FAQS
HOW MUCH IS SCHOOL TUITION?
We are a public charter school funded with tax dollars. Other than supply fees and the like, attendance at our school is no cost to our families.
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For more information about our teacher-prioritized, tuition-based preschool, click here.
CAN I SCHEDULE A SCHOOL VISIT?
Please! We look forward to welcoming all of our prospective families to our facility. We will begin offering tours again shortly after we get our learners settled for the school year. They will typically be scheduled Thursdays at 10am. Please sign up by clicking here.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE FALL SCHEDULE AND CALENDAR?
You can click here to learn more about our students' schedules.
Though our program looks different than most, we assure you that we will still meet all Indiana Academic Standards. The order may be different, but every learner will have the tools they need by the time they graduate.
WHAT ABOUT INDIANA ACADEMIC STANDARDS?
WILL THE SCHOOL HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES?
Yes, we will do our best to have all necessary resources available to meet the needs of all of our learners and hope that families will utilize the services of some of our partnerships for their learners. These alternatives, such as art, music, and nature-based approaches, are in alignment with our mission and vision; and we strongly believe in their benefits. We are only beginning to explore how to integrate these programs into our own, but we're excited at the potential.
WILL YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL OPTION DUE TO COVID-19?
We have practiced very successful mitigation strategies thanks to the amazing assistance of our Health and Safety Council, so we have been having classes safely in-person. However, we will be prepared to offer a variety of programming to safely address the needs of our learners in light of the pandemic should that be necessary. We have utilized our creativity in creating a virtual learning space as well us Google Classroom.
In any event, whether illness or absence, inclement weather, pandemic, or planned remote learning, we will orient our families to help everyone with a smooth transition to online learning and have planned professional development to make it easier for teachers, too.
WILL ALL TEACHERS BE LICENSED AND CERTIFIED IN...?
According to Indiana Law, 1/10th of a school's faculty/staff may be unlicensed. However, in the event any of our staff lack these qualifications, they will be working toward earning them through various programs available as well as through school-sponsored professional development. Though they may not have the licenses and certifications that a purely Montessori or Waldorf school may possess, we are a nature-based school first and foremost. All of our teachers and staff will have the appropriate backgrounds, experience, and passion to make our unique program a successful and beneficial one.
WHY WALDORF, MONTESSORI, NATURE-BASED...?
There are many reasons, all of which are based in research. The outcomes of these models are consistently successful, beneficial, and gaining more traction in the US as a wonderful alternative to traditional education that has been enjoyed for some time in other countries. It is not an easy task marrying pedagogies that can, at times, diverge from one another; but we believe this article sums up our reasoning very well -- the children need both. Thankfully, we have a talented and skilled team of educators who are passionate about bringing this education to our children. Don't just take our word for it -- we encourage you to investigate for your yourselves!
WHAT WILL A CLASS LOOK LIKE?
Our classes aren't necessarily 4 walls! We're growing, and that means our classes are transitioning a great deal! Our Lower Elementary has split into 2 classes of around 30 students each. Our Upper Elementary has around 45-50 students with two lead teachers, and assistants.
Each class has a student to teacher ratio from 10-20:1 and plenty of space to learn and explore at beautiful Camp Belzer. Our Kindergarten and Middle School will begin waitlisting after approximately 30 students with the same student to teacher ratio of about 10-20:1.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS A RUNNER?
We understand the concern. While we encourage risk-taking, exploration of the grounds, and a natural "scout mindset", safety is a priority. In order to ensure that we practice it, we are counting on help from our community. Teachers and staff will clearly lay out boundaries and behavioral expectations, help learners transition from Point A to B, and engage the children in their tasks. However, we ask that our families also assist us in this process by working with their children toward this goal with supportive reminders at home, volunteering as outdoor monitors, and offering understanding that this may be a difficult task at first for some learners.