Dear Future Slate School Parent,

I have been in your shoes, trying to see into the future and know what decisions will be best for my child. Choosing an educational environment for our children is one of the biggest decisions we will make as parents. Without that crystal ball, we have to take a leap of faith, but I can promise you, you won’t regret choosing Slate School.

When my daughter first began preschool, I watched as the school’s efforts to “prepare" her for kindergarten diminished her love of learning. With every worksheet and every reading lesson, she became someone more focused on memorizing the right answer. She no longer wanted to take risks, or try something new, for fear it might be wrong. I knew I needed to find an educational environment that would cultivate her creativity and desire to learn, while nurturing her social development too. When I found Slate School, I knew it would be a perfect fit with its student-led, nature-based curriculum. I knew it would prepare my daughter to be a leader, life long learner and independent thinker, and that is exactly what I saw! However, once she was in second grade I began to worry again.

The dramatic decline of self-esteem and creativity in middle school girls is well documented. I knew that Slate would support my daughter until sixth grade, but what would we do next? How could we ensure she wouldn’t lose the many skills she had built as she entered such an essential time in her social development? I began to explore non-public school options, but they were few and far between, especially for the middle grades, and none would continue the cutting edge teaching methodology she would grow accustomed to at Slate.

When Jennifer Staple-Clark announced that they would be building a Slate Upper School, I quite literally cried. It was as if a weight had been lifted. I knew with certainty that I would no longer need to worry about my daughter’s social-emotional and educational future. Her creativity and individuality would continue to be nurtured, as she literally learned skills that would help her change the world. While many schools focus on what to learn, Slate School teaches its students how to learn and that is a skill that will make all the difference.

As we watch Slate Upper School take shape before our eyes, it’s been amazing to see the innovation and imagination going into the project. Knowing that those in the forefront of their respective fields are helping develop fully integrated courses that will result in purpose-driven work means we know students will be getting a complete and well-rounded education that will prepare them for adulthood. While I have never held any doubts about the education my daughter has received at Slate, after all the research shows that student-led learning yields the best results, it is reassuring to see how thorough and thoughtful Jennifer and Julie Mountcastle have been in their creation of an entirely new curriculum. They are truly reimagining secondary education.

For me, the most important part of Slate School is the focus on the whole child. With student-centered learning, teachers are able to meet students where they are and guide and support them as they grow. Whether this support is educational, social or emotional, the teacher is there to help the student build their skills, so they can be the person they are meant to be. That is what I see in my daughter. A girl who grows in kindness, compassion and confidence every year. A girl who is passionately learning more about topics she is interested in than I ever thought possible, while meeting and exceeding academic standards, without ever completing a worksheet. A girl who sees the world without limits.

Slate School is not just a dream for Jennifer and Julie. It is a dream for every person who dreams of the true potential of education. Attending Slate School is definitely a commitment of money, time and energy. Most importantly, it is a commitment to giving your child the best possible future. You don’t need a crystal ball to know at Slate your child will be able to be all they want to be and more.

Warmly,

Christianna

Mother of a Slate School 5th Grader