My daughter went to a Montessori school for preschool through fifth grade. We knew that she would need to eventually transition to normal school. And middle school seemed like the appropriate level to make the switch. Old Orchard School was great with testing her in the spring of fifth, to see where she was compared to her class. While she was above standard grade level in math, the school was a year ahead. They sent home a textbook. Also, the fifth grade teacher gave her notes, on which chapter she needed to study over the summer, to be up to speed when starting sixth grade. Honestly, this greatly reduced our stress. In addition, their standards are high. The material is covered deeply and broadly and I can tell my daughter is really learning, because she relates the things she's learning to our conversations at home. She's twelve and we can discuss genotypes and phenotypes, as well as the the influence of the Roman Empire on Islam. Even gym class is daily, and challenging to her. She's athletic already. She says middle school has been the best years of her life. She really does not like vacations that drag on for too long, because she misses school. You might think I'm laying it on thick, but we really do love this school.
Old Orchard School is a beautiful and special place, where the whole child is focused on. The teachers and administration provides the support that children as well as family needs, to grow and learn. Recently, I had the pleasure of exploring this school. Since my first phone call, I've been met with a kind and supportive attitude. They took the time to understand what my family was looking for in a school and my son's needs. In addition of offering excellent academics, the middle school is part of the amazing Campbell community center, that offers so much. My son spent two days shadowing and made friends promptly. Also, the teachers challenged him in academic circles and provided a calm, as well as fostering environment. Although we eventually decided to go to a school that offered an even smaller class size and better suited to my son's needs, it was a difficult decision due to the warmth we felt here. I know my son would thrive here too. This school is recommended for any family that seeks to place their child in a large school, that are building the foundation for success.
My children are enrolled in lower school and growing at Old Orchard School. It has always felt like a big family to me, where students, teachers, administrators, and parents know each other well, as well as they can easily communicate. The families are friendly and unpretentious. They supported the other children at school. Teachers here have a long track record and stay here as well. They get to know their children and siblings well. I once heard a faculty member say they should know everyone on a first-name basis. Also, my children have small classes, one class in the classroom, and at first, I asked myself this question. Do they have enough options to build a friendship? It hasn't been a problem and in fact, has created a kind of brother-sister-like relationship between the children and their classmates. Watching each other go through the roller coaster of childhood and adolescence. Eventually, they are standing by each other because they know each other so well. The Project Cornerstone program is shared with each class. Where parent readers read a monthly book about a social issue and create a lesson plan around it so that the entire elementary school has the same language about how to treat others. Like how to share, not bully, how to stand up for someone, respect diversity, be empathetic, etc. The Parents' League is very motivated to offer the children more enriching experiences like field trips, and great assembles for the children. From the youngest grades, children receive Spanish lessons all or most days. Moreover, the art teachers are wonderful. Thank goodness, there is a technology program and they are shown how to submit some tasks through the iPad. The music and drama programs have kept me from having to sign my kids up for off-campus drama programs. There are assistants for every grade, even with small classes. So teachers can have the time and support they need to deliver creative and interesting practical lessons. My kids love learning here. As they get older, homework becomes more, but so far they've been manageable and they're working above school level. I could go on, but I'll leave you to it. Overall, we're very happy here.
The word "community" is often thrown around as a buzzword. I'm used to hearing it about all things child-related. When I joined this school, what they encouraged was a sense of community. After a year here, I have to admit that the term community aptly describes the relationship between teachers, parents, and students. My child is recognized not only by his teacher and peers but also by the administration, as well as all the parents in his current classroom. In return, I also know all the parents of my child's class and their children. We invest not only in our own children but in the classroom as a whole. It's nice to know that you can reach out to others when you need them. Another important component of any school is the academic aspect. When we were looking for a school, we didn't want our child to receive an education that focused solely on competition and straight A's. We actually wanted something balanced, and I strongly feel this school has it. My child is in second grade, and they have a strong math program and a strong read-or-write program. However, there's an excellent music and theater curriculum that fosters acting skills by putting on plays throughout the year. Also, the art program is quite impressive and explores its creative side. Physical education is fun and Spanish class is a challenge worth the time. In general, the curriculum is nicely thought out and we feel like our child is learning in a very supportive environment. Moreover, the administrative staff is superb. They are incredibly responsive to any questions. One of my favorite things is that they're very inviting and on campus, often I'll just stop by the office to say hello. I really appreciate the way they handle school business. Sometimes, my child has a bad day. But I'm very happy that for every bad day, he seems to have 30-40 fantastic days. In addition, this school rents space from the church but is not religiously affiliated with the adjacent church. Some people mistakenly think they offer religious studies, but they are two separate entities. I can't recommend this school enough, we love it and it is perfect for our family. Overall, my son loves this school.
