Growing Up Green Charter School (GUGCS) opened in September 2009. In the 2012-13 school year, we will serve K-4 and will grow one grade per year to reach K-5 by 2013. We are located in Long Island City, Queens. Our mission is to empower children to be conscious, contributing members of their community through a rigorous curriculum and engaging in green culture. Graduates of GUGCS will be prepared to attend high-performing schools where their interdisciplinary academic foundation, knowledge of sustainability, and strong sense of self sets them apart as leaders of the future.
GUGCS teaches students our school culture through the acronym GREEN: Growing, Respectful, Empowered, Environmentally Aware, and Now. Through assemblies, class meetings, and various lessons students are taught the expectations of our GREEN culture.
Our Education Model
GUGCS uses a combination of direct skills instruction and exploration based projects to help its students achieve their highest scholastic potential. Our morning academic blocks for math and literacy (including phonics and handwriting) utilize the work-shop model for direct instruction.
In the afternoon, children participate in ‘Explore and Discover’ time, creating projects driven by NYS Social Studies standards. As a green school, GUGCS holds science in high regard and students participate twice a week in a science lab co-taught by the classroom and science teacher, in addition to direct science lessons in their classroom.
GUGCS is dedicated to meeting the social, emotional,and academic needs of all learners in the school's community. Our Inclusion Model provides students with special needs the opportunity to be educated in a general education environment with supplemental support. GUGCS provides Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS) and related to services to those students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs). GUGCS has a social worker on staff to provide individual and group counseling services to students to better support their academic performance and emotional well being. Additionally, GUGCS is committed to serving English Language Learners (ELLs) through our ELL program.
The school uses the Responsive Classroom approach to building social skills.
Our School Day
- 7:20-7:55 : Bus Drop-off and Breakfast
- 8:00-8:15 : Morning Routines
- 8:15-8:45 : Morning Meeting
- 8:50-10:05 : Literacy or Math Block
- 10:10-10:25 : School Wide Snack
- 10:30-11:20 : Literacy or Math Block
- 11:25-12:25 : Lunch and Recess
- 12:25-12:45 : Quiet Time
- 12:50–1:30 : Music, Art, Language or Gym
- 1:35– 3:00 : ED Time or Science Lab
- 3:00—3:15 : Closing Meeting and Dismissal
