microschool
Rooted in current educational research and brain science, we’re designing a learning environment that is flexible and designed to meet the needs of all learners. This begins with investigating how each child learns best and continues through a learner-centered approach.
Ascend Micro School partners with parents to provide an engaging, learner-driven education rooted in compassion for our local community and the people in it. We aim to embrace the strengths of the curious, driven, passionate, gifted students we serve and empower them through highly individualized instruction, place-based education, hands-on learning, and character development so that each child can strengthen the gifts that are uniquely theirs and vital to our world.
A child’s education should reach far beyond academic standards. By the time students move to adulthood, they should be able to thrive as a member of society. We believe the purpose of education is to equip students to be lifelong learners and compassionate citizens while preparing them to live an enriched, fulfilling life as they create positive change in their community.
We are a homeschool hybrid, also referred to as an independent school. We fall under both private school and homeschool laws. Students attend 1-3 days a week and are homeschooled the other days.
Our tiny community is blooming with kids and we are looking to bring back a local tradition of local education in a one-room schoolhouse setting, with an education program focused on teaching the kids to learn, think and grow instead of memorize and prep for tests. One-room schoolhouses have a long history in this area, with the last one closing just 10 years ago. The families of a small and remote community of Martinsdale Montana want a childhood experiences that does not include a twice a day, one hour or more, bus ride to the nearest school.
We have a kindergarten class of 6 for fall 2018, and enroll will grow to at least 12 within the first 5 years. Unlike many rural and isolated areas, we are growing with families due to ranching and industry.
Due to our remote location, we qualify for public school funding but we have struggled to get our school districts Board of Trustees to listen and learn the facts. As we persevere and work to gain their support, we are looking in to any and all options, Public, Private, Charter, etc. We are also very open to new, old and unique teaching and learning models.
We have very motivated families and a new schoolhouse but we are looking for teacher(s) and/or educational innovators that are interested in taking on this incredible opportunity for themselves and the kids.
We would be more open to non-public if we could find the right person(s) to oversee the school as we feel this is one area, that is not best suited for this group of parents and we haven’t been able to find anyone else local with the skills or qualifications to take on such an important role.
There is a good chance that we cannot pull all of this together by fall 2018 and that is ok. It is most important to find the right path and educating partners and that takes time. If we build it, they will come.
If you are interested in more information, or have helpful resources, please contact me. Thank you!
Chesterfield Community Preschool will begin its inaugural school year on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. We are a dedicated, grassroots, Montessori, micro-school committed to guiding children in an authentic community atmosphere. We believe in an affordable, inclusive, respectful, child-focused education system and aim to provide an environment that meets the needs of the families we serve.
Our year-round, half-day preschool program is designed for children ages three to six years old. Our school days are Monday through Friday, 8am-12pm with a break each quarter. Class size is limited to twelve students and three faculty, providing a sense of community, partnership and individualization.
Our school is located within a Christian church and we are proud to share our faith with the children in our classroom, however, part of building an authentic and diverse community means also celebrating the different cultures, customs and religions of the families enrolled.
Our goal is to maintain affordable tuition in an effort to preserve the spirit of Montessori education. Tuition is only $500/month per child and requires an annual commitment. We operate with rolling admissions and will accept applications year-round, adding to our wait-list as needed. Please contact us for application information.
MISSION
Our mission at Juniper Micro School is to create a collaborative community that cherishes curiosity, nurtures each child’s unique strengths and helps children develop the skills and mindsets to boldly follow their passions to become tomorrow’s change agents.
VALUES
We don’t wait for change – we are the changemakers. At Juniper we value innovation and research. We follow a progressive philosophy based on current, high-quality research on brain and child development.
We dare kids to be bold. In a rapidly changing and complex world, we emphasize resilience, critical thinking, risk-taking, intrinsic motivation and creative problem solving over rote memorization.
An education as unique as your child. Juniper’s intimate community allows us to provide an extremely personalized learning environment for students where individual strengths are valued and nurtured.
The power of the micro school. The micro school model is lean, agile and efficient. It allows us to serve as a truly innovative grassroots leader in reimagining education.
My services include a Montessori Playgroup from pregnancy through the age of seven. During our full-year program, adults and children learn together in Adult-Infant, Adult-Toddler and Adult-Child classes along with a monthly discussion group outside of class covering a variety of topics.
Over the course of the year adults practice observation and interact with their child, while being guided by me, an experienced Montessori teacher, as I interact and introduce activities to their children.
Along with educational consultation, I am a childbirth educator and midwife assistant, bringing over 35 years of experience with pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum services to families who choose this support.
I have been a certified Montessori teacher and administrator for 35 years, and offer personal teacher and parent mentorship, Positive Discipline workshops, groups, and birthing workshops.
Highlands Micro School is a progressive, non-religious, independent elementary school in Northwest Denver.