Micro+Groups

toc //This page contains descriptions and links to any online work or environments being used by the various subcommittees associated with the Chesonis Commons.//

=Living Building= (wiki link) The Chesonis Commons will be a "living building" dedicated to education for a sustainable future - an authentic and evolving environment that puts students in the position to lead and link personal responsibility to the resource challenges of our times. The operation of all the systems of The Commons - energy, water and atmosphere - will be part of a social curriculum where students strive to achieve a net-zero balance in these resources. This will be a place of student debate and problem solving, where year-by-year new ideas are implemented and tested as the authentic challenges of sustainable living unfold for the student body. Building on our already extensive programs in local food production and food security, two large vertical gardens will be used to produce food and sequester carbon dioxide. Harley will serve our nation's community of schools as a leading example of a 21st century education.


 * People**
 * Seth O'Bryan (Rights and Responsibilities)
 * Jim Tiffin (Systems and Data Capture)

=Briggs Center for Civic Engagement= (wiki link) The Briggs Center for Civic Engagement will focus on programs that put students, faculty and the institution in positions of civic leadership. Harley is nationally recognized as a leader in public-private partnerships that close the achievement gap for urban students form impoverished families. This year (2012), the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, Monroe Community College and The Norman Howard School launched summer programs based on Harley's model and we have formed a regional consortium, the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association. Harley is partnering with the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester to develop an implementation plan for such regional consortia.


 * People**
 * Larry Frye

=Center for Mindfulness and Empathy Education= (wiki link) The Center for Mindfulness and Empathy Education places Harley as a national leader in the pedagogy of emotional literacies. Two years ago (2010) we were invited to submit a proposal for what is arguably the most prestigious grant program int he country for independent schools - the Edward E Ford Foundation's Educational Leadership. Harley has developed a unique methodology for teaching emotional intelligences through the Harley Hospice Program and we are committed to sharing this with others in the educational community. Harley won the grant, a matching grant of $250,000, to formalize, validate and provide teacher education and professional development for the pedagogy of teaching empathy, as well as to establish the Center for Mindfulness and Empathy Education (CMEE). The University of Rochester's Motivations Research Group will conduct program research and each summer the CMEE will conduct an institute that brings together leading theorists and practitioners to further the teaching of emotional literacies.


 * People**
 * Bob Kane

=Maggie Schneider Science Center= We live in what is becoming a "Googley" world. What does this mean for science education? It means that large collaborative projects are the future. The Science Center on the first floor of The Commons will support programs such as the Environmental Leadership Collaborative, which will join science, civic responsibility and remotely connected project groups to tackle authentic science problems of our day. For example, a current initiative is to organize the Western NY-based collection of mosquitoes with subsequent testing for West Nile Virus and other contagions. Internet-based mapping, result tracking and more will be released as part of this student-led collaboration.


 * People**
 * Science Department
 * Robin Long

=Projects Space and Fabrication Lab= (wiki link) The ground floor level of The Commons will be a Projects Space and Fabrication Lab dedicated to hands on learning. The time, space, and support necessary to provide opportunities to learn design thinking, explore how things work or bring one's ideas into reality have become scarce commodities in education. As we look at our rapidly changing world, it is these skills and experiences that students will need to be creative problem solvers.


 * People**
 * Art Department
 * Science Department
 * Chris Hartman
 * Jim Tiffin

=Carbon Sequestering and Agricultural Group= In order to engage in a net-zero challenge for the building's carbon footprint, carbon dioxide will need to be sequestered. The potential to do this through photosynthesis exists for biomass that could reside withing the building or offsite and is part of a dedicated green space. Within the building, the current idea is for vertical gardens from which food will be grown to created as an extension of the Harley Microfarm. The feasibility of this type of agriculture, how the building's water systems integrates with it and whether it will require an external greenhouse for the staging of crop production all need to be discussed.


 * People**
 * Sue Smith
 * Vickie Paternak
 * Chris Hartman

=Bentley Flag Hall= Creating affinity groups that link the alumni community to current classes at the school via their banner is one goal of this initiative. Using the "raising of the banners" as a development opportunity is another and increasing the social space of the school is yet another.


 * People**
 * Alumni
 * Development Office

=Beckerman Student Center= By virtue of the access path to The Commons, The Beckerman Center will no longer be a pathway from the school to the Field House. The intention is to make it a destination space and new student center.


 * People**
 * Students
 * Faculty