Glacial Hills Elementary's vision is to create a highly effective, K-6 environmental school that acknowledges students' individual learning styles and develops analytical, creative and critical thinking.
Our mission is to teach rural, K-6 students an appreciation of local and global environments, and encourage academic excellence leading to productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Glacial Hills Elementary is a parent and teacher driven, public, tuition free school that embraces technology and the natural resources in our area. GHE offers class sizes of 20 students or less. We provide an educational environment that focuses on experiential learning and the natural resources in the area in which we live. Students study the history of Lake Minnewaska, take hikes at Glacial Lakes State Park to explore animal habitat, and visit area farms to learn about the agriculture of rural Starbuck. Students also participate in a residential learning program at the Audubon Center of The North Woods. Parents are asked to chaperone this 3 day field trip. The establishment of GHE in Starbuck has provided the students with a sense of community pride by allowing them to learn about the community in which they live in and participate in community activities. Glacial Hills Elementary is working with the Minnewaska Lutheran Home and the Holly Ridge Assisted Living Facility. The students visit and read to the residents and also provide entertainment on various holidays. The school operates as a business treating the families as customers and strives to maintain a strong customer base by encouraging open communication between parents, students and staff.
Glacial Hills Elementary has 23 employees and currently has 101 students enrolled who are from the Starbuck, Glenwood, Cyrus, Lowry, Alexandria, and Benson areas.
Glacial Hills Elementary has filled a void within the community of Starbuck. The community has recognized that and appreciates the school for allowing the children of Starbuck to attend close to home. The neighboring communities have also taken notice of what has been created here and children outside the immediate area are also attending. The community believes, the staff believes, and the children and parents believe that Glacial Hills Elementary will become a business cornerstone for Starbuck's future.