness. Nova has worked on creating their own Teen Health Center specific for their students which is actively inclusive to their diverse demographics. There are many days dedicated for speakers and social justice work. Nova has Consent Day, Racial Justice Day, Gender Tea and much more.
Notable staff, alumni and former students
- Reiko Aylesworth, actress best known from the TV series 24
- Stephen Funk, the first U.S. military service member to publicly refuse to deploy to the US war in Iraq
- Bonnie McKee, singer and songwriter
- Rose McGowan, actress and singer
- Matthew Lawton, writer and comedian
- Stefan Gruber, animator and performance artist
- Eve Rickert, co-author of More Than Two
- Brisa Roché, musician
- Theodore Cecil DeCelles, electronic musician and author
- america Hoffman, son of Abbie Hoffman
See also
- Alternative school
- BIPOC+ rights
- LGBTQ+
- Social justice
- Disability rights
References
- ↑ "School History - The Nova Project", http://www.novafolios.com/school-history
- ↑ Loveless, Douglas, Sullivan, Pamela, Dredger, Katie, Burns, Jim. Deconstructing the Education-Industrial Complex in the Digital Age, p. 16-17. https://books.google.com/books?id=O5vgDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA16
- ↑ Weinstock, Chuck, Learning Contracts: Facilitating Academic Change, p. 7. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED080107
- ↑ Nathan, Joe; Febey, Karen. Smaller, Safer, Saner, Successful Schools, p. 53-54. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED455680
External links
[ ⚑ ] 47°37′21″N 122°18′20″W / 47.6225°N 122.30556°W
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