ParentSunday, January 26, 2020
My daughter went to a Montessori school for preschool through fifth grade. We knew that she would need to eventually transition to normal school. And middle school seemed like the appropriate level to make the switch. Old Orchard School was great with testing her in the spring of fifth, to see where she was compared to her class. While she was above standard grade level in math, the school was a year ahead. They sent home a textbook. Also, the fifth grade teacher gave her notes, on which chapter she needed to study over the summer, to be up to speed when starting sixth grade. Honestly, this greatly reduced our stress. In addition, their standards are high. The material is covered deeply and broadly and I can tell my daughter is really learning, because she relates the things she's learning to our conversations at home. She's twelve and we can discuss genotypes and phenotypes, as well as the the influence of the Roman Empire on Islam. Even gym class is daily, and challenging to her. She's athletic already. She says middle school has been the best years of her life. She really does not like vacations that drag on for too long, because she misses school. You might think I'm laying it on thick, but we really do love this school.
ParentMonday, September 30, 2019
Old Orchard School is a beautiful and special place, where the whole child is focused on. The teachers and administration provides the support that children as well as family needs, to grow and learn. Recently, I had the pleasure of exploring this school. Since my first phone call, I've been met with a kind and supportive attitude. They took the time to understand what my family was looking for in a school and my son's needs. In addition of offering excellent academics, the middle school is part of the amazing Campbell community center, that offers so much. My son spent two days shadowing and made friends promptly. Also, the teachers challenged him in academic circles and provided a calm, as well as fostering environment. Although we eventually decided to go to a school that offered an even smaller class size and better suited to my son's needs, it was a difficult decision due to the warmth we felt here. I know my son would thrive here too. This school is recommended for any family that seeks to place their child in a large school, that are building the foundation for success.
ParentTuesday, January 22, 2019
My children are enrolled in lower school and growing at Old Orchard School. It has always felt like a big family to me, where students, teachers, administrators, and parents know each other well, as well as they can easily communicate. The families are friendly and unpretentious. They supported the other children at school. Teachers here have a long track record and stay here as well. They get to know their children and siblings well. I once heard a faculty member say they should know everyone on a first-name basis. Also, my children have small classes, one class in the classroom, and at first, I asked myself this question. Do they have enough options to build a friendship? It hasn't been a problem and in fact, has created a kind of brother-sister-like relationship between the children and their classmates. Watching each other go through the roller coaster of childhood and adolescence. Eventually, they are standing by each other because they know each other so well. The Project Cornerstone program is shared with each class. Where parent readers read a monthly book about a social issue and create a lesson plan around it so that the entire elementary school has the same language about how to treat others. Like how to share, not bully, how to stand up for someone, respect diversity, be empathetic, etc. The Parents' League is very motivated to offer the children more enriching experiences like field trips, and great assembles for the children. From the youngest grades, children receive Spanish lessons all or most days. Moreover, the art teachers are wonderful. Thank goodness, there is a technology program and they are shown how to submit some tasks through the iPad. The music and drama programs have kept me from having to sign my kids up for off-campus drama programs. There are assistants for every grade, even with small classes. So teachers can have the time and support they need to deliver creative and interesting practical lessons. My kids love learning here. As they get older, homework becomes more, but so far they've been manageable and they're working above school level. I could go on, but I'll leave you to it. Overall, we're very happy here.
ParentMonday, January 14, 2019
The word "community" is often thrown around as a buzzword. I'm used to hearing it about all things child-related. When I joined this school, what they encouraged was a sense of community. After a year here, I have to admit that the term community aptly describes the relationship between teachers, parents, and students. My child is recognized not only by his teacher and peers but also by the administration, as well as all the parents in his current classroom. In return, I also know all the parents of my child's class and their children. We invest not only in our own children but in the classroom as a whole. It's nice to know that you can reach out to others when you need them. Another important component of any school is the academic aspect. When we were looking for a school, we didn't want our child to receive an education that focused solely on competition and straight A's. We actually wanted something balanced, and I strongly feel this school has it. My child is in second grade, and they have a strong math program and a strong read-or-write program. However, there's an excellent music and theater curriculum that fosters acting skills by putting on plays throughout the year. Also, the art program is quite impressive and explores its creative side. Physical education is fun and Spanish class is a challenge worth the time. In general, the curriculum is nicely thought out and we feel like our child is learning in a very supportive environment. Moreover, the administrative staff is superb. They are incredibly responsive to any questions. One of my favorite things is that they're very inviting and on campus, often I'll just stop by the office to say hello. I really appreciate the way they handle school business. Sometimes, my child has a bad day. But I'm very happy that for every bad day, he seems to have 30-40 fantastic days. In addition, this school rents space from the church but is not religiously affiliated with the adjacent church. Some people mistakenly think they offer religious studies, but they are two separate entities. I can't recommend this school enough, we love it and it is perfect for our family. Overall, my son loves this school.
ParentFriday, November 9, 2018