http://www.visioncoalition.org/

  

Vision Coalition

North Fork Community School

Lamborn Valley School (see below)

North Fork Community Montessori School

VISION Home and Community Programs

 

The History of Vision Coalition:

In the Fall of 1999, VISION was a plan for an ideal learning community that could flexibly support each learner where and how he or she wanted to learn. When the school district superintendent stepped on board, the plan went from ideal to reality. Over the winter, a coalition of alternative and public school representatives, homeschooling families, and young people worked together to refine the proposal until it met the needs of all. By spring it was official - VISION, a unique pilot program that models limitless potential and opportunity for young people, began.

We began accepting students in July, 2000. By October there were 207 students enrolled and most programs had long waiting lists. Seventy four of those students went to one of three alternative community schools that now have their tuition paid by the public schools. The remaining students are part of Home and Community Program. There is a lot of excitement about the VISION Coalition. It is offering more choices within the public school system, and the whole community is invited to be involved in children's education. Together, we are developing a new model for public education.

VISION promotes choice, diverse opportunities and public education by supporting each learner, family and teacher in optimal learning environments.

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North Fork Community School

4027 P Lane, Paonia CO 81428

 

 

The focus of North Fork Community School (NFCS) is on learner-centered education for students aged 12 to 18.  As a small learning community, NFCS provides many opportunities to meet individual needs.  Cooperation, self-motivation and self-esteem are emphasized in a caring, nurturing environment.  Learners are encouraged to develop their own learning styles and to engage in guided independent study.  An education involving maximum choice for the learner keeps interest and excitement in the learning process high, instilling a sense of self-worth and preparing young people for a life-long adventure in learning.  The staff includes professional teachers, apprentices, parents and volunteers from the community who are committed to offering creative educational alternatives to the young people of this area.  For more information about North Fork Community School, call (970) 527-6608.  Visitors are welcome.

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Lamborn Valley School

1559 4110 Drive, Paonia, CO  81428

 

Lamborn Valley is located on a 120-acre organic farm.  Students choose from a variety of academic and experiential courses offered.  Classes are small and each student is encouraged to progress at his or her own pace.  Home study can be combined with the courses taught at school and with field trips to near and far places, for an interesting and fun educational experience.  The students are coached in how to develop constructive relationships both as individuals and as a group so that everyone feels valued.  They are encouraged to take more and more responsibility for directing their own lives and being of service to others..  The school offers unique opportunities in the arts: painting, and sculpture, drama, dance, chorus, and orchestra as well as individual violin, viola, cello, bass, and piano lessons.  For more information about Lamborn Valley School, call (970) 527-3165.

 

The school will be hosting the national conference of the National Coalition of Alternativce Community Schools in May, 2003. Her is their notice about the conference, and about the NCACS:

 

 NCACS National Conferences have been held across the US. Host states include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The 2003 National Conference of the National Coalition of Alternativce Community Schools (NCACS) will be held at Lamborn Valley School, Paonia, Colorado May 16-22, 2003.

Put these dates on your new 2003 calendars and reserve them now for the 2003 NCACS National Conference.

 

* May 16, 2003 9AM - Dinner: Old Board Meeting

* May 16, 2003: NCACS Conference, Registration 3-5PM, Opens with dinner and.evening activity through Tuesday, May 20th at noon.

* May 20-22, 2003: New Board Meeting from noon Tuesday through noon Thursday.

 

The NCACS student board is organizing the conference and Lamborn Valley School, Paonia, Colorado is the host site. The National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools' annual National Conference, held each spring in a different part of the United States, is unique. Students, parents and teachers from around the world come together to celebrate their community of learning programs as they learn how to teach and learn from one another. We believe it is important that students and parents are not just participants at our conferences -- they also contribute to their planning and execution.

 

Activities include workshops, regional caucuses, networking, games, field trips, and a talent show. The Coalition also renews its commitment to democratic governance through consensus during the annual NCACS Board Meeting and Membership Meeting.

