Class size is the No. 1 attraction of the school, according to the survey. The school board's recommendation is 19 students per class, and currently CCS' smallest class has 14 students. There is still room for new students in the 2007-08 school year.

Back-to-school rally

One way CCS plans to foster a sense of belonging in the coming school year is to offer students more ownership in the school and its policies. During an all-day rally on the first day of school, Sept. 4, students will be led in team building exercises.

One question posed to students will be, "What do you feel here (at CCS)?" Student responses will be listed on one big banner, identifying what they feel are appropriate behaviors.

Following staff skits with different relationship scenarios, students will participate in classroom discussion about what behaviors are inappropriate.

In other efforts to bring students closer together, classes will form their own "communities." This year the theme will be bugs. Classes will come up with a name for their community that reflects the theme and the teacher's name --Swanson's Superflies, for example. Each group will also design a team flag to fly over the classroom door.

Kristy Rohne from the Cass County Family Safety Network will give a couple of presentations. The first will be for kindergarten through third-grade students to teach about recognizing people's feelings and developing empathy. The fourth- through eighth-grade presentation will cover topics such as gossiping, taunting and bullying.

The overall goal for the day is to create a climate for appropriate relationships, whether adult to adult, adult to student or student to peer.

Community service commitment

One focus of the school's charter has to do with educating the whole child. To become well-rounded people, kids need experiences in all types of settings.

In a culture that seems increasingly focused on entitlement, school organizers feel that children benefit from really understanding what it means to give. One way to do that is to provide opportunities to give back to the community that supports the school.

CCS is reaching out to the community for opportunities to build on that service attitude. Requirements for kindergarten through grade 3 students were amended to include four community service projects per year, embedded in the curriculum.

CCS has received several awards for students' efforts in collecting Pennies for Patients.

In the past CCS helped the Lions Club with roadside cleanup in the spring. The students have also painted benches and done spring cleanup at the Army Corps of Engineers Campground.

Additional efforts

CCS Director Amy LaBarre would like to increase CCS's visibility through efforts beyond community service activities, as well. She would like to see the school develop an original, signature fundraising effort, resurrect the Parent Teacher Organization and participate in more community activities such as parades and chamber events.

There are community members who regularly volunteer at the school. For example, two women, Jane Dubois and Betty Miller, both of Crosslake, read to children at the school five days a week.

The Crosslake and Pequot Lakes Lions Club Quest Teacher Training is another valuable way the community supports the school. The club will pay for curriculum and training scheduled for Aug. 21-22 for 36 teachers from CCS, Eagle View Elementary in Breezy Point, and Pequot Lakes Middle and High Schools. One issue addressed in Quest training is Character Training.

Many parents are concerned about the ability of youth to develop strong values and integrity in today's society, according to Quest program information. "It is necessary that youth learn ethical principals and peaceable attitudes by which to live," in order to become a socially and emotionally skilled person.