Vision statement

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Vision Statement
Our long-term vision is to create a holistic learning environment where children may freely use the skills they possess innately to pursue their interests, providing them with tools and opportunities to investigate those interests. Together with our students, we wish to co-create a learning environment that reflects their autonomy to learn and to explore their own ideas. Through our school, we hope to inspire a global dialogue about the value of hearing our children’s voices.

Mission Statement
We serve the community by offering a joyful learning environment where children can have a unique and inspiring educational experience. Through our child-centered approach, we seek to promote a love of learning in a setting that encourages a culture of social equality, sustainability, opportunity, and community.

Our Families
Naturally Grown School is located on an organic farm in Mills River, North Carolina. Our community is made up of Spanish-speaking families, English-speaking families, teachers, and farmers. We are part of Living Web Farms, and we share its goal: to foster a more sustainable and conscientious way of living.
Families’ participation in and commitment to their children’s education are vital components of our school. Our families live in Henderson and Buncombe counties; several of the Spanish-speaking families have their roots in Latin America. Parent involvement enriches our children’s experiences. Parents are encouraged to visit the classroom or volunteer in a number of ways.

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About US

Overview

Naturally Grown School follows the Reggio Emilia educational approach, in which children’s strengths, capabilities, and resilience are highly valued. We believe that every student possesses a deep curiosity and potential, and these innate capacities drive children’s interest to understand the world and their place within it.

In many school settings, the students ask the questions and the adults provide the answers. At Naturally Grown School, children and staff collaborate to resolve problems, investigating possible answers together. The teacher’s role is to observe the children, listen to their questions and stories, find what interests them, and then provide them with tools and opportunities to explore those interests further. Reggio Emilia advocates child-led projects that are developed and formed based on each student’s individual interests. Our belief is that children are most eager to learn when they are blazing a path that is their own.

We are currently full for the 2018-2019 school year.

We receive applications on a rolling basis, but will schedule visits and shadow days for admission when there are spots available. It is always helpful to follow up an application submission with a phone call to introduce yourself and your child.

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Contact US

Email us at: naturallygrownproject@gmail.com

828-393-5659

School address:
75 Bryson Rd.
Mills River, NC 28759