What sets us apart...

Civil Rights Curriculum and Study Tour
Taken every three years, this inter-generational learning adventure brings students face-to-face with leaders who themselves were children when they took up the cause and become agents of positive social change.

Community Teachers
Our students learn with a number of artists, organizers, scientists and other community leaders throughout the year.  We rely on our community to partner with us in the education of our students and we value the learning that happens outside the school, as well as in.

Enrichment Electives
“Clubs” are our innovative electives that offers students a choice of their enrichment classes. All students are given new club options at the beginning of each month. Teachers and community volunteers teach clubs, which range from classes on Taiko Drumming and recycled arts to basketball or MN History.

Full Day Kindergarten
We provide a full day kindergarten program to promote a solid early childhood foundation for learning and to allow young students to be more integrated into our school family.

Music Program
Music at SFCS continues to evolve into a culturally engaging program. A partnership with a local community-based music instruction organization allows us access to professional musicians who offer our students general music instruction and musical expression.

Annual School Play
At Southside, the school play is an exciting, engaging, inclusive event.  Students help our resident playwright Susie Oppenheim to develop themes and characters and to re-write the lyrics of popular songs.  Each play is a unique exploration of the important role of young people in creating social change.  An imaginative satire of current political and social themes, the play may be set anywhere: across time, space and dimension.  All are welcome to enjoy the energetic and touching performance each spring...see the school calendar for dates, times and location.

Student Leadership
Students research issues and take action, including speaking at rallies, press conferences and educational conferences on issues ranging from civil rights and racism to affordable housing and environmental justice.  The Student Association for the Advancement of Children as People (SAACP) leads student activism at the school and is based on models of other organizing groups, like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Travel Study Curriculum
This program embodies our goal to make the community our classroom. Students gain a broader view of the world and reinforce “book-learning” with exciting real-life experience.  All students in grades 6-8 are eligible to sign up for the travel study elective (History Club) and are never required to pay fees in order to participate fully.  Past trips have included visits to northern Minnesota, Bad River (Wisconsin), South Dakota, Milwaukee, Chicago and Postville, Iowa.