Teachers planning Casper's new elementary school looked at faraway places for ideas -- North Carolina, Australia and across town at Fort Caspar Academy.

The teachers adopted a leadership model based on principles by author Stephen R. Covey and used by A.B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, N.C. The model emphasizes integrity and encourages children to "Do the right thing even when no one is looking." An idea from Australian schools, the school plans to end the year with a "Rich Performance Task" -- a multi-week lesson that incorporates skills learned in all classes. All of the chosen textbooks and materials have been used in Natrona County schools.

The school will be arranged into three houses -- one for kindergarten and first grade, one for second and third grades and one for fourth and fifth grades. Students will spend most of their time with same-grade peers, but the arrangement allows students to cross grade lines for certain subjects, said Anne LaPlante, principal of Summit Elementary. The school will have the same amount of art, music and physical education as the other schools in the district.

Several of the planned educational components are considered enhancements and not covered by the state in its building requirements. One component is an outdoor Venn diagram where students can physically perform compare-and-contrast exercises. Another request was for graphics on the gym floor, such as a keyboard and map of the United States.

"These will help the child understand the skeletal system, muscular skills, heart rate," LaPlante said. "You can teach through body skills."

Construction on the new school is ahead of its expected completion in August 2010, said LaPlante. Summit is the newest "new school" to be built in the district -- there is no existing student or parent population or materials to feed into the school. Summit will be included in the district's online enrollment process from Jan. 6 to 29. The district does not have enrollment boundaries so the number of classrooms and teachers will be decided after parents choose schools for their children. Books and materials will have be ordered using estimates, said John Foy, who is one of the five teachers planning the school this year.

Staff members have been researching curriculum to align with five principles based on community input. The hope is that the school is open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and for the library to stay open in the summer, said LaPlante. Activities and programs will be planned according to student and community needs.

"The student will choose us -- not the other way around," Summit teacher Delaine Britt said. "We'll have to adapt to them."

In addition to planning the curriculum, LaPlante and the teachers were responsible for tasks including choosing the furniture and sound system and hiring the maintenance staff members. Summit staff members will host open houses this week and again in December.

Reach education reporter Jackie Borchardt at (307) 266-0593 or at jackie.borchardt@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/reportcard

Summit Open Houses

6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Frontier Middle School library, 900 S. Beverly St.

6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Dean Morgan Junior High library, 1440 S. Elm St.