Questions?
Embark is a middle school that serves as a launch pad for adolescents’ inherent intellectual curiosity — and prepares students for High School too!
Learning at Embark is embedded into a North Denver business, Pinwheel Coffee, which grounds students’ academics in real-world situations. Our students benefit from a truly integrated curriculum in which math, english, science, and history are artfully woven together so that no content or skill is learned in isolation. We are a learner centered school in which students are able to capitalize on their strengths, while also receiving the guidance needed to meet their academic, social and emotional needs.
Embedded
Learning at Embark is embedded into a North Denver business: Pinwheel Coffee. These authentic environments allow students to ground their academics in real-world situations and to apply their knowledge to address real-time shop needs. Rather than simply learning about the history of European imperialism as a static historical concept, students study imperialism’s impacts on the coffee producing countries of Ethiopia and Guatemala. This enables them to better understand each countries’ current socio-economic landscape and provide expert council when Pinwheel Coffee sources its next order of beans. By embedding our learning in real-world concerns, Embark students are never left asking; “Why am I learning this?”
Integrated
Our students benefit from a truly integrated curriculum in which math, english, science, and history are artfully woven together so that no content or skill is learned in isolation. For example, in supporting Pinwheel Coffee to be more socially conscious in its purchasing of merchandise, students explored the history of different marginalized groups. They analyzed sales data to understand where there were opportunities for growth in the business and researched LGBTQ+ and BIPOC owned businesses, and pitched their plans to Pinwheel’s leadership. Once given the thumbs up, students developed relationships with those businesses to actually sell their products in the shop. Nowhere in this description is a content area mentioned but if you look closely you’ll see history, math, and english were core to students’ learning.
Learner Centered
We are a learner centered school in which students are able to capitalize on their strengths, while also receiving the guidance needed to meet their academic, social and emotional needs. Students are the heart of our school. Each learner is unique and they are co-creators in their learning experience rather than passive vessels to be filled with knowledge. Learning opportunities shift with developmental, social and competency needs, as well as student’s personal interests and academic passions.
The student experience is about more than a coffee shop, it is about meaningful learning!
