WHO WE ARE
PLAY BASED
Alpine Village is a play based school for children ages 5-7. We invite children to discover their world through open exploration, get their hands dirty in the mud, build relationships with peers, and grow organic food/ herbs in our greenhouse classroom. It’s time to get back to our roots in how we forage our medicine, tend the soil, and build community.
HOW WE FOSTER THIS ENVIRONMENT
HONOR THEIR PROCESS
We allow children to be children and let them play! Children have plenty of opportunity for expansion and movement throughout the day with our play stations and open exploration time.
Our school is built upon responsive vs. reactive parenting techniques. We focus on assisting parents in identifying and meeting the emotional and physical needs of their child to better understand their behavior.
We release ourselves from the limiting belief that children need to learn certain material by a specific age, and if they don’t they are “behind.”
We understand the unfoldment is different for each child and honor their process.
ROLE OF THE PARENTS
Parents are required to attend two hours of parent education once a month at the school. We highly encourage both parents to attend, however, it is not required.
Parents rotate being a Lead and Assistant Parent which consists of arriving to school 30 minutes earlier and staying 30 minutes after to assist in: set up, take down, project of the day, and providing morning snack.
Each parent will participate in Lead and Assistant Parent twice a month.
KIELY MODIRI, TEACHER
I was in the education field for over 10 years and taught grades second through fourth in public schools. I saw a tremendous need and desire to separate myself from a system I no longer resonated with. A place where extra recess and playtime was considered a privilege and one to be earned. Where field trips were once a year and the only time families gathered was at the end of the school year. After having my daughter, I became very passionate and committed to building new systems that support and honor the authenticity of each child and their individual growth. I wanted to create a community where parents felt supported and had opportunities to learn new ways in holding space for their children.
RHYTHM OF THE DAY
Soft start time 9:30am-10:00am - Open Play/Snack Time/Morning Chores
10:30am - Gather for Morning Circle
11:00am - Open Exploration
11:45am - Clean up, set up for lunch
12:00pm - Lunch time
12:30pm - Clean up/Dishes
12:45pm - Project of the day
1:30pm - Open Play/Open Exploration
2:15pm - Clean up/Goodbye Circle
2:30pm - Dismissal
SCHEDULE
Our school week runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for 12 week modules. We opted for three days a week because we value our four day weekends with friends and family and we want to make sure children have other opportunities to sign up for classes and extra curricular activities.
2024-2025 CALENDAR
1st Module (12 weeks):
Start Date 9/3/24
2nd Module (12 weeks):
Start Date TBD
3rd Module (12 weeks):
Start Date TBD
INVESTMENT
Full Day 9:30-2:30pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
$1,750 Per Module
*Monthly payments available
Materials Fee $100
*Payments are nonrefundable
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CURRICULUM
The seasons guide our curriculum. Our food, herbs, medicine, and play stations will be centered around Mother Earth and where we are in season with her.
Yes, direct instruction around reading, writing, math, etc. are important, but children seven and below are wired to learn through play and open exploration. When we take a step back and allow the natural learning process to occur; children are intrinsically motivated to figure out their world and learn what needs to unfold for them in that moment. Each child embarks on their own personal journey and no child’s timelines are the same.
MIXED AGES
The learning opportunities are endless when children of mixed age groups engage with one another. It’s a relatively new concept to have children only play with kids their own age. We have spent most of humanity in village-like groups where our youth observe the elders and the older children get to step into leadership roles as they guide and nurture the younger children.
FOOD
Children are provided with a delicious organic lunch each day. Whatever can be harvested from our garden will be used and everything else is sourced locally. The majority of our meals are gluten free and we do our best to accommodate allergies.
Morning snacks are provided by families who rotate being Lead Parent. We ask that all morning snacks be organic, gluten-free, and without seed oils.
ATTIRE
Layers! Since we will be out rain, snow, or shine, layers always provide options for the kiddos. We will send out a recommended attire list upon enrollment.
From our experience, children enjoy the elements perfectly fine when dressed appropriately in the right gear. We encourage children to be outside, however, the heated greenhouse classroom is always open for those who wish to be in.
LOCATION
We are located on a five-acre property in beautiful Hayden, Idaho.