Schedule and Structure
While Aspens Charter Academy meets Idaho's graduation requirements, our approach to learning through an intentional design engages our students through impactful projects.
Yearly Schedule
Classes meet Monday - Thursday, with Fridays reserved for project-based learning, entrepreneurial endeavors, internships, and community outreach. Optional extended day, lab-based classes take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 3:00 - 4:30. Charter Faculty engage in professional development, horizontal and vertical teaming, and curriculum planning on Fridays.
Proposed Daily Schedule
7:45 - 8:15
House Meeting and Dispositions
8:20 - 9:20
Class
9:25 - 10:25
Class
10:30 - 11:45
Service Project (House Responsibilities)
11:45 - 12:30
Lunch
12:35 - 1:35
Class
1:40 - 2:40
Class
2:40 - 3:00
Break & Snack
3:00 - 4:30
Extended and Optional Class (3 days / week)
Connection and Responsibility Help Students Thrive
House Meetings: Houses are vertically composed, with students from all grade levels comprising them. These run daily, Tuesday - Thursday, where students engage in community/team building activities, dispositions exercises, and daily meditation.
Friday Assemblies: On Fridays, the entire school meets for an assembly. Each week, a different House presents on that month’s disposition. Class competitions.
House Responsibilities: Students engage in a rotating Service Project each quarter, facilitated by faculty and student leaders. This course takes place daily from 10:30 - 11:45. Food Prep & Service eat earlier so that they can service during the scheduled lunch.
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Food Prep & Service
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Cleaning & Building/Grounds Maintenance
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Community Service & Contribution
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Public Relations & Communication
Personal Growth Projects
Each year, students take part in a spiraling curriculum of personal growth projects. The goal is to deepen, expand, and enhance student knowledge, understanding, and contribution to self, family, community, and world. These interdisciplinary projects are aligned with our academic & philosophy courses, and require students to integrate their current understandings, learning from reading and research, and the core dispositions of an Aspens Charter Academy scholar.
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Quarter 1: Self
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Quarter 2: Family
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Quarter 3: Community
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Quarter 4: Choice Project
Other Opportunities
Project Life: Opportunity to dive deeply into project-based learning, service learning, or other passion-based project and earn 1 credit. These are still under development but may include a travel or other non-traditional component.
May 16 - May 26: 2 weeks / 8 days
Optional Classes: These longer classes are optional and are designed for deeper learning and/or lab-based learning to occur. They meet three (3) days per week (Tues - Thurs) from 3:00 - 4:30. (90 min x 3 days x 15 weeks / 60 min/hr = 67.5 hours = 1 credit + 7.5 hours)