Each of the NCACS' three U.S. regions holds their own conferences when possible, with a goal of meeting annually. More tightly focused and intimate, these Coalition Regional Conferences provide an additional opportunity for participants to share in each other's company and knowledge. News about the 2002 Western and Central Regional Conferences.

 

Regional conferences also permit participants to initiate resolutions, recommend policy statements to the National Membership to be considered at its spring meeting, and reinforce ties between those NCACS members within the same geographic area.

The NCACS regularly participates in the International Democratic Education Conference, which is held annually in different countries throughout the world. The Coalition's International Outreach Coordinator and other members bring the NCACS' viewpoint to that group's planning and policy sessions, and carry back to the Coalition news and connections with the global community of alternative learning programs. NCACS members regularly participate in the International Alternative Education Conference. This is predominantly a group of government funded alternative programs and schools which has been holding conferences for 30 years.

 

* To read the latest updates about NCACS' National and Regional conferences or the IDEC, click on their URL below at:

http://ncacs.org/

* To learn more about the Lamborn Valley conference, click on the URL below:

http://ncacs.org/conf_index.htm

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North Fork VISION Home and Community Program

208 Main Street  P.O. Box 636  Paonia, CO  81428  970.527.8766

 

 Delta/Cedaredge VISION Home and Community Program

535 Main Street  P.O. Box 112  Delta, CO  81416  970.874.8226

 

Policy Handbook

2002-2003

 

I guess this one never did get written up online. It remains an unfilled-in skeleton. However, the newsletter is alive and well.

Here are two samples of editorial comment for the months of October and November, 02:

 

Vision Views

North Fork Vision Home & Community Program Newsletter

From the archives:

 

Issue 13, October, 02: The Stewards' Retreat last weekend made me dream of VISION as a group of people inspired by each others' stories and driven to keep stories alive. I even thought of changing the name of this newsletter to VISION STORIES! All of the topics for news articles suddenly became frames for greater stories with character development and plot. Surely there is a way to describe a policy meeting that makes for good reading!

 

Well, I regret to tell you that Barbara Kingsolver hasn't arrived yet, but there are many emerging writers in the VISION community to fill that gap. In fact, the new assistent editor, Claire Young, is on the task already (see page 2) and learners Tara Prendergast and Shaticah Matheus bring good examples of different kinds of writing to be shared. Nancy's story about her overnight adventure in the woods is one that's already become legend. Thank you, Claire, Tara, Nancy and Shaticah! -- Moni

 

Issue 14, November, 02: One of my most satisfying VISION experiences was watching "The Shakespeare Kids" perform a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream at the VISION office last Monday. Not only were the students' efforts impressive; it was also truly entertaining. It's things like this that make VISION what it is, and it is stories about these experiences that will help people understand this program. That's why I am so happy with the stories that have recently come in for this newsletter. One of our advisors recently suggested that each of us be prepared to recount twenty stories that help to illustrate the program. We at VISION thought that this was an exciting concept. THANKS to the seven learnerss who wrote for this newsletter!! Thanks also to Jack for putting together and writing about the talent show, and to Mary and all of the educators who have been contributing stories and information. Please write and share your stories! -- Moni

 

North Fork Community

Montessori School

3556 J 60 Lane, Hotchkiss, CO  81419

 

 

            The North Fork Community Montessori School (NFCMS) is a public school open to all students in Delta County School District #50.  NFCMS serves students ages 3 to 12.  While K-6 grades are publicly funded, the preschool is tuition based.  NFCMS emphasizes academic achievement, as well as personal development, by striving to inspire responsibility and respect for self, community and environment.  Embracing the talents of our greater community and offering classes in art, Spanish, music, community service and gardening enriches our Montessori program. Montessori schools are found throughout the world, both in the private and public sectors.  Dr. Maria Montessori developed the teaching method and her dedication to children led her to share her method with educators around the world.  Montessori classes are multi-aged and based upon the philosophy that children learn through the senses and gradually develop into abstract thinkers.  Children learn independently as well as in small groups.  For more information on NFCMS, call (970) 872-5910.