Since the fall of 2009, Three Lakes Academy has been providing education to Pre-K through 7th grade students in Curtis, MI. Their mission is to inspire a life-long love of learning while having "no child left inside". They focus on bringing classroom lessons and activities outside to encourage a connection with the natural world.
Three Lakes has partn
ered with multiple groups
to further their mission, including Seney National Wildlife Refuge and Michigan Green Schools. Each of these partners circle back to their ideal learning method of having no child left inside. "Get '
Em Outside", a program created by Three Lakes, encompasses their mission through diverse curriculum that not only enriches the students' minds, but also creates a love for the environment.
Teachers at Three Lakes are not only ready to teach Common Core benchmarks, they are fully equipped to combine environmental studies into everyday curriculum. Throughout various workshops, the teachers at Three Lakes become acquainted with the math, reading, and writing material that they will be educating students on. However, these workshops also include environmental ideals, which they tie in with the core subjects to encourage the overall mission.
Three Lakes is also a part of the Building Healthy Communities program and is a recipient of the Building Healthy Communities Grant. Students, parents, staff
, and administrators are all involved in this program, which encourages healthy choices and lifestyles through both nutrition and physical activity. With the grant, Three Lakes receives:
- Nutrition education lessons taught by a Healthy School Coordinator in all K-5 classrooms. Each lesson includes a nutrition activity and a physical activity break. Some lessons will include sampling of healthy food to expose children to nutritious foods.
- Training and resources for P.E. teachers and lots of equipment for the gym and playground.
- Support from United Dairy Industry of Michigan's "Fuel Up to Play 60" initiative to plan physical activity and healthy eating events.
Three Lakes m
aintains a community "open to all children without discrimination". By building respect and pride in their community through integrated environmental studies, the school is building a network of individuals who share the same mission and values. This pride translates over the respective families of Three Lakes students, helping to reach their goal of maintaining healthy relationships with both parents and
students.
In their school contract, students and parents alike are given responsibility in contributing to the education given at Three Lakes. Each student "is expected to be involved in planning goals, assessing progress, and accepting responsibility for his or her progress toward the educational goals." Additionally, parents are to "attend Three Lakes Academy workshops and informational programs intended to help parents understand the curriculum, instructional practices, and philosophy of the school." By establishing these guidelines, the academy has placed more value into its education with accountability falling on not only the teachers, but also the families in the Three Lakes community.
Authorized by Bay Mills, Three Lakes Academy opened their doors to students in 2009. They are located in the Upper Peninsula between Manistique Lake, South Manistique Lake and North Manistique Lake.
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