MISSION

Learn the Seas~America, Inc.
Inland Seas School of Expeditionary Learning

Through freshwater and marine education experiences, the Inland Seas School of Expeditionary Learning combines a challenging, college-bound academic curriculum and outdoor adventure to prepare adolescents for higher education and life-long learning journeys.
 
ISSEL seeks to provide a challenging and compelling high school program through study of the ecology, cultures, and histories of our local rivers, the Great Lakes, and the world’s oceans. This organizing focus is based on a belief that:

• complementing a standards-based curriculum with hands-on, inquiry-based learning engages students and leads to improved academic performance;

• the marine and maritime world provide the ideal context for an educational experience based on rigor, discipline, and collaboration;

• every academic discipline can be more engaging and compelling when taught in an integrated context of our vital relationship to water;

• every student has within him and her the capacity to reach higher academic standards, given the right opportunities, clear expectations, and support.

Our philosophy is guided by the ten design principles and five core practices of Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound (www.elob.org). We place an equal emphasis on scholarship and character development. An ethic of service and a healthy life style are strongly promoted.

COMMUNITY

“You are crew, not passengers.”--Kurt Hahn, Founder of Outward Bound

At the Inland Seas School of Expeditionary Learning (ISSEL) we support each other’s learning, leadership, self-reliance, and service by building a community where everyone can take risks to learn and grow in new ways.  We recognize learning sometimes can be confusing and scary and that is one reason why it is so important to feel supported and safe.  Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound calls learning a “journey into the unknown.”   At the Inland Seas School, we are taking that journey together.  As members of this learning community we are all expected to be involved in the whole program, not just parts of it.

We build our community by our consistent attention to daily actions, choices and rituals.  The Inland Seas School is a place where it is okay to be really good at one thing and a complete novice at something else.  It is a safe place to ask and answer questions, to ask for and give help.  We hope everyone does all that in a typical day.

A positive, caring attitude towards oneself, others, school, and our community is expected of every person.  Consideration, flexibility, a good sense of humor and kindness go a long way toward accomplishing our goal of safety.

We understand and view safety as both physical and emotional. Every person is responsible for safety by making choices that create a safe, respectful environment and culture for all. 
 
One aspect of this is respect for one’s own property and the property of others. Students shall not deface property anywhere in our community.  Failure to adhere to this provision may result in disciplinary action.

Expeditionary Learning DESIGN PRINCIPLES

The ten design principles are the best short statement of the philosophy of education and core values of Outward Bound and Expeditionary Learning. Drawn from the work Outward Bound's founder Kurt Hahn and other educational leaders, the principles focus our attention on what is important and give us something to return to when we need guidance.

Learning is an expedition into the unknown. Expeditions draw together personal experience and intellectual growth to promote self-discovery and construct knowledge. We believe that adults should guide students along this journey with care, compassion, and respect for their diverse learning styles, backgrounds, and needs. Addressing individual differences profoundly increases the potential for learning and creativity of each student.

Given fundamental levels of health, safety, and love, all people can and want to learn. We believe expeditionary learning harnesses the natural passion to learn and is a powerful method for developing the curiosity, skills, knowledge, and courage needed to imagine a better world and work toward realizing it. The ten principles are listed below. (For a detailed discussion, see www.elob.org .)
• Primacy of Self-Discovery
• The Having of Wonderful Ideas
• Responsibility for Learning
• Intimacy and Caring
• Success and Failure
• Collaboration and Competition
• Diversity and Inclusivity
• The Natural World
• Solitude and Reflection
• Service and Compassion

CAMPUS

We have a community campus but we do not have an open campus. This means that although we will be out in the community, students must be accompanied by ISSEL staff during school activities. Students are accountable for their whereabouts to faculty members at all times. Students shall always travel between sites with at least one other student. During school hours, students may not stop by, visit, or make any purchases unless accompanied by an Inland Seas School faculty member. Failure to observe this safety provision shall result in disciplinary action.

Respect for one's own property and the property of others is a sign of maturity and responsibility. It is an important example of creating an emotionally and physically safe community. Students shall not deface property. Failure to observe this safety provision shall result in disciplinary action.

RITUALS, CUSTOMS, & TRADITIONS
 
Rituals and customs are practices we do on a regular basis which build our community and our ability to focus on our mission of learning, leadership and service. Rituals also help us “switch gears” from one activity to the next.

