Written by Vanessa Del Fabbro
My daughter Annabel will soon be joining her sisters at Sabot at Stony Point, a progressive school for preschool through 8th grade, situated next to beautiful Larus Park, just off Huguenot Road. Like a number of her preschool friends, Annabel cannot wait to start kindergarten. Avery, whose big brother Max is in first grade, is also excited. Her mother, Nikki, says, “Max has told her that you get to explore in the forest and work on projects with your best friends. The school trips into the city are exciting and PE is fun.”
While children may look forward to time in the forest and project work with friends, Sabot parents know that deeper learning is also going on. “The teachers know exactly how to inspire my daughters to think more deeply about questions and explore the community and world around them,” says Anne, mother to three Sabot lower-school students. “And I love that they are not only concerned with helping my children to become good learners but to become good people as well.”
Sabot teachers believe that children come to them with natural curiosity and creativity and that it is the teachers’ job to nurture these dispositions. Children learn by investigating and they acquire knowledge and understanding by developing, testing, and defining their own theories. Sabot teachers understand that when children play an active role in their own education they become lifelong learners.
With a more traditional approach to education, students can spend a lot of time memorizing facts and doing hours of busy work – even in kindergarten – instead of being actively engaged in the work, their environment, and their classroom community. Lila came to Sabot in first grade. “At Sabot, Lila has been celebrated for who she is in a supportive, rigorous, and evidence-based environment,” says her mother, April. “She is more authentically herself, more engaged in learning, and happier than we have ever seen her. Her learning comprehension is astounding, and, based on Sabot’s approach to teaching math and science, she is making huge progress in an area that she previously found frustrating. We are thrilled to have found this school, not only for our daughter but also for our family.”
As April notes, Sabot educates the whole child and the Sabot community includes the whole family. “On top of the great education,” adds Anne, “is this amazing community atmosphere. It takes a village to raise a child and this is exactly what we have at Sabot.”
Sabot at Stony Point
3400 Stony Point Road Richmond, VA 23235
(804) 272-1341
To find out more about Sabot at Stony Point, visit the Sabot Preschool Admissions page or contact Director of Admissions, Maggie Barrett, by phone (804) 272-1341 or email her with any questions.
This article was sponsored by Sabot at Stony Point
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Much has been written about ‘the Montessori method’, but exactly what does that mean?
Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, educator and innovator, Montessori is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adolescence.
The hallmark of a Montessori education is based on nurturing and cultivating the child’s natural desire to learn by:
- Creating student-centered learning environments that are prepared, adaptive and responsive to student needs
- Providing hands-on concrete experiences with specifically-designed Montessori materials
- Encouraging exploration, problem solving and creative reasoning as part of the learning process
- Supporting the development of the whole child, socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically
- Fostering intrinsic motivation by focusing on process rather than product
- Offering multi-aged groupings and social settings as a community within each classroom
- Focusing on cooperation, collaboration and mutual respect
- Promoting “freedom within limits” by providing opportunities for self-directed choices within an ordered and structured framework
- Promoting independence, leadership, responsibility and self-reliance
Aspects that are unique to a Montessori Education:
The Prepared Environment
The Montessori classroom is warm, inviting and aesthetically pleasing. It is organized to support the natural developmental needs of the age group it serves. It contains multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting materials to facilitate self-directed learning and exploration by the child.
Freedom within limits
The Montessori classroom balances freedom with responsibility. The prepared environment allows the children the freedom to choose their own work, guided by the teacher. The fact that the students have opportunity to choose and make decisions fosters independence, self-discipline and self-confidence.
Multi-age classrooms
The multi-age groupings provide opportunities for broad social development and meaningful friendships, which are often life-long. Respect of ground rules and an emphasis on care for one another and the environment supports the need to get along and to settle differences peacefully. The range of ages and abilities helps to build a tolerance and appreciation of individual differences and fosters collaboration and cooperation as the students form their own cohesive community.
Visit the Richmond Montessori website for more information and schedule a visit to see first-hand how it works. It’s time that will provide your child with a bright future!
