A Day in the Life
By Grace Gialde, EDGE Class of 2023
My day begins outside of EDGE in my first hour FLEX. I often utilize this time by working on homework or our current EDGE project that surrounds one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Most days I sit in the commons, near the front of the cafeteria, and socialize with my friends while we work. I enjoy being able to spend time with them since we have very different schedules for the rest of the day. Today, however, I am doing ACT prep independently in a quiet corner of the VIEW. My teachers are in their plan hour, but they allow EDGE students to work in the microschool. Being able to work in a quiet, open space is very important to me, and allows me to enhance my learning because distractions are minimized.
At 9:00 AM, second hour begins and The VIEW comes to life. Students flood into Headquarters to attend our Monday morning Kick-Off session where we will schedule our week and receive important information from our teachers. I greet my friends who come from different first hours such as Biology II and Health before Kick-Off begins, making sure to connect with my classmates about our learning progress and ask questions if I have any. Mr. Baldwin walks around, asking students how their weekends were and offering support for those who might be struggling with missing assignments, scheduling, or mental health. Mrs. Comegys is checking in with her ELA, AP Language & Composition, and AP Seminar students on their projects and competencies, and Mrs. Carpenter is helping lead the Kick-Off by informing students of the upcoming field trip for our science classes to Hyde Park to study the ecology of streams with professional ecologists.
Once we are finished scheduling and second hour is over, I head to my third hour Practical Leadership class, which is outside of EDGE. I enjoy having two classes in the regular school during the day, because it gives me the opportunity to see more of my classmates and gain more understanding of the perspectives of my peers.
When the bell rings, I head to my fourth hour AP American Government class downstairs in the 900s. We are currently learning about Federalism and the importance of the different branches and levels of government in the legislative process. I love that I can take this class along with my EDGE courses, because I can utilize the things I learn in each to make real world connections. For example, I am able to connect the concepts of legislative power and democracy to my individualized Water Project over Green and Sustainable Water Infrastructure in Kansas City by examining the impacts of environmental legislation on water quality and accessibility.
I’m using my fifth hour for personal learning time today, so I can work on one of this week’s Earth and Space assignments over the conservation and depletion of natural water sources. The period is broken up by lunch, which takes place around noon. EDGE students still eat in a normal lunch shift, so I get to spend time with some of my friends that I wouldn’t see throughout the day, otherwise. When I get back from lunch, I spend the second half of fifth hour meeting with Ms. Ajayi to get some additional help with my Statistics homework, and chat over my individual learning goals for math.
Having the flexibility to divide the time I spend on various assignments or subjects within a single period is one of my favorite things about the learning environment of EDGE. I love that I am able to move to a different part of the VIEW and begin working on a different class upon completing an assignment during my unstructured, or personal learning time.
I attend my AP Language & Composition class with Mrs. Comegys in sixth hour to review different strategies for taking the AP exam, and discuss the elements of rhetorical analysis. Then, I head to Spanish IV class that takes place within the microschool. I have found that I really enjoy having this class within EDGE because it makes me feel more connected to my classmates and additionally, what they are learning.
To wrap up my day, I relocate myself to a quiet, independent learning space where I can work on my Water Project. Sometimes it’s harder for me to focus in Headquarters where there are usually more people collaborating, so I really value that I have access to a quiet space I can concentrate in. I am doing my presentation on a trifold, so I work on preparing my final product for Exhibition Night where it will be displayed for students, parents, and community members. I am very excited to present everything that I have learned about my personal topic to my friends and family, because I am very passionate about it.