| |
 The
mission of the River Valley Charter School is to provide a rigorous
academic program based on the Montessori philosophy and rooted
in the history, culture, and ecology of the Merrimack River
Valley. Students will reach their full potential as scholars
and become self-reliant, productive members of society. They
will be adept at critical thinking and creative problem solving
and will be fully prepared to succeed in future schools, careers,
and civic life.
 Who
We Are
 River
Valley Charter School is a regional public Montessori school
serving students from Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury,
and West Newbury. River Valley opened in September 1999 with
160 students enrolled in grades 1 through 5. We reached our
full capacity of 256 students in grades 1 through 8 in 2002.
In 2003, River Valley received approval from the Department
of Education to add a kindergarten. In September 2003, the school
opened its "Kinderhaus" program with 32 additional students,
which brought River Valley student enrollment to 288. Our students
enroll by means of a lottery with the only preference given
to siblings. Each classroom of up to 24 students has one head
teacher and one assistant teacher. River Valley joins a population
of more than 200 public and 4,000 private Montessori schools
in the nation, but it is the first Montessori public school
to start "from scratch," with a majority of students
having no previous Montessori experience. River Valley also
joins a population of more than 2,700 charter schools in 37
states, with 46 charter schools in Massachusetts.
Charter Schools
Charter schools are public schools started by parents, teachers,
businesses, and/or community leaders. In Massachusetts, these
schools operate independently from local school districts
and are accountable directly to the state Department of Education. River
Valley's application for a charter, once approved, became
a renewable five-year contract between the board of trustees
and the state. The state monitors progress toward the goals
stated in the charter through annual financial audits, detailed
progress reports, and an annual site visit. During the school's
third year, it underwent a detailed review process and received
early renewal of its charter for an additional five years.
Curriculum Partners
River Valley works with curriculum partners such as the Massachusetts
Audubon Society, the Maritime Museum, and the Parker River
Clean Water Association, utilizing the vast resources available
in the Merrimack River Valley. These partnerships allow students
to use the community as both a source of knowledge and a means
of applying what they learn.
Staffing
The director of the school is Dr. Dale Bishop. Our head teachers
are experienced Montessori teachers with Association Montessori
Internationale and/or American Montessori Society certifications,
and our assistant teachers have or will soon be receiving
Montessori training as well. In addition to our Montessori
professional staff, our faculty includes special education
professionals, a school nurse, and specialists in art, music,
and other areas as funding allows.
Governance
River Valley is governed by a board of trustees, consisting
of founders of the school and other parents, members of the
community, and business people. The responsibilities of the
trustees are to set policy for the school, hire the director,
and, working through the director, carry out the mission of
the school and guarantee its success. The board meets monthly
at the school; usually the second tuesday of each month at
7p.m.; these meetings are advertised and open to the public.
Funding
River Valley is funded in some ways like the traditional public
schools ("district" schools), but not in other ways.
It receives per-pupil funding from the state in the same manner
as district schools. As with school choice, the per-pupil
funds follow the child to the charter school; until 2002 (when
Massachusetts' then-Governor Swift withdrew the charter school
reimbursement schedule), River Valley's sending districts
received reimbursement money of 100 percent the first year,
60 percent the second year, and 40 percent the third year.
Additionally, charter schools do not get significant capital
funding from the state and so must meet facilities costs through
their operating budgets and through major fund-raising efforts.
The River Valley Charter School Foundation, Inc. has been
established for the purpose of raising funds for these costs.
Montessori Philosophy
and Methodology
Maria Montessori, MD
The River Valley Charter School educational program is based
on the Montessori philosophy and methodology. Dr. Maria Montessori,
the first female physician in Italy, began working with children
in the early part of the century. At the request of local
councilmen, she opened a childcare facility in the tenements
of Rome, where children were not being supervised as a result
of their parents needing to work. She agreed to get involved
with this venture as long as she could determine how best
to work with the children. In 1906, Casa de Bambini (House
of Children) was opened. Dr. Montessori continued with her
medical practice, but she observed daily at the childcare
facility. Through her observations, she realized children
learn on their own, that all adults need to do is provide
the environment and materials to assist in the process. Dr.
Montessori began to develop materials for the children to
work with as she trained her staff as guides for the children.
It was not long before very young children were reading, and
many people around the world were taking note of this great
accomplishment. Casa de Bambini observers would ask Dr. Montessori
how she had taught these young children to read and she would
say, "Do not look at me, look at the children,"
for it is in the children where all elements of intelligence
lie in wait for the adult to allow the learning to occur.
US History
President Woodrow Wilson was one of many leaders who expressed interest
in Montessori education. In fact, President Wilson sent a representative
to Rome to observe and meet with Dr. Montessori, who was subsequently
invited to the United States with the intent to bring Montessori education
to public schools. Unfortunately, the war began and Montessori education
was put on a back burner. It was not until 1960 that the first Montessori
school, The Whitby School, opened in Greenwich, Connecticut. Since that
time, Montessori schools have grown throughout the country in both the
private and public sectors.
Characteristics
of a
Montessori
School
Multi-age Classrooms
Classes are three-year age spans in the elementary program and two in
the middle school, maximizing curriculum options, encouraging cooperation,
and fostering self-confidence in students who serve as role models.
Interdisciplinary Approach
Subjects are taught thematically using reading, writing, and mathematics
as tools for the pursuit of knowledge and skills.
Montessori Materials
Materials focus on many levels of understanding, beginning with the concrete
and moving to the abstract. Materials are self-correcting and reinforce
autonomy, confidence, and self-motivation. Extensive written materials
support the Montessori emphasis on research from primary sources such
as reference books, the Internet, and the like.
Long Work Periods
Whole-class instruction is minimal, with lessons being given
to individuals or in small groups. Students spend long blocks
of time on work, thus enabling students to explore a topic
or material thoroughly.
Mastery Learning
Students go beyond memorization and repetition to true understanding
and application of knowledge, skills, and concepts. The individual student
progresses at his or her own rate, either moving ahead without having
to wait for the rest of the group, or taking the time he or she needs
to internalize the material.
Classroom Design
Classrooms are arranged in study centers, with clusters of
student-sized tables and open areas for floor work. Each study
center is surrounded by shelves of books and materials pertaining
to a particular area such as language arts, mathematics, history,
or geography. Students are allowed to move about the classroom
and choose resources, working individually or in small groups.
Thank
you for
visiting
with
us. Observers
are welcome
at River
Valley
Charter
School.
If you
would
like
to observe
in one
of our
classrooms,
please
call
the school
office
at 978-465-0065.
|