Richmond Montessori is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, educator and innovator, Montessori is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adolescence.
Wishing Woods at Montessori
- Creating student-centered learning environments that are prepared, adaptive and responsive to student needs
- Providing hands-on concrete experiences with specifically-designed Montessori materials
- Encouraging exploration, problem solving and creative reasoning as part of the learning process
- Supporting the development of the whole child, socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically
- Fostering intrinsic motivation by focusing on process rather than product
- Offering multi-aged groupings and social settings as a community within each classroom
- Focusing on cooperation, collaboration and mutual respect
- Promoting “freedom within limits” by providing opportunities for self-directed choices within an ordered and structured framework
- Promoting independence, leadership, responsibility and self-reliance
Click here to learn more about the Montessori Method and other information.
Aspects that are unique to a Montessori Education:
The Prepared Environment
The Montessori classroom is warm, inviting and aesthetically pleasing. It is organized to support the natural developmental needs of the age group it serves. It contains multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting materials to facilitate self-directed learning and exploration by the child.
Freedom within limits
The Montessori classroom balances freedom with responsibility. The prepared environment allows the children the freedom to choose their own work, guided by the teacher. The fact that the students have opportunity to choose and make decisions fosters independence, self-discipline and self-confidence.
Multi-age classrooms
The multi-age groupings provide opportunities for broad social development and meaningful friendships, which are often life-long. Respect of ground rules and an emphasis on care for one another and the environment supports the need to get along and to settle differences peacefully. The range of ages and abilities helps to build a tolerance and appreciation of individual differences and fosters collaboration and cooperation as the students form their own cohesive community.
Richmond Montessori is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education in Richmond was created with a young child’s every need in mind. From the nurturing staff to the enriching environment and educational activities, each child ages six weeks and up is offered the very best in age-appropriate care and academic and enrichment programming.
L.E.A.P.
Classes are designed around the center’s proprietary curriculum known as L.E.A.P (Learning Experience Academic Program) that includes programs such as Phonics, Sign Language, a foreign language program, Technology, Philanthropy, Manners & Etiquette, and Physical Fitness. These programs also have a proven history of success. The Fun with Phonics program for example has nearly 90% of preschool graduates reading by the time they enter kindergarten.
One parent whose child is currently enrolled at The Learning Experience in Richmond shares their wonderful experience with Richmondmom.com:
“The Learning Experience has become a second home for me and my family. My daughter is two and has been attending TLE just shy of a year now, but she has grown and expanded developmentally at an exceptional rate thanks to the amazing curriculum she is immersed in. Placing her in TLE was the best decision I could have made for her. I know now that when it is time for her to transition into Kindergarten she will be more than ready and possibly even surpass the standards that public school will have in place.
While the curriculum is absolutely astounding what is most important to me is the love my daughter receives. The teachers have become substitute mommies for her while she is at school. I never have any doubts or worries when dropping her off because I know that she will get plenty of hugs, attention, and love while I am away at work. I could never thank TLE enough for how much easier they make my day knowing that my child is being satisfied emotionally and educationally. My only way of repaying them would be to share my experiences with family, friends, and strangers alike in hope that they will see what I see in The Learning Experience.”
Giving Back to the Community
In addition to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children, the center is also dedicated to teaching the importance of giving back to the community. On September 21st, the center will be hosting their first philanthropy event of the new school year ‘Operation Treats for Troops’ which is dedicated to giving back to the men and women who serve our country. There will be children’s activities, appearances by members of the local armed forces, performances by the local high school and much more.
The Learning Experience of Richmond is located at 3111 Lauderdale Drive in Short Pump.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 804-364-1004 or visit the website by clicking here.
The Learning Experience is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
Kids love to have fun and parents love for kids to learn. So what if they could do both at the same time? Well, thanks to two awesome teachers – now they can!
Just ten months ago, a simple cup of coffee and an article in the morning paper changed the lives of colleagues and veteran teachers Dara Dawson and Sara Butler. The two women have twenty years of experience teaching math and science for elementary and middle school levels and share a common passion for inspiring students to think outside the box.
