Waskowitz Environmental Leadership School
WELS teaches high school students both academic and career skills through themes of leadership, environment and community. WELS is building on twelve years of history in the Highline School District to create new and comprehensive educational pathways for students.
WELS is a full-time commitment for the entire year, and students will receive credit from instructors upon completion. The program provides a series of 6th grade outdoor school instruction, classroom internship, research, career exploration and outdoor adventure.
Classwork, fieldwork and internships are a big part of WELS, and students will be leaders at Waskowitz for a total of 6-8 weeks over the entire year (see One Week Leadership). During these weeks, students leave for Outdoor School on Monday morning and return Friday afternoon.
Coursework includes English, Math, Science, PE, Sociology, Teaching Academy, and Leadership Electives (other coursework to be determined).
For more information, please call 206-631-7678 or email Lauren.Marziliano@highlineschools.org
**WELS is open to Age 15 or Sophomore status (or older); Freshmen may apply but may be put on the waiting list for the following year.
Links to more about WELS:
Philosophy of Education
WELS is different than "traditional" education.
Students Teach
Teaching something means learning on a whole new level. All of our students get an opportunity to learn teaching skills and practice in varying degrees throughout the program.
Students Lead
We believe that all
our students are capable of being leaders whether that means with younger elementary students, with their own peers, or within their communities. We spend a great deal of time exploring what it means to be a leader as well as practical opportunities to try out new leadership skills.
Outdoor Challenge
During an outdoor adventure, nature provides real-life situations with immediate consequences that require outcomes of communication, self-evaluation, and creative problem-solving.
Expeditionary Learning
Expeditionary Learning (EL) is a research-based comprehensive school design that enables all students to meet rigorous academic standards and character goals. It is built on 10 design principles growing out of the work of Outward Bound's founder, Kurt Hahn. The core curriculum consists of learning expeditions--long-term, in-depth studies of a single theme or topic that usually involves fieldwork. The Waskowitz Expedition is "environmental leadership & service." "Expeditionary Learning is misunderstood when linked only with outdoor education and physical activity. Adventure, in this sense, is a phi
losophy that honors the learning potential that is inherent in risk, challenge, and the unknown." --EL
Active/Hands-on Learning
There are many different learning styles, and we try to be sensitive to the different needs of our students. Much of our curriculum is taught experientially--learning through experience--and works for most every intelligence and learning style.
Integrated Curriculum
In the "real world," life is not divided into Math, Science, or English, so most of what we teach is project-based and incorporates multiple disciplines at once.
Environmental Stewardship
Our community is not just limited to the people around us but also the plants, animals, land, air, and water. Throughout all of our programs, we remain sensitive to the effects of our decisions and impact on everything around us.
For more information, please call 206-631-7678