Learning Community Charter School

There are two new programs this year for the upper grades that are very exciting.

Supervised Independent Study: If you have a student in grades 5-8 you might have seen a permission slip that went home about this program. Students who sign up for SIS will have a place to go on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 if they need a little extra help with a homework assignment, or they want a quiet place to work on homework.

The program, led by Emily Litman and Michelle Flam, will also be the place and time where students can make-up a test that they missed during an absence. That way, they won’t have to lose class time to take the test and they can keep up with their peers.

21^st Century: Middle school students have a chance to delve deeply into some exciting fields of study in this new course. At the beginning of the year, students were given a list of topics (urban gardens, abnormal psychology, social justice, nutrition are a few of the options.)

Students will work studying these subjects in small groups of 10-15, led by teachers across the Middle School faculty. For example, in the social justice class, students might research an issue surrounding that topic, come up with a proposal to explain a particular social justice movement and research that movement and then present what they’ve learned to their peers.

Students will get a chance to pick three topics in 21^st Century throughout the school year. Thanks to all the Middle School faculty who are guiding them in this fascinating effort! 

If you want to be knocked out by the academic skill from our incredible Middle School students, check out the National History Day presentations on Thursday, Feb. 26 in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m.

This program truly enables our students to do the authentic, rigorous work necessary for 21st century learning. Students learn how to conduct in-depth primary and secondary source research based around a theme, they learn how to effectively write about their research, manage their time, collaborate and work effective in a group, translate their research into documentary film, dramatic performance or exhibit and to present and defend their work publicly.

It's almost impossible to single out just a few projects that cover this year's theme, "Leadership and Legacy in History." Just to show the incredible range of topics our students have chosen, either individually or in groups, the projects include:

Exhibits on The French Revolution and Social Class, Simon Bolivar, and the Amistad Slave Rebellion.

Documentaries titled "Wonder Woman: Wartime Hero and Role Model," and "Patenting the Sun: Jonas Salk and the Invention of the Polio Vaccine."

Performances showcasing the history of the Harlem Renaissance, as well as those on the lives and work of both Richard Nixon and Gloria Steinem.   

This is the hardest work these students have ever done academically. In many Middle Schools, this program is reserved for school's gifted and talented programs, but at LCCS we believe that this type of rich and complex project-based learning experience is vital for all of our students' future success in high school and beyond.

After this week's presentation, on Sunday, a group of students will go to Rutgers University for the regional competition. Last year we were thrilled when three LCCS students were selected to go on to the state National History Day competition. 

We are so lucky to have Mr. Krinsky, Ms. Klaslo, Ms. Conod, Ms. Goral, Mr. Buono, and Mr. Laster who have all worked tirelessly with students on their work. 


(Photo from last year's regional competitions.) 

We hope you wish them luck!