CAVE
CREEK – Ventana Academy bills itself as a tuition‑free
public school with a private school
atmosphere.
With
its cozy campus just off Cave Creek Road, smaller classes,
and caring, dedicated faculty and staff, a visitor might
think she was, indeed, on the grounds of a private school
facility.
Currently,
Ventana is offering open enrollment to prospective students
interested in a more one‑on‑one,
hands‑on learning experience.
“The
students who have enrolled previously get first chance
at the available openings,” says Principal Helen Shoulders.
“After re‑enrollment is over, we open it up to the
public.
“I
urge parents not to delay if they are considering sending
their children to Ventana,” she
says. “There’s a lot of new excitement brewing. We’ve
got a lot of new, positive changes coming for the future.”
Classes
are limited to 19 students.
“Charter
schools offer a nice alternative to public schools,” Shoulders
says. “We maintain the same standards, but Ventana has
a different look and a different clientele. Our students
represent a good cross section of a normal educational
environment with a bent toward science. We want to let
the public know we’re here and what we do at Ventana.”
Dottie
Tucker, chair of the governing board at Ventana, credits
the school’s success on a conscientious board, concerned
with providing the best possible education for the students
at
Ventana.
“We
have a very active governing board,” she says. “We increased
membership from three to five members, enabling us to
cover more ground. We feel we have begun a positive climb
up the ladder of success. We have been named a Performing
Plus Arizona school for the last two years. We want to
continue to improve.”
The
curriculum at Ventana is science‑oriented, with
each grade level focused on a different facet such as
the study of companion animals in third and fourth grade,
equine science in fifth and sixth, and environmental science
in seventh and eighth grades.
“In
the first and second grades, the students are given a
chance to join the Garden Club and help take care of our
garden,” Shoulders
says. “And they are introduced to animals. They actually
have three or four little critters in their class right
now that they play with and sometimes help with the maintenance.
Their practical experience starts in the third grade.”
Third‑and
fourth‑graders focus on companion animals.
“They
learn how to care for them and how their anatomy functions,”
Shoulders explains. “They also learn what makes the best
companion animals for the family.”
Fifth‑
and sixth‑graders study equine science.
“In
fifth and sixth grade, they study about the different
breeds, history and purposes of North American horses.”
Shoulders says. “They study the anatomy and physiology
of the breeds as well.”
In
seventh and eighth grade, the focus is on environmental
science.
“At
the first of the year, the students get together and choose
a single environmental project for the year,” Shoulders
says. “One of the projects has been a greenhouse. They
plant and tend the plants and study them.”
De
Reichenbach is the garden teacher at Ventana, and her
students have a formula for success in their gardening
endeavors.
“Their
specialty is failure,” she says. “This is the third year
for the greenhouse.
If
something doesn’t work, they try to find out why. They
learn from their mistakes.
“They
study the three sisters: corn, beans and squash. They
grow cotton, and we’ve planted milkweed
to attract butterflies for a butterfly garden. Each student
is given a painted lady caterpillar
at the beginning (of the exercise) and they watch it turn
into a butterfly. Then we let them all go at once.”
Ventana
has a brunch planned as part of an Earth Day celebration
on April 27.
“That’s
when we plan to release all of the butterflies,” Reichenbach
said.
The
student council at Ventana is very active in the community,
Shoulders says with pride.
“The
kids are involved in food drives,” she explains. “They
have a shoe box ministry where they fill shoe boxes with
items for homeless shelters. Last year they filled 27
boxes. Each box contains about $15 worth of items for
people’s basic needs.”
The
future looks very bright for the students and staff at
Ventana Charter School, but they are not content to rest
on their laurels. The sky’s the limit.
“We
hope to have our own buildings on a permanent campus location,”
Shoulders says. “We plan to continue to remain dedicated
to serving North Valley students.
“One
of our biggest dreams is to have our own horse facility,”
she says. “It is our goal to stay committed to the equine
science program and to the community. I’m very confident
we’ll reach these goals in the near future.
“We
want to express our thanks and gratitude to the interested
people who have chipped in to help with our various projects.
We’ve had people who don’t have children enrolled donate
time. They want to see us succeed.”
Ventana
Academy will host a spaghetti supper from 5‑8 p.m.,
May 1, at The Roadhouse, 6900
E. Cave Creek Rd. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit
the school’s building fund.
Activities
will include a 50/50 raffle, a student art work raffle,
a silent auction, and a variety of door prizes.
Tickets
are $12 for adults and $5 for children 6‑12. Kids
younger than six eat for free.
