Programs
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled
~Plutarch
