FAQ

MG21 Liberal Arts Charter School is located at 5301 Monona Drive in the old Nichols School building.

THE MG21 MODEL

This link will take you to a document that will help you to understand the MG21 Model. It contains answers to the following questions:

• What is project-based learning at MG21?

• What characteristics/behaviors allow for success at MG21?

• What does it mean to be a self-directed learner?

• What does it mean to be a good community member?

• What does it mean to be able to manage yourself?

IS MG21 FREE TO ATTEND?

Yes! MG21 Liberal Arts Charter School is a public charter school for the Monona Grove School District. There is no tuition to enroll at MG21.

All Monona Grove students are eligible to apply.

Application to, and attendance at, MG21 Liberal Arts Charter School is completely voluntary.

MG21 Liberal Arts Charter School will not deny admission or participation in any program or activity on the basis of a person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.

MG21 Liberal Arts Charter School is nonsectarian in its practices, and all other operations.

WHAT ARE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES?

Restorative practices are the principles and processes that provide the foundation for how our school operates. At their core, restorative practices are about building relationships and restoring relationships when harm occurs in the school community.

Five key principles provide the foundation for the MG21 school community:
1. Strong relationships between and among students and staff are central to community building.
2. All voices are valued and everyone has an opportunity to be heard.
3. Students are successful when teachers have high expectations with high support. In order to learn, teachers “do with” students rather than “do for” or “do to” students.
4. Accountability, responsibility and collaborative problem solving are key to addressing harms that occur.
5. When there is a “misbehavior,” we attend to the “harm done” rather than simply tell the student what school-imposed rule has been broken.

Restorative Justice Partnership with YWCA

WHAT IS SERVICE LEARNING?

At MG21, we call service learning “Build, Beautify and Serve” (BBS). BBS projects are projects designed to leverage the unique talents and interests of our students in order to make MG21, and the surrounding community, a better place. As students and staff collaborate for our BBS projects we consider these questions:

1. Can you build something to improve the school or surrounding area?
2. Can you use your artistic talents to make our school or community look or sound more beautiful?
3. Can you use your knowledge, skills, or work ethic to help others through service?
4. Can you collaborate with others to make your ideas happen?

WHAT IS “MINDFULNESS”?

Mindfulness is a technique that allows an individual to develop and deepen social emotional skills to find balance within themselves. A common conception of Mindfulness is that it allows the individual to be in the ‘present’, and a common way to achieve this is through meditation. Although, this is a practice within Mindfulness, it is not the only way to incorporate it into our lives. Mindfulness is incorporated into the curriculum through mindful movement, breathing exercises, community building activities, and yoga.

WHAT IS PROJECT BASED LEARNING?

Project Based Learning is an inquiry-based learning process in which students design, plan, investigate, research and present their own projects in response to an essential question, problem, or challenge (e.g., student-designed creative, inquiry, or acquisition projects; or teacher-written, independent study projects). Rigorous projects are carefully planned, managed, and assessed to help students create high-quality, authentic products & presentations.

BIE Project Based Learning Explained

WHAT ABOUT THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION THAT EXISTS ABOUT MG21 AND SMALL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS IN GENERAL?

Small, nontraditional schools do contend with this stereotype. However, MG21 is a school of CHOICE for MG students and their families. The typical MG21 student is creative, curious and unique. The initiative and interdependence required to thrive at MG21 is a source of pride.

WHAT ABOUT FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND THE ARTS?

Our goal is to incorporate fine arts into the curriculum instead of having separate pull-out classes or “specials”. Project based learning allows all disciplines to be naturally woven into what students are learning and doing. Currently at the Middle Campus students have the opportunity to participate in foreign language exploration.

WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION?

Students from Cottage Grove will be bused in and dropped off at MG21. Monona students will walk unless otherwise specified.

MY STUDENT’S CURRENT EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL HAS BEEN CHALLENGING. WHAT CAN MG21 OFFER THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT?

MG21 offers a smaller school setting which encourages relationship building. Our focus on community, trust and respect creates an atmosphere of belonging. Our students express that they look forward to coming to school.

WILL MG21 PREPARE MY STUDENT FOR COLLEGE?

College bound students receive the support they need to be ready for the future, whether that includes a broad liberal arts focus or the pursuit of a very specific field. At the end of their senior year each student creates a Senior Portfolio which reflects their best academic and creative work. This portfolio, along with a student’s ACT score and college essay, can also be used to demonstrate their readiness for college admission.

WHAT IF MY STUDENT IS NOT INTERESTED IN GOING TO COLLEGE?

Our approach encourages each individual to grow not just academically, but also socially and emotionally. MG21 focuses on 21st century skills of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, community and curiosity.