We are an EXCEPTIONAL Tuition-Free K-8 Charter School focused on Academics, Health, Mind and Wellness.
OUR THREE PILLARS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Targeted Academics
We drive high academic standards through differentiated, collaborative, and inquiry-based instruction, using the Core Knowledge Sequence, a content-rich, sequential, and developmentally-appropriate curriculum that gives students the foundations needed to become capable and creative citizens who are strong readers and mathematicians.
We teach with a student-centered approach where the teacher is a facilitator who serves as a personal model of how to acquire knowledge and serves as a resource to students. Our teachers individualize instruction through interpreting data derived from performance assessments thereby challenging all students to perform at their highest level. Health and Wellness
Health and wellness are the underpinnings to student engagement, sustained attention, and ultimately, student achievement. We create an environment where exercise and healthy eating choices are the daily norm, for research has shown that exercise and a balanced, healthy diet stimulate alert, active bodies and minds in students, leading to higher academic achievement and a higher happiness factor in the school. Our meals and nutrition education encourage healthy eating habits, and our PE teacher connects the dots between movement and learning. Every teacher incorporates movement into everyday’s lesson plan, and the whole school participates in Morning Movement and all-school exercises, such as Weekly Walks and Stop and Stretches. Peaceful Classroom
Each teacher models, guides, and practices socio-emotional skills to give students the opportunity to discuss and resolve conflicts within themselves and without. This gives teachers and students a common language to solve problems peacefully and collaboratively, raising students’ sense of safety and ultimately, grades and performance on achievement tests. Professional Development
The scope of the VERITAS mission does not merely encompass its work with students but also recognizes the value of the schoolhouse as a training ground for teachers and aspiring teachers. Consequently, once teachers have been hired, great care is given to ensure that every teacher receives individualized professional development suited to their skill set, strengths, and weaknesses. All VERITAS teachers set individualized goals related to areas of weakness, areas of interest, and areas of need at the beginning of each school year. The teachers are given opportunities to showcase their strengths by providing professional development for other teachers as well as mentoring other teachers, instructional assistants, and student teachers. In addition, we have forged relationships with local universities that house teacher training programs as a means for teacher candidates to participate in student teaching opportunities and conduct in-depth education research. VERITAS is committed to ensuring its teaching force is supported in its efforts to provide students with innovative instruction that drives meaningful academic gains.
