The Environment

The Schoolhouse was intentionally designed to look and feel like home, but to also be highly flexible for learning.  When children arrive to school, it feels like they have just come home.  Lunch is enjoyed by students and staff on a cloth-covered table, and the playground is made up of tree trunk climbing structures and a whimsical playhouse.  By melding the school/home atmosphere, we pay tribute to the important role school plays in enhancing life outside of the classroom, rather than being a system in and of itself.

In addition to the physical space, we cultivate a love of learning through pursuing interests, making mistakes, and keeping children engaged.  We believe that childhood is a passage to be honored and that play is a child’s work.  By allowing ample time for indoor and outdoor play that is appropriate for each developmental level, children get the most out of their school experience.

Our unbeatable class sizes mean every student feels important, and close student-teacher relationships build a foundation of trust.  In our small classes, our teachers are able to truly differentiate instruction and spontaneously integrate non-academic subjects like art, music, physical education, gardening and design into the day.

Our flexibility allows us to spend a great deal of time learning in the community.  The ability to use our own shuttle bus, take spur of the moment trips when an opportunity presents itself, and to participate in activities that would not be possible in large groups, means our students have access to an extraordinarily wide variety of experiences.

Our unique approach to real-life, whole child education in a small, nurturing environment sets us apart from any traditional school.