Visit to Journey School

Jon and I had that tour of Journey School on Friday. Overall, I really liked it and am excited about the possibility of the kids going there! We sat in for a couple of minutes on each class and also toured the campus itself.

First, the negatives:
- I researched parent reviews of the school in addition to the school's statewide "scores." The school's standardized testing scores were on the low side, which was expected. They do not "teach to the tests," and, because of the way they teach reading, their students are "behind" on language arts until 2nd-3rd grade (then they surpass average scores). The negative parent reviews I found were centered on two areas: 1) the school isn't academic enough/doesn't prepare kids for high school and 2) the administration is unorganized and has high turnover. I feel the parents who complained about the school's academics either hadn't researched what Waldorf education is about or just had no idea what they were getting into by sending their kids to this school. It's an admittedly alternative approach. Regarding the administration, I do worry a bit about accusations of lack of organization; however, the current head administrator has been there three years and has a pretty amazing background. It looks like things are moving in the right direction in this regard.
- I worry that, because Nate can already read very well, he would be extremely bored in a 2nd grade class where they are still learning the basics. Talking with some teacher friends of mine, I was reassured that any teacher will be able to identify Nate's ability in this area. If he were given a "special job" of helping some of the other kids, I know he would love that. My plan, if we attend Journey, would be not to jump right in and proclaim to the teacher that my son is a reading genius, but instead to see how the beginning of the year goes and see if Nate even minds the pace.
- Like any public school, presentation of religion can be sketchy. This school seems particularly "spiritual" but not necessarily in the right way--perhaps too much focus on Nature and general spirituality.

Now the positives:
- Sitting in the 2nd grade class (where Nate would be next year), I kept thinking, "Nate would like this." It is very participatory.
- The atmosphere of the campus. It was calm, clean--hard to explain but I liked it.
- Each grade has only one or two classes. Nate would be in a grade of one class, while Lucy would be in a grade of two classes (four kindergarten classes, but because they have kindergarten for two years, they move up to two 1st grade classes). This means all the kids know each other; there is a family atmosphere. It doesn't feel clique-y at all. (Regarding kindergarten being two years: Lucy would enter as a second-year kindergartener.)
- All students participate in music (recorder, moving on to violin, moving on to more choices like guitar, cello), "hand work" (knitting, etc., which is great for brain development), and gardening. Third graders do some woodworking as part of their math curriculum.
- Lucy would LOVE the focus on artwork, drawing, etc.
- Although some things in 2nd grade would be easy (too easy?) for Nate, there are also so many areas he could really grow in at Journey, particularly drawing/artwork, creativity, out-of-the-box/critical thinking, and imagination.
- The location of the school. It's tucked down at the bottom of a hill and has a lot of space. There is plenty of playground/open space outside and also trails just off campus, which they use for hiking. The kindergarteners go on full-day hikes/walks one day per week.
- Our chances of actually getting into the school are much, much better than at the other school I looked at. We were told that the chances of getting into the K classes are quite good, even being out of district. Then, if a child gets into a class and that child has a sibling, that sibling automatically moves to the front of the list for his/her grade. So if Lucy gets into the K (and chances are decent), then Nate would at least be at the front of wait list for 2nd. I would continue to homeschool him until a spot opened for him.

I am turning in our applications tomorrow. The lottery is March 14, and they notify you by phone within a week if your child makes it into a class (or by letter within 10 days if you're on the wait list). Pray! :)