They have taken this passion for STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and ventured into a business, Engineering For Kids of Central VA, that both inspires them and the children they teach.
With an increasing demand for engineers that will be four times what it is today, Dawson and Butler know that getting children interested in these areas at a very early age is essential. Developing critical thinking skills, confidence, and a solid foundation in math and science has never been more important for kids than it is today.
Now there’s a place where kids can really learn more about engineering. The Learning Center is located at 1586 Mountain Road in Glen Allen. The school offers programs for ages 4-14 in areas ranging from Robotics to Aerospace Engineering. They have been able to make learning fun and exciting through hands-on activities and the engineering design process.
What’s Up This Fall?
It’s looking like a busy fall at the Engineering For Kids Learning Center.
Many programs have been scheduled for after-school learning and fun:
- Robotics
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Homeschool Programs
Saturday classes are being offered as well in:
- Jr. Robotics
- Marine Engineering
Classes generally run for 6 weeks, with students meeting one day a week.
Check out details and register your child on the website.
Engineering for Kids is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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Back-to-school will be here before we know it and Tuckaway Child Development Centers is already offering fantastic specials at select Tuckaway Schools. These are great savings that parents can use to help save money this school year. Many of them are for After School programs, and there are some for the other age groups as well. You can save over $800 per child at some locations.
Click HERE to see the specials page, then click on the links for individual schools to see what specials are being offered.
Tuckaway-Harbor has a ‘Back To School Special’ for ALL PROGRAMS!
Tuckaway-Innsbrook has a ‘Back To School Special’ for our AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Tuckaway-Barony has a ‘Back To School Special’ for our PRE-SCHOOL & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS!
These specials are good for the entire school year, but only while spaces are available, and if enrollment begins by the dates specified for each location. So hurry and register to save money this school year and enroll your child in the best child development center available!
Also, be sure and visit their website to learn about their outstanding private kindergarten at many locations. Tuckaway Kindergarten classes follow all Virginia SOLs and use the PALS assessment to screen for appropriate language development. They offer small classrooms with a maximum of 15 students, and the scope and sequence of lessons that will make sure children are prepared for first grade. Children turning 5 by December 31 of the school year are eligible to enroll.
Tuckaway Child Development Center is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
Not only are Tuckaway Child Development Centers a great place for kids to learn and have fun, but now it’s more affordable than ever to take advantage of all they have to offer. Tuckaway has a ‘Summer Special’ at select Tuckaway Schools:
- Tuckaway-Harbor (Mechanicsville): with the coupon from Tuckaway-Harbor’s Specials page, $20 off per week from now until Labor Day. Available for ALLFull Week/Full Time programs. Current parents that refer students with this coupon will receive a $200 tuition credit.
- Tuckaway-Barony (West End): with the coupon from Tuckaway-Barony’s Specials page, $10 off per week from now until Labor Day. Available for ALL Full Week/Full Time programs. Current parents that refer students with this coupon will receive a $200 tuition credit.
- Tuckaway-Innsbrook (West End): with the coupon from Tuckaway-Innsbrook’s Specials page, $10 off per week from now until Labor Day. Available forALL Full Week/Full Time programs. Current parents that refer students with this coupon will receive a $200 tuition credit.
- Tuckaway-Varina (Varina): with the coupon from Tuckaway-Varina’s Specials page, $20 off per week from now until Labor Day. Available for all SCHOOL AGE Full Week/Full Time programs. Current parents that refer students with this coupon will receive a $200 tuition credit.
Visit the websites and sign up now for big savings! Have fun all summer long at Tuckaway Summer Camp Programs with Lights, Camera, Action! Hollywood at Tuckaway too. Also, don’t forget about their Drop-In Care Last Minute When You Need It.
Tuckaway is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
Considering private school? St. Catherine’s School is hosting an admissions event Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 9am-11am.
This meeting is geared towards prospective students grades 5-12 and their parents, and will be held in the Middle School Assembly Room, Washington Hall.