• Daily Attendance: Official attendance for the school day is taken in the first class of the day. Timeliness is expected.  Students need to be ready for first block classes at 8:40 a.m.  3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence.

• Walking: Walking is one of the best forms of exercise available and for that reason, we walk as many places as we can. Students are expected to walk briskly so as not to hold the entire group back and to keep their voices at a low level. This is a good time to talk to classmates or teachers, think quietly and/or observe surroundings. No loud or disruptive behavior or electronic equipment (e.g. cell phone, pager, CD player, walkman etc.) is ever allowed while walking.

• Bus Travel: Students are expected to show respect while traveling on the buses by offering their seats to older or physically challenged persons. No loud or disruptive behavior or electronic equipment (e.g. cell phone, pager, CD player, walkman… etc.) is ever allowed during school activities.

• College Visits: As a college-bound school, we prepare all our students to pursue further education after high school. We begin that prteparation in the 9th grade in order to introduce students to the incredible array of higher education options. Students practice completing the Common Application Form in grades 9-11. By senior year, students are familiar with and prepared for application to the educational program of their choice.

• Shaking Hands: When students enter the school in the morning or when they are introduced to an adult guest, as a sign of respect they are expected to stand up and to offer a respectful, positive greeting with a firm handshake looking the person in the eyes.

• Inclusive Language: We strive to use inclusive language in every aspect of communication. As part of our respect for difference we avoid slurs, “putdowns,” and other forms of derogatory language.

• Circling Up: This Outward Bound tradition allows us to gather and quiet the group quickly. We “circle up” in school and when we are off-campus. If the adult in charge raises his or her hand, students are asked to cease speaking immediately.

• Crew: “We are a crew not passengers.” -Kurt Hahn, Founder of Outward Bound.
Each student is assigned to be a member of a crew. The Crew Leader serves as the academic “point person” to both the student and parent/guardian. Each crew is assigned responsibilities and chores.

• Community Circle: We meet as a school community 1-2 times a week to share and showcase our learning and to strengthen our community. Crews rotate responsibility for leading Community Circles. We have guests. Parents are always welcome to attend.

• Talking Circle: Students in grade 9 meet with a licensed Social Worker from our staff to discuss issues of concern related to communication, health, wellness and academics.

• Names: All adults (teachers, parents, visitors, etc.) must be addressed by his/her appropriate title (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.)

• Thought for the Day: Students take turns selecting a quotation, which greets everyone coming into the school building.

• Interns & Volunteers: Students are encouraged to express their appreciation directly to interns and volunteers who generously donate their time and talent to our school community. Whether parents, graduate students, or retired persons, a warm welcome and a simple thank you go a long way toward making volunteers feel their contributions are acknowledged.

• Documentation: As a charter school, we are committed to sharing our lessons with others. We document what we do in several ways: research and evaluations, writing, photography, video and tape recordings. Often, our documentation will be shared with the broader community. Parents/guardians of all students will sign release forms.

• Revision and Feedback: A first draft will rarely be acceptable at ISSEL. We take the process of working and re-working assignments, speeches, presentations and performances seriously. Teachers expect major work to go through several revisions before it is submitted the first time.

• Leave no trace: We are all responsible for each other. Inland Seas School  community members are expected to take care of communal and personal property. When we cease using materials/classrooms we take time to return materials and clean up after ourselves.

• ISSEL Quality Awards: We will recognize the positive actions of members of our community regularly during Crew and Community Circles.

• School Motto: SEAS . . . the Opportunity!

• School Colors: Blue and Green

• School Team: The Lakers

• Freshmen Letters:  Toward the end of their first year at ISSEL, students who will be moving up to the second year will write an open letter to the following year’s incoming ninth-grade class.  Their letters are open, honest, encouraging advice about becoming and succeeding as an Inland Seas School student.  

• Senior Talks: Instead of a class valedictorian at graduation, we recognize the leadership, service and academic achievement of every one of our students. At the end of the third year, students who are on track to become seniors will draw the names and dates for Senior Talks for the following year. Every senior will give a talk to the entire school with parents and family invited to attend. Senior Talks will be a special opportunity over the course of senior year to hear seniors’ reflections on their learning at Inland Seas as well as their advice to their classmates of all ages.
 

414.933.9713 | info@learntheseas.org
2156 S. 4th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207