Frank Allis Elementary

Allis was a wonderful choice for my first school visit on my tour.  The school is a welcoming and bright environment and they have managed to turn an aging school into a thriving building. Principal Sara Cutler is in her sixth year at Allis and her second year as principal.

Frank Allis has one of the largest 4K programs in the MMSD district with both morning and afternoon 4K sessions. Ideally they wish to expand their 4K program into one all day 4K section with 4 half day sessions. I find this idea intriguing and worth further study.

After touring the 4K rooms and enjoying  a wonderful story about how trees talk, we moved on to the SEED program. SEED stands for Science Engineering Enrichment Development.  The purpose of this program is to find activities that let students shine by showcasing their unique talents and gifts.   

Headed by Mr. B., this SEED program focuses on different environments from the desert to the ocean. There is even an aviary and a very active axolotl frolicking in his tank. I also got to observe a hissing cockroach (eek but if a 5 year old can handle holding a cockroach without screaming then I could remain calm and not panic), a lizard named Snowball, and several birds.

Each biome is student designed with adult help. Students design the projects based on broad criteria from Mr. B. Some of the student made projects included a wooden dinosaur, the lifecycle of Snowflake the lizard, the habitat and care of small birds, and the life cycle of a plant. Truly this was a vibrant space brimming with creativity.

Sadly my tour had to end. I was lead out by two adorable school ambassadors Jacobi and Amira  who stated the school motto. Allis SEED program is truly thriving and it was a pleasure to visit.