Mission
Mountain Road School supports, challenges and empowers the whole child within a loving and collaborative community of parents, teachers and students.
A Mountain Road education fosters academic and creative excellence, ethical and spiritual development, engagement with the world, and creates a foundation for lifelong learning.
Philosophy
Mountain Road School’s philosophy of education stresses the importance of nurturing all areas of human development in the child as well as fostering the unique pace of each child’s social, emotional, and academic growth. Small class sizes and flexible age groupings allow these needs to be met in ways that are not possible in larger groups. Communication skills – so important in personal growth and so vital to success in today’s world – are given an opportunity to flourish. Children feel their importance within the group and are guided to be positive members of their school community. In this warm and supportive atmosphere, each child’s development is nourished and each child’s potential flourishes. This is what we mean by “Heartfelt Education.”
Giving a child a strong sense of self and of one’s place within the community and in the greater world is key to our philosophy. As a small school, we can provide many opportunities for interactions among children of all ages and classes. Once a week an older child is paired with a younger “buddy” for activities of their choosing. School-wide celebrations are frequent, as are school field trips. Every Friday the whole school gathers in the “Family Room” for Big Circle to share thoughts, feelings, stories, songs, dances, and experiences.
A relationship with the natural world and spending time outside is essential at Mountain Road School. Each day the children have a 40-minute outdoor recess – a time for noncompetitive games, tree climbing, dam/fort building, and sledding. Our partnership with Flying Deer Nature Center has given rise to an innovative program in which every Wednesday is devoted to “nature time,” where children spend much or all of the school day outside. We believe that building a deep connection to the natural world develops a well rounded, healthy individual and enhances self esteem and academic focus.
Our teachers are inspired by a variety of educational philosophers and leaders including Maria Montessori, Rudolf Stenier, John Dewey, Vygotsky, Piaget, and the schools of Reggio Emilia. We draw upon each of these philosophies when creating curriculum and use our collective educational knowledge when making school wide decisions.
Download New York Times Article: The 3 R’s? A Fourth Is Crucial, Too: Recess
Download University of Colorado Article: Benefits of Nature for Children’s Health