For lower school students, admissions programs are as follows:
Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten
Oct. 12, 2012 – 9:30 a.m.
Admissions Program for prospective parents
Oct. 23, 2012 – 9:30 a.m.
Admissions Program for prospective parents
November 14, 2012
Discovery Day for applicants and parents by appointment
Visit St. Catherine’s School site more information on admissions events throughout the 2012-2013 school year.
St. Catherine’s School is an advertiser of Richmondmom.com.
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Thursday, October 25
6:30-8:30pm
Location: Richmond Waldorf
1000 Westover Hills Boulevard Richmond, VA 23225
Richmond Waldorf is bringing together local private schools to share information with parents who are exploring kindergarten options!
Participating schools include:
Engaging children’s imaginations and curiosity through active, hands-on learning. Cultivating creative thinking, inquiry, and a love of learning by integrating a full curriculum in math, language arts, the sciences, and foreign languages with the visual arts, drama, music, and movement. Lessons connect meaningfully across the curriculum and build cumulatively throughout the grades.
Good Shepherd Episcopal School
Meeting each child where they are in their educational development and creating a path to ensure advancement academically and individually. Curriculum that is adaptive to the needs of each child. Promoting student cooperation and connectedness (rather than competition) through cross-educational discipline.
Oldest parochial school in Richmond. Focus on academics plus the social skills and attitudes needed to develop positive relationships and foster love and respect for all people. Integrating faith, knowledge, and conduct into a God-pleasing whole.
Producing accomplished, well rounded, and resourceful graduates, who measure up to their potential, lead principled lives, and strive to make the world a better place. Supportive environment that challenges the intellect, develops the body, and fosters moral values. Understanding that each child is unique and that no two children learn in exactly the same way.
Identifying strengths and tailoring lessons accordingly, while maintaining academic, emotional and social standards for advancement to the next level. Individualized lessons complement an integrated curriculum to encourage abstract and critical thinking skills, while multi-age, co-ed groupings foster social collaboration and a sense of community. Fostering self-motivation and confidence.
Sustaining children’s quest for meaning and understanding. Harnessing the power of their theories and ideas, and guiding their inquiry and research. Supporting collaboration and respectful exchange. Challenging students to become effective communicators and disciplined thinkers, capable of solving problems in an increasingly complex world.
Educating through a balanced academic, social, and spiritual experience, shaped by the Episcopal tradition and inspired by Christian faith. Teaching the power and value of respect for others, self discipline, and honesty. Striving to be a model for excellence in all that we do.
Holistic approach to faith-based education that helps each student grow academically, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Challenging every student to reach for academic excellence – by encouraging critical thinking, supporting collaboration, and inspiring an environment of exploration.
St. Michael’s Episcopal School
Richmond’s oldest independent school south of the James River. Highly valuing academic achievement, religious affiliation with the Episcopal Church and involvement by students and parents. Small enough to enable adults and children to know each other, but large enough to provide performing arts, sports, clubs and robotics.
Providing a Christ-centered, academically-rigorous classical education. High academic and moral standards that encourage students to do their best work. Nurturing and challenging students to achieve their fullest academic and spiritual potential.
For more information, contact Amy Holland.
Waldorf School is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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If you have a child three or four years old, it’s time to start thinking about kindergarten.
“Wait – you must be kidding,” you’re thinking.
Actually we’re very serious.
Choosing a kindergarten or junior kindergarten that aligns with your personal values, and is a good match for your child, is extremely important. If you start thinking about school for your children when he or she is three and four years old, you’ll feel better prepared when he is ready to start his first day. And many independent and private schools have completed their admissions process by March each year.
Choosing the Best Fit
Richmondmom.com sat down with Cary Mauck, Director of Admissions at St. Christopher’s School, to gain insights into choosing the right school for your child.
