A New Year Brings New Faces

2008-09-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

As a Texas open-enrollment charter school, we welcome new students to our campus each year. Whether they are incoming kindergarten students or transfer students, these new students bring different perspectives and viewpoints and vitality to our campus. And that's a good thing.

This new school year has led me to pause and reflect on the opportunities that charter schools give families in our community and abroad. Charter schools provide school choice for families when local school districts don't meet their needs or expectations. Perhaps their district schools are in disadvantaged areas, or are simply too big, or don't seem to address students' educational needs. Whatever the reasons, charter schools are another CHOICE for parents. Charter schools are often compared to and confused with private schools. To clarify, charter schools are PUBLIC schools that accept state and federal funds. They are required to abide by the state curriculum standards and to administer the TAKS test. Like private schools, however, open-enrollment charters can operate with a bit more freedom than traditional public schools. They may create their own academic calendar, grading policies, hiring policies, and salary policies.

There is always a waiting list to attend our school. We maintain small class sizes so we cannot enroll every student who fills out an enrollment packet. We don't have the room or the faculty to accommodate growth like that. Unfortunately, wait lists are the norm for charter schools across the country. Ours is no exception. Currently the state of Texas has a cap on the number of open-enrollment charters that can operate in the State. There are 210 active charters in Texas and the cap is set at 215. Unless legislators lift the cap or increase the cap, the waiting list will continue to grow. It is estimated that over 16,000 students are waiting to attend a charter school in Texas. It is difficult to be a proponent of school choice for families when the demand far outweighs the supply. I encourage every subscriber of this blog to contact his or her local representatives to encourage positive legislative reform for charter schools. (*Statistical information taken from http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2008-08-PP13-charter-bt.pdf)

With new faces, new backpacks, and new pencils and pens, a new school year is upon us. We welcome our new students, as well as our returning students, and look forward to the upcoming year. Treetops is a family, a community of learners, and each student only strengthens this community. It's going to be a great year!

Welcome!

2008-03-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

You have arrived at Treetops School International's official blog! We are a K-12 open-enrollment charter school located in Euless, Texas that serves the Tarrant County area. Originally founded in 1969 as a private school, we gained our public school charter in 1999 and haven't stopped growing since. We are accredited by Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

Our school offers a unique learning experience for our students. We are located on 22 acres of wooded landscape complete with a creek, a pond, and ample space to learn from and about the environment. As a school we are dedicated to fostering the intellectual development of each child through challenging interactive learning experiences.

The curriculum at Treetops School International follows the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, but the manner in which each student is taught is highly individualized. We are an inclusive school that seeks to maximize the learning experience for each student by focusing on the individual needs of the student while at the same time encouraging a learning experience for the class as a whole. We understand that each child learns differently, has different experiences, and will respond differently to any given situation. This is the perfect framework for a community learning environment where students can truly learn from one another. Treetops School International maintains small class sizes to ensure maximum student-teacher time. We maintain a 17-1 student-teacher ratio so that teachers can better focus on the individual.

Our students also enjoy a number of extracurricular activities. On Monday afternoon our Car Club meets to work on restoring our very own T Bucket hot rod. It's not quite finished, but it's looking great! On Wednesday and Friday afternoons our Medieval Studies group meets to discuss the historical aspects of the time period and do a little "sword fighting" as well. We also welcomed our first Chess Club this year, which meets each Friday for grades 2 through 8. Community Service International, or CSI, is our upper school community service organization that engages in projects throughout the year. For grades 5 through 8 students can participate in Odyssey of the Mind, a critical thinking and reasoning group that focuses on problem solving and teamwork. Additionally, the 7th and 8th grade students participate in a reading mentor program with kindergarten and first grade each Friday.

We encourage you to check us out at http://www.treetops.org/. On our website you will find enrollment packets for the 2008-2009 school year and much more information about our wonderful school. Please feel free to call and schedule a visit for your student today!

Treetops School Official Blog

A New Year Brings New Faces

Welcome!