What Makes Our School Unique?
When we opened our doors in August of 2008, we started with 57 students, 8 staff members, wonderfully supportive parents and a vision to build a learning community full of achievement and hope. Working together parents, students, teachers, and school leaders alike constructed a foundation that would breed success and excellence for many years to come.
I would like to share with you some of our highlights and offerings from this current school year:
*In two and a half years, our enrollment had grown over ten times in number. We started our initial year with 57 students and now have 615 students enrolled for the 2010-2011 school year. In that span of time, we have added a VPK program as well as a fully functioning Middle School program. We feel that the VPK-8th grade experience that we can offer to our parents and students is unique to our area.
With our growth in mind as well as parent inquiry, there are preliminary plans for us to apply for a high school charter. It is our hope to start a ninth grade in Imagine High School at Lakewood Ranch for the 2012-2013 school year.
*We stand by the statement, "I am Imagine". As an Imagine School, we believe that all of our stakeholders (teachers, school leaders, parents, students) have individualized talents that make them special and unique. Each of these stakeholders is given the opportunity to make decisions that shape the direction of the school.
*We have a wonderful new facility in Lakewood Ranch. Our facility has 36 classrooms, a lunch room, a media center, and, of course, office space. Right now, we occupy two buildings that have a combined total of approximately 35,000 square feet. We have begun to plan for the expansion of our current site for the 2012-2013 school year. In addition to our two existing buildings, we would build an additional three-story 12,000 square feet building that would contain a gymnasium/cafetorium and additional classrooms.
*We offer dedicated, innovative instructors who are focused on making a difference in the lives of their students.
*A parent involvement group, Imagine PI that is willing to lend a helping hand at all times. The Imagine PI has been wonderfully supportive and most helpful in raising funds for our school.
*We ask that each family commit to 20 hours of volunteer service.
*We utilize a communication tool entitled, School Reach which will allow us to contact all our parents via email or phones simultaneously.
*Students and Parents are given the opportunity to view grades using the On-Line Gradebook, Snap Grades.
*We have built a culture in which we believe that we are preparing each of our students to go to college.
*We place an emphasis on developing character and leadership among our students.
*Speech, language, and occupational therapies are available at the school. In addition, we offer a "pull-out" gifted program one-day a week (about an hour and half of instruction) to our highest achieving students.
For the 2011-2012 school year, we are also exploring the option of having a gifted/talented/honors self-contained class at each grade level with the exception of Kindergarten.
*We are a Project CHILD school. Our instructional delivery model pushes different teaching techniques and modalities. We emphasize small group instruction and differentiated instruction.
*We have two ESE Teacher to work with those students with IEP's.
*Physical Education, Music, Art, and Spanish courses are offered to our students.
*A Media Center that will have books, computers, and a listening center.
*A cafeteria that will allow us the ability to serve food to our students.
*We have three desktop computers per classroom. Our classrooms also have 37" televisions mounted to the wall. Teachers will be able to connect their laptops as well as document cameras to these televisions for presentations and displays.
*A successful VPK proram that is aligned to our K-8th grade school vision and instructional delivery.
*In May of 2010, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted full accreditation to Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch. This was quite an accomplishment for a school in its second year of existence.
*An Athletic Program in which our students compete against other charter and private schools in the area. These sports team are available to any student in 5th-8th Grade. We currently compete in these sports: Flag Football, Cross Country, Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Girls Volleyball, and Track.
*We also offer these extracurricular activities: The ISLWR Dance Team, A Primary Cheerleading Squad, A Middle School Cheerleading Squad, Jackie's Art Club, Drama Kids, and MusIQ.
*We have already begun planning for the 2011-2012 school year. We are exploring any and all options or programs that would be benefit our students for next school year!