New Haven Interdistrict Magnet Schools

311 Valley Street, New Haven, CT 06515   MAP
203-946-7761

Grades: Pre K 4 – 8th grade
School Hours: 9:15 am – 3:30 pm
Principal: Laura Lynn
Enrollment: 250 students

Open House Dates & Times

Wednesday, January 20, 2010: 10 am-2:30 pm & 5-7pm 

 
Wednesday, January 27, 2010: 10am-2:30pm

Wednesday, February 3, 2010: 10am-2:30pm

Tuesday, February 9, 2010: 10am-2:30pm & 5-7pm 




 


Shadowing: Wednesday, January 27 or February 3

Contact: Cynthia Willetts, Magnet Coordinator 203-946-8828

From the desk of Principal Lynn . . .

MicroSociety Magnet School (Pre k - 8), also known as Microville, is a unique and incredible place for students and educators. As part of the New Haven Public Schools, our students are priveleged to research based curriculum with an emphasis on differentiated instruction. At MicroSociety, our students are involved in a theme that is nationally recognized and lends multiple opportunties to real life connections. The skills and values that are taught in the academic sessions are then translated into authentic, real world experiences during our MicroSociety day. All of our students from pre k to 8th grade learn and live in a "micro - society. All under the watchful eye of the teacher/facilitator, students of different ages and developmental capacities work together on project based activities that match their strengths.

MicroSociety takes the academic skills and puts students in action in an economic and political arena within the school walls. Our school - wide behavioral program parallels the Microville economy. Students earn money (Micro Bucks) in a variety of ways: working in their business venture, attending school, staying on task, returning homework, acts of kindness/citizenship to name a few. Students apply for jobs based on reflection of what strengths they can bring to the business. The students decide what product or service they would like to provide while the teacher serves as the facilitator. Students within their business ventures apply learned academic skills with real world experiences; such as writing persuasive speeches during elections, adding and subtracting in a savings accounts and creating a supply of products and much more. Everyone contributes to the job and everyone learns. Students can then take their products and earned money to the Micro Market Place or School Store, buy tickets to school events or deposit it into their Micro Savings Accounts. All students are part of the political system. The elected Mayor and his/her cabinet meet at Town Meetings with the citizens of Microville and also design the schools constitution and laws. Our Safety Patrol PeaceKeepers patrol and enforce "safety first" in the halls during dismissal by ticketing citizens who break communtiy laws - supporting a safe school communtiy and a positive school culture. Our communtiy promotes cooperative learning at every level and students know the purpose of learning in their lives. MicroSociety students emerge as confident learners and successful citizens within their communities in and out of school.

Please take advantage of our Open Houses and should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school.

Laura Lynn, Principal

School Overview

MicroSociety models a miniature society in action called Microville. Students come to realize the importance of how a modern economy depends on a literate work force and how literate consumers make money and profit.

Students become leaders in the process of creating economic, government and social structures, providing them with a new context for learning. The skills and competencies taught in the classroom are connected with how to success on-the-job and in the adult world.

Students are experiencing concepts of citizenship, economics, diversity and community responsibility. This real-world learning builds self-esteem, motivation and character.

The learning environment shifts responsibility for learning from adults to students in engaging and authentic ways. The curriculum and pedagogical approach provides opportunities for children to apply concepts learned in the classroom to real world situations. Content standards and basic skills come to life by making learning relevant.

Our magnet theme shows our Microville citizens the connection between school work and our outside world - providing context that makes reading, writing, and mathematics functional and fun.

Citizens spend time “on the job” for which they receive wages in the school's currency: Micro Bucks. They budget their time and cost of materials to determine what price they need to sell products in order to make a profit to buy other items, offered for sale by their peers at Market Day. Their dealings in Microville require them to plead court cases, understand retail and labor markets, government agencies and the concepts of public and private property. Student Safety Patrol Peacekeepers assist with dismissal, and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor run monthly town meetings. When running for office, students organize campaigns with speeches and posters.

All students, including pre - kindergarten, participate in voting.

MicroSociety students are guided and empowered to become innovators of positive change; developing a repertoire of strategies to deal proactively with challenging situations.

Guiding MicroSociety Principles

• Student Voice and Choice - Children have a say in shaping their school culture

• Learning by Doing - Learning is enchanced when incorporated into activities that have meaning

• Entrepreneural Spirit - Looking for new ways to do things and new oppurtunities to encourage creativity and dynamic thinking

• Real World Experiences: Dealing with real life issues requires sophisticated problem solving

• Teachers as Facilitators  - Teachers provide multiple oppurtunities for students' success

• Shared Responsibility and Authory - Leadership oppurtunities and decision making promote responsibility, thoughtfulness and accountability

• Partners as Contributors - Parents and community play an essential role in the school's growth

Additional School Features

• Before and after school enrichment programs
• Technology Lab
• Micro Knights Chess Club
• Math Counts Club
• Connecticut Pre - Engineering Program (CPEP)
• Business Ambassadors with Gateway Community College
• Service Learning Projects
• Credit Union Accounts
• Project Pride
• Carol M. White Federal Grant for Physical Education
• Toyota Tapestry Grant Recipients

MicroSociety’s Education Partners

• Junior Achievement
• Shoreline Credit Union
• New Haven Register
• New Haven Courts
• Gateway Community College
• Leukemia Foundation
• New Haven Post Office
• New Haven Elks
• Everybody Wins
• Little Scientists

What our students are saying...

"The most exciting experience I've had while attending MicroSociety was learning to prepare myself for the future and all its twists and turns. It is just amazing to be able to learn through real life experiences at school. For example, I was awarded the priveledge of being a Business Ambassador, where I learned about starting a business, and maintaining it, a Safety Patrol Officer where I report community tickets and also, how to campaign and give a speech when I ran for Deputy Mayor. This really is a Micro Society. Other kids should attend MicroSociety because I believe that the best way to learn is not just through books, but through real life experiences." -Noah S-G., 8th Grade, Hamden