“Choosing the right school includes thinking about the best fit for both your child and your family. Parents or guardians should consider the all-encompassing educational experience when evaluating the best school match. I believe parents make a mistake by basing their decision solely on what they hear or read. You don’t truly know a school until you’ve visited the campus and observed the culture. This is when you really feel the rhythm and the pulse of what a school is like. Seeing teachers and kids interact really helps you understand what’s going on in the classroom every day,” explains Cary.
Most Richmond-area independent schools hold their Admission Open Houses for pre-K and kindergarten during October. St. Christopher’s School manages admissions according to a calendar targeting February 22 as the date that all applications, visits, and tests are completed. Acceptance letters are going out at that point, so getting an early start on evaluating schools for 2013 is important.
Parents Have Choices
St. Christopher’s School recognizes that parents have options about which school their child(ren) attend, and choosing the right school for each individual child is essential.
“Not every school is right for every child. Parents have to think about what’s important to them and what environment is right for their child. If they’re looking for a school that offers excellent education with a religious component, that should be a part of their decision-making process. It may be important for others to focus on schools with specific athletic programs or artistic training as a part of the overall experience. A school that welcomes active parents may also be a consideration for those who want to be more closely involved. That’s why attending an open house and seeing a school up close is so critical,” Cary emphasizes.
What St. Christopher’s School Offers
St. Christopher’s School is a college preparatory school for boys from junior kindergarten though 12th grade. The school seeks to prepare a talented and diverse group of boys for college and for life in an ever-changing world.
Academics, athletics, the arts, the honor system, chapel, global engagement, service to others and a strong sense of community are essential elements that comprise the core curriculum at St. Christopher’s. And with a class size of approximately 15 students across all three divisions, students receive lots of focused attention and support.
“We focus on educating the Whole Boy through a three-pronged approach to education – mind, body and spirit. We believe this helps develop young boys into responsible, well-rounded young men who are prepared for college and the future,” Cary explains.
St. Christopher’s School also engages in various activities throughout the year with their sister school, St. Catherine’s (an all-girls school). This enables Lower and Middle School boys to participate in different events throughout the year such as an English tea, Colonial Day, Caldecott project, dances and special holiday events. Upper School boys and girls share campuses, faculty, and classrooms providing them with much greater depth and breadth in the curriculum as well as a meaningful coed experience in preparation for life in college and beyond.
“Since we are closely connected with St. Catherine’s School, it makes it easy for parents to manage having children in two different schools,” Cary points out. “Brothers and sisters are able to share some of the experiences of both campuses while enjoying leadership opportunities and sustaining advisor relationships they have developed at their respective schools.”
Financial Need Programs
You may think that independent schools are not financially feasible for your personal situation. But don’t let that stop you from checking them out as an option. Many offer some type of financial assistance to help attract families who have children who would benefit from their school’s education. At St. Christopher’s, need-based financial aid for students is available through an application process with SSS.
The school’s admission process is “need blind” so that financial need is not a consideration or deterrent in extending acceptance to students. While it does not guarantee financial aid will be provided, it does ensure that every applicant has the same opportunity for acceptance if he or she meets specific admissions criteria.
Upcoming Prospective Parent Orientation
Parents interested in learning more about St. Christopher’s School and what they have to offer for pre-K and kindergarten can attend their upcoming Kindergarten Prospective Parent Orientation. They have two chances to attend:
- Tuesday, October 16 – 9:00 a.m.
- Friday, October 26 – 9:00 a.m.
The orientation day provides an opportunity for parents to visit the campus, hear from school administrators , visit in classrooms, and meet teachers, students and current parents. It is a relaxed way to evaluate the school in a group environment without making any commitments. Children are eligible for the application process based on age:
- Kindergarten applications for the 2013-2014 school year are now being accepted for boys who will be 5 years old before October 1, 2013.
- Pre-kindergarten applications are available for boys who will be 5 years old before November 1, 2013.
Cary sums it up best, “At St. Christopher’s, we are committed to helping boys succeed in school and beyond. It is an ongoing commitment to help them grow from boys of promise to men of character.”
Learn more about St. Christopher’s School at their fall Open Houses on October 16 or 26, 2012 or call 282-3185.
St. Christopher’s is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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