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Marathon Venture Academy is an EL Education middle school located in Marathon City, Wisconsin. 135 students attend this 6-8 grade charter school that was founded in 2010 by a group of teachers whose mission was to reform their professional practice to include content that is engaging for students, homework that is meaningful instead of busy work, and projects and products that allow students to take ownership of their learning.
Over the course of three years, students experience nine 12-week expeditions. Students investigate relevant topics, work with experts in their field, and participate in fieldwork opportunities to see first hand how the content they are learning is applied outside of school. Final products highlight student learning and skills developed throughout the expeditions and serve a real purpose in the greater community. Students present their work at Celebrations of Learning that are attended by people from the local community.
MVA students focus on the CREW character traits during every aspect of their day, meaning they focus on citizenship, character and service as well as academics. Quality academic work is mirrored by the quality of the ways in which students treat one another, their community, and their environment. Students reflect on and celebrate their tremendous character growth during student-led conferences and 8th grade exit presentations.
MVA students are empowered to thrive as citizens, entrepreneurs, leaders, collaborators and innovators, working to appreciate and become stewards for the natural world and better the cultural environment while utilizing innovative technology. With passion, a healthy, informed optimism, and a well-stocked tool kit, students from MVA have the tools to become our future leaders, reshaping our communities in socially, ecologically, economically and technologically sound ways.
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