Ind. (WFIE) – Evansville Day School welcomed students back to campus this week as it marks its 80th year, launching new pilot programs in outdoor exploration and student entrepreneurship
Half of the student body returned Thursday, with the remaining students returning Friday. School leaders said the year’s theme is discovery.
The school is piloting an outdoor exploration program that uses its 40-acre wooded campus as a classroom. Head of Schools Sarah Jacobson said the initiative is tied to a designation from the Arbor Day Foundation.
“We focus on environmental education, that our students have opportunities to be out in nature, exploring it, that we actively teach information about woods and trees and ecosystems, and that we participate in a couple of environmental activities each year,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson said middle schoolers have already been active participants in the outdoor program. Last year, students helped clear paths and built a labyrinth on the campus grounds for meditation. This year, the school is expanding those opportunities, with students reading poetry, writing short stories, and engaging in art and science activities in the forest.
The school also plans to pair younger and older grade levels together for collaborative projects. Kindergarten and first graders will spend time together, as will sixth and seventh graders.
“Sometimes you’ll be the leader, sometimes a follower, but you’re really getting to know a larger number of students and it allows our teachers to differentiate more, to really reach each student where they are at,” Jacobson said.
Fourth graders are taking on a community-giving project in partnership with Legions Bank. The bank provides each student with a loan, which students use to create a product. Those products are then sold on Giving Tuesday.
“The student then can become an entrepreneur and make a product from that loan. They take what they have made and then we sell it on what is called Giving Tuesday,” said fourth grade teacher Taylor Patton.
Patton said students, staff and parents are able to purchase the products. Once sales are complete, students donate the proceeds to an organization of their choice.
“It’s a really special opportunity to give back to the community,” Patton said.
Students said they are looking forward to the event. “I’m excited about the giving fair because I get to be creative, use my mind and make treats for everybody,” one student said. Another added, “I’m excited because I like making stuff and I like art a bunch.”
In the primary grades, kindergarten teacher Jill Scott said building community is a central goal alongside literacy instruction.
“Our biggest goal this year, we’ve just noticed a shift over the couple of years that we need to instill love and respect and kindness. So we want to have a really good time. We want to try and teach them how to read this year, but also really learn to love being at school,” Scott said.
Scott said the school’s reading program has seen strong results. Last year, 100% of third graders passed the I-READ, and 95% of second graders passed. The school holds a 100% pass rate on the I-READ — an accomplishment leaders said they hope to continue.
“We are so proud to continue that trend and just continue to build wonderful relationships,” Scott said.
Third grade student Lily Woody said she is looking forward to the school year. “My favorite thing is that the teachers are understanding and fair, and most of the kids are nice,” Woody said.
Fifth grade student Stella Brooks echoed that sentiment. “I love getting to learn all the different things,” Brooks said.
Jacobson said the school’s 80th anniversary will be marked with a birthday celebration on Nov. 13.
“For 80 years, we’ve really been at the cutting edge of education and leading Evansville in innovation and what it means to be an independent school,” Jacobson said.
The school is also expanding its arts and athletics programs this year, with athletics now offered from kindergarten through 12th grade.
14 News reporter Leslie Chapman spoked with the head of Evansville Day School Sarah Jacobson at 6 a.m. to discuss some new changes coming this year.
You can see that full interview below:
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