Is Mountain Road School a part of the Abode of the Message? No. The school is it’s own entity as a 501-c3. However, the school is located on the grounds of the Abode of the Message and has close ties with the community.
What kind of curriculum should I expect my child to receive? Your child will receive a well rounded education of MRS that focuses on the whole child. The teachers at the school create the majority of the curriculum based on the school’s thematic focus, New York and Massachusetts standards, and the child’s interests. We use several school-wide programs to augment our teacher-created curriculum such as the Nurtured Heart Approach, Handwriting Without Tears, Spelling Connections from Zaner-Bloser Publications and Marilyn Burns Math.
What are multi-age classrooms? Each classroom is comprised of children ranging in age usually two to three years apart in each grouping. Our groupings can change from year to year depending on enrollment and the students’ needs. One of the benefits of the multi-age grouping is that it allows a child to be the youngest one year and the oldest the next. We find that this helps children become both leaders and followers and also allows them to develop a variety of friendships. Teachers loop with the children and usually teach each child for two consecutive years.
What is the size of a classroom? We believe in small classrooms and accept up to 12 children in each classroom with occasional exceptions. We believe that having 12 children or less, allows children to be seen as individuals and honored as unique community members.
Are the teachers certified? Even though NY State does not require teachers to be certified in private schools, our teachers for have completed certification requirements in the states which they completed their degree work. Currently, we have three faculty with master’s degrees in education and one faculty member with a bachelor’s degree in education.
If I can’t afford the full tuition should I still apply? Most definitely. The Board of Directors is committed to the goal of having all families be able to attend Mountain Road School if they wish. Please see our Financial Aid page for more information.
Can my child attend part-time? We do accept homeschooling families on a part-time basis for special subjects such as art, music, French, or nature. Please see our homeschooling page for more information.
The school sounds wonderful but will be child be ready for a traditional middle school after MRS? Yes and even more so. Traditionally children who leave Mountain Road have done exceptionally well in school whether they remain in private school, home-school or go to public school. At Mountain Road children want to learn. They are given the skills needed to succeed but also the desire for life-long learning. They are confident in who they are as individuals, are able to perform in front of an audience and speak about their feelings and ideas to their peers and to adults.
I see that there is a parent participation requirement but we both work full time. Is there a way we can still participate? Yes. Parents who work full time definitely find ways they can participate. The campus is open year round and there are many outdoor projects that can be completed. Parents also can help through computer work, participating in bake sales and even by helping us spread the word about the school by hanging up posters.
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What is Heartfelt Education?
