Logan School for Creative Learning
Encyclopedia
The Logan School for Creative Learning is a private school
in Denver, Colorado
enrolling gifted students in grades K through 8. The school focuses on experiential learning
as its educational method.
It was started in the 1981 as "The Denver School" by Patricia McKinnell, the current Dean of Students. Since 1999 Logan has been located on Lowry Air Force Base
, where it is one of several independent schools on a 1866 acres (7.6 km²) former military site that is being redeveloped as a mixed-use urban community.
The mission of The Logan School for Creative Learning is to provide an experience-based educational opportunity for gifted children of all backgrounds that allows each child to develop individually to his or her full potential."
Mark Niedermier is the current Head of School. His past positions include Head of School at Friends School of Minnesota
and Pacific Northern Academy
in Alaska.
is designed for gifted students ages four and a half to fourteen. Each student has an individualized curriculum based on their abilities, learning style, and personal interests. At the beginning of each school year, students each choose a unit to study (some older students choose more than one), with students encouraged to pick a unit subject that interests them, as they will spend a large portion of their time at school studying their units. The curriculum of units is designed to help teach reading, writing, math, science and other subjects, by helping students build connections between these subjects and their interests. Field trips are an important part of the program, often with an environmental emphasis.
The Logan School has 13 core classrooms, including students of varying ages, usually within 2 years of each other. Children typically spend 2 years with one teacher.
Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
(NREL) for their work.
The Logan Cafeteria also houses many awards for their chess team, and band.
that raised over $5 million to fund the school's expansion. The project was spearheaded by previous Head of School Andrew Slater.
Before the construction, the school only used half of the main building, leaving the rest unfinished. This area was called the Unoccupied Space. After the expansion, the Unoccupied Space was renovated and classrooms were put into the entire school, which now resembles a square horseshoe on the first level and a square on the second. Behind the West side of the school is a large berm and beyond that is a wetland
s area. This is a favored place to conduct environmental studies and to enjoy nature.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
enrolling gifted students in grades K through 8. The school focuses on experiential learning
Experiential learning
Experiential learning is the process of making meaning from direct experience. Simply put, Experiential Learning is learning from experience. The experience can be staged or left open. Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." David A...
as its educational method.
It was started in the 1981 as "The Denver School" by Patricia McKinnell, the current Dean of Students. Since 1999 Logan has been located on Lowry Air Force Base
Lowry Air Force Base
Lowry Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in the cities of Aurora and Denver, Colorado. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training and was heavily involved with the training of United States Army Air Forces bomber crews during World...
, where it is one of several independent schools on a 1866 acres (7.6 km²) former military site that is being redeveloped as a mixed-use urban community.
The mission of The Logan School for Creative Learning is to provide an experience-based educational opportunity for gifted children of all backgrounds that allows each child to develop individually to his or her full potential."
Mark Niedermier is the current Head of School. His past positions include Head of School at Friends School of Minnesota
Friends School of Minnesota
The Friends School of Minnesota is a Kindergarten through Eighth Grade independent school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1988 by area Quakers and peace activists, the goal of the school is to meet "children’s intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs in an environment that...
and Pacific Northern Academy
Pacific Northern Academy
Pacific Northern Academy is a private, independent school located in Anchorage, Alaska. Founded in 1995, it holds the unique position of being the only school in Alaska affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools and the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools...
in Alaska.
Curriculum
Logan's curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
is designed for gifted students ages four and a half to fourteen. Each student has an individualized curriculum based on their abilities, learning style, and personal interests. At the beginning of each school year, students each choose a unit to study (some older students choose more than one), with students encouraged to pick a unit subject that interests them, as they will spend a large portion of their time at school studying their units. The curriculum of units is designed to help teach reading, writing, math, science and other subjects, by helping students build connections between these subjects and their interests. Field trips are an important part of the program, often with an environmental emphasis.
The Logan School has 13 core classrooms, including students of varying ages, usually within 2 years of each other. Children typically spend 2 years with one teacher.
Accreditation
The Logan School is accredited through ACIS and is a full member of NAIS:Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Recognition
Some Logan students received an award from the National Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory , located in Golden, Colorado, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility; it is funded through...
(NREL) for their work.
The Logan Cafeteria also houses many awards for their chess team, and band.
Capital Campaign and Construction Program
During the school year of 2005-2006, The Logan School for Creative Learning conducted The Logan Legacy Campaign, a fundraiserFundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
that raised over $5 million to fund the school's expansion. The project was spearheaded by previous Head of School Andrew Slater.
Before the construction, the school only used half of the main building, leaving the rest unfinished. This area was called the Unoccupied Space. After the expansion, the Unoccupied Space was renovated and classrooms were put into the entire school, which now resembles a square horseshoe on the first level and a square on the second. Behind the West side of the school is a large berm and beyond that is a wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s area. This is a favored place to conduct environmental studies and to enjoy nature.