We have been thinking about the changes for our family future a lot lately. Husband has made a few changes with his career path (more on that when there is a bit more to tell). And, in thinking of that has gotten us thinking about some changes or choices rather in our children's future.
I should back up. Our school district has what they call "lottery" schools. These schools are K-8 (which is a plus for most kids) and is parent volunteer mandatory. That means that these schools have a pool and you must, first, tour the school then fill out an application and lastly, wait for your application number to be pulled. Your chances are always better for Kindergarten because there are 60 openings generally for Kindergarten. We have loved our local school for the moment we moved into this neighborhood. Isa and Nana have made great friends living in this neighborhood and going to our local school. But, we have been thinking of the future. Isa is in 3rd Grade...that got me thinking of Middle School. I know I'll blink and it'll be right in front of me. The transition into Middle School had me a bit concerned as well.
I went to a private school and never made that transition. Husband did and did wonderfully. We don't doubt that our kids would do just fine either but we have been in love with one of the lottery schools philosophy since we had first heard about them. When we say in love we mean right up my alley in the way our philosophy is at home. We knew we would want Isa to go there for middle school and it made me nervous thinking of lottery chances. It made us realize we should take it more seriously and jump on the next tour. We can't have it both ways. We can't let the kids hang out at our local school and then hope to be picked after 6th grade. We needed to jump on it now.
Their Vision: We are a community of individuals who celebrate the growth and unfolding of each member. We value the relationships in which we are revealed, and in turn, each member's development enriches the community.
I realize this vision isn't for everyone but it is for us. This school is unique in that they have what they call a multi age structure. Each primary class (they call them centers) consist of first, second and third grade students. Each intermediate has fourth, fifth and sixth and our middle school classes combine both seventh and eighth grade students. They believe that relationships between students and their teachers as well as amongst a group of students is at the heart of learning. The students have the benefit of working with their teachers for 3 years. Each classroom truly becomes a community. They emphasize character development and social skills integrated with academics. What was key for me was when they said that they believe that it is just as important what kind of people our children become as it is how much they know.
I think you have already guessed. I toured this last week. They only do tours ever so often. I toured. I applied (all 4). Now? Waiting. It could be before Spring Semester or it could be next year or in the next 3 years. We don't know. We are mainly looking at this as an alternative for Isa as her approach to middle school is sooner than the others. As she gets older (approaching her last single digit) it becomes more evident that she would flourish in this environment. All of them would because it is so similar to our philosophy at home. We do have other friends who attend here. So, she won't be alone. Jules sister, Izzie attends this school and is in the same grade as Isa. The C6 and L4 also attend here along with some other Co-Op families. We are confident and excited about this choice and change. The school is not far from the Co-Op a whopping 1 minute for when Madi attends the Co-Op it'll make it easier to be close by to the older kids and it is also close to the Homeschool Resource Center that Dev may attend for Kindergarten.
I should back up. Our school district has what they call "lottery" schools. These schools are K-8 (which is a plus for most kids) and is parent volunteer mandatory. That means that these schools have a pool and you must, first, tour the school then fill out an application and lastly, wait for your application number to be pulled. Your chances are always better for Kindergarten because there are 60 openings generally for Kindergarten. We have loved our local school for the moment we moved into this neighborhood. Isa and Nana have made great friends living in this neighborhood and going to our local school. But, we have been thinking of the future. Isa is in 3rd Grade...that got me thinking of Middle School. I know I'll blink and it'll be right in front of me. The transition into Middle School had me a bit concerned as well.
I went to a private school and never made that transition. Husband did and did wonderfully. We don't doubt that our kids would do just fine either but we have been in love with one of the lottery schools philosophy since we had first heard about them. When we say in love we mean right up my alley in the way our philosophy is at home. We knew we would want Isa to go there for middle school and it made me nervous thinking of lottery chances. It made us realize we should take it more seriously and jump on the next tour. We can't have it both ways. We can't let the kids hang out at our local school and then hope to be picked after 6th grade. We needed to jump on it now.
Their Vision: We are a community of individuals who celebrate the growth and unfolding of each member. We value the relationships in which we are revealed, and in turn, each member's development enriches the community.
I realize this vision isn't for everyone but it is for us. This school is unique in that they have what they call a multi age structure. Each primary class (they call them centers) consist of first, second and third grade students. Each intermediate has fourth, fifth and sixth and our middle school classes combine both seventh and eighth grade students. They believe that relationships between students and their teachers as well as amongst a group of students is at the heart of learning. The students have the benefit of working with their teachers for 3 years. Each classroom truly becomes a community. They emphasize character development and social skills integrated with academics. What was key for me was when they said that they believe that it is just as important what kind of people our children become as it is how much they know.
I think you have already guessed. I toured this last week. They only do tours ever so often. I toured. I applied (all 4). Now? Waiting. It could be before Spring Semester or it could be next year or in the next 3 years. We don't know. We are mainly looking at this as an alternative for Isa as her approach to middle school is sooner than the others. As she gets older (approaching her last single digit) it becomes more evident that she would flourish in this environment. All of them would because it is so similar to our philosophy at home. We do have other friends who attend here. So, she won't be alone. Jules sister, Izzie attends this school and is in the same grade as Isa. The C6 and L4 also attend here along with some other Co-Op families. We are confident and excited about this choice and change. The school is not far from the Co-Op a whopping 1 minute for when Madi attends the Co-Op it'll make it easier to be close by to the older kids and it is also close to the Homeschool Resource Center that Dev may attend for Kindergarten.
1 comment:
We have our fingers crossed that you guys will get in!
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