1. To build a community of independent
learners through thinking, creating,
and collaborating for the future.

2. Catalyst Middle School offers a dynamic,
project-based environment for students in
Grades 6-8 in the Ripon Area School District.
Catalyst Middle School is designed for
students looking for a rigorous, innovative,
self-directed, inquiry based setting that helps
develop important skills needed to become
independent learners and leaders in the 21st
century.
For the things we have to learn before we can do them,
we learn by doing them.” – Aristotle

3. THE CATALYST
EXPERIENCE
1. Standards driven instruction and curriculum
2. Inquiry driven, technology embedded,
connected community
3. Strong sense of community across the grade-
levels
4. Standards-based seminars and projects

4. THE CATALYST
EXPERIENCE
5. Individualized math instruction through on-line and
group seminars supported by a Catalyst Teacher
6. Opportunities to select non-core courses including
world language, band and choir in the RMS setting.
7. Art, tech ed, and physical education through infusion
of instruction in the charter school setting.
8. Campus located within Ripon Middle School and
students will be able to participate in co-curricular
activities

5. Interdisciplinary Instruction
1.Teacher-designed seminars integrating essential common
core standards into interdisciplinary topics.
2.Co-taught seminars providing differentiation and authentic
performance based assessments .
3.Math will be taught on-line allowing for differentiated learning
with the support of a Catalyst teacher.
4.Students will continue to have the opportunity to select non-
core courses including foreign language and music.

6. Three Central Themes
Global Citizenship:
Digital Citizenship prepares students/technology users for a
society full of technology, able to manage it appropriately.
STEM: (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
STEM encourages a curriculum driven by problem-solving,
discovery, exploratory learning, and requiring students to actively
engage a situation in order to find its solution.
“Green” technology:
Is a relatively new field encompassing a continuously evolving
group of methods and materials, ranging from techniques for
generating energy to non-toxic cleaning products.

7. Times 6th 7th 8th
1st Band/Choir/Project Band/Choir/Project WL/project
2nd Advisory/Seminar Advisory/Seminar Advisory/Seminar
3rd Reading Reading Band/Choir/Project
4th Math Math Math
5th Advisory Advisory Advisory
5th Project Project Project
6th Project Project Project
7th Project Project Project

8. SEMINARS
1. Rosetta Stone
2. Seminars for skills missed within project
4. Community collaboration
5. Technology skills
6. Phy Ed/Health (real life activities)
7. Tech Ed/Engineering related workshops and
seminars
8. Art Seminars
9. Journaling

9. Essential 21st Century Skills
1.Personal and social responsibility
2.Planning, critical thinking, reasoning, and creativity
3.Strong communication skills, both for interpersonal and
presentation needs
4.Cross-cultural understanding
5.Visualizing and decision making
6.Knowing how and when to use technology and choosing the
most appropriate tool for the task