Lilly, a 6-year-old yellow Labrador, is just one aspect of Imagine Classical Academy that makes it different from other schools.Along with the 700 students and 28 teachers who walk through the frontdoors every day, Lilly trots into school with her owner, assistant principal Jeff Rebitski.”Lilly’s main function is to make you feel better,” Rebitski said. “She’s the therapy dog.” Lilly calms nerves, dries up tears and bridges the gap between kids and adults.”I needed something else to mediate between children and myself. [Lilly] makes relationship building easier.”If Lilly has any influence on the kids’ learning abilities, then the school should definitely keep her around.In 2010, the percentage of sixth-graders at Imagine Indigo Ranch whose math skills showed “Move Up Growth” was more than double that of other schools in Falcon School District 49: 43 percent vs. 19 percent. “Move Up Growth” is a ratings category that measures individual student progress for the No Child Left Behind Act. Students who test at grade level this year and subsequently demonstrate above-average gains on next year’s exam are considered to have achieved “Move Up Growth.”Founded in 2004 by Dennis Bakke, author of “Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job,” and his wife, Eileen Bakke, Imagine Schools now has 72 schools serving 37,000 students nationwide.Besides above average academics, parents also are drawn to Imagine schools because of the focus on character building. “We talk to the kids from day one,” Eileen Bakke said. “What does it mean to be responsible? What does it mean to have integrity?”Classroom discussions about respect, honor, pride and dignity are reinforced daily by real-life demonstration and application, Rebitski said. “I can tell you about the color blue, but if I show you the color, you are able to grasp it better,” he said.And then there’s the focus on children as individuals. Each child and every situation is recognized and treated as unique: from learning styles to social skills to disciplinary issues.According to the Imagine Schools’ statement of Shared Values, “Justice means to each person what he or she deserves, and to each person what is appropriate. Since each student, employee, parent and organization with whom we interact is unique, each must receive special treatment. Justice does not mean sameness or equality, but that everyone is treated uniquely and appropriately.”Principal Tina Leone defined the goal of Imagine Indigo Ranch. “I do not want our students to be mediocre,” she said. “My desire is that what we provide at Imagine Indigo Ranch will help our students meet their fullest potential. I believe that children are so much smarter and can do so much more than we ever thought or dreamed. We just have to believe in them, and believe they can do it.”Second-grade teacher Andrea Farley said the first year was a success. “Not only did the third-grade class achieve the highest reading CSAP scores in D 49 (96 percent), 98 percent of the families re-enrolled for the 2009-2010 school year.”The school is about fun, too, Rebitski said. “I want the children to enjoy coming to school and be excited about learning, not feel forced,” he said. “Little things here and there all add up.”At the end of the day, Rebitski said he could be directing traffic with a pink flamingo on his head or something else from his collection of silly hats.The Imagine Classical Academy at Indigo Ranch is located at 6464 Peterson Road in Colorado Springs. Visit www.ticaindigoranch.com or call 495-7360 for more information.
