Breckenridge Proud: High School Students Make Semi-Finals for XQ Super School Project

Breckenridge Public Schools make it to the semifinals of the XQ: Super School Project.
 
The national competition will be awarding five public schools $10 million each to build their dream school.

The grant is sponsored by Apple co-founder Steve Job’s widow, Laurene Jobs.

She is challenging schools to create initiatives that will rethink and redesign high school education.

For juniors at Breckenridge High like Bradley Banken, the XQ Super School Project means the opportunity of creating a school with students in mind.
 
“Personally for me it would mean updating the school a lot, as drama student our auditorium is not the greatest,” said Bradley Banken Junior at Breckenridge High.
 
As a part of the competition, each school has built a team of educators, community members, and students all with one goal in mind; creating the best and brightest high school.
 
“Kind of cool that students have their input. Just helps us feel like we have a decision in all this,” said Bradley.
 
“Basically rethinking and reworking and redesigning the American high school,” said Miriam Tobola.
 
Tobola, a technology integrationist at the school district, says Breckenridge is one of over 300 public schools that applied for the grant.
 
If the school wins the competition, they would receive $2 million over the next five years helping to build their dream school.
 
Tobola says the team will be writing six modules highlighting their visions for the future.
 
“How we are going to use that money, what are our learning spaces are going to look like, how are we going to change those, how are we going to extend those beyond the four walls of this school,” said Tobola.
 
For seniors like Raeanna Essig, who will soon be exiting the Breckenridge school system, being a part of project means hope for the future.
 
“This project just really means that future generations will be able to learn  in a learning environment that is high quality and prepares them for their future,” said Raeanna.

The school will have until May 23rd to complete and submit their ideas.

The five winning schools are expected to be announced in August.