For those of you who are not aware, my background includes (besides
administration) teaching in both public and private schools in Maine and Alaska.
I feel that these experiences have allowed me to develop a comparison
between the two types of educational institutions. The list of benefits that
students receive in independent schools, compared to public, is very long. The
small class sizes, individual attention, and teacher availability for parents
are all at the top of the great benefits students receive. However, one of my favorite parts of schools like St.
Paul’s Academy are the “value-added” activities. Not only do children receive a
quality education in the classroom but they also experience numerous activities
in, and with the greater community.
Last night, I had the pleasure of visiting our 5th
graders at Camp Lutherwood. For those of
you (like me) who are new this year, Camp Lutherwood is an annual 5th
grade overnight trip where students participate in teambuilding and
environmental education.
I also got to experience my first “Passport Club” today.
Passport Club is a geography program for elementary schools. It is designed to encourage
students to learn some or all of the names of the world’s countries over the
course of the school year. The program adds 5-10 new countries per year
so that by the end of 5th grade students will know all 195 of the
world’s current independent nations!
Another wonderful event this week was that the Kindergarten
made Apple Baskets. With the help of the Chapel Guild, students filled and
distributed baskets of apples to all of our St. Paul’s Academy neighbors.
The best part of all of these activities is that this was
not a special week. These community events are what give independent school
children a well-rounded education. St. Paul’s Academy is a great example of
making education expand out of the classroom and into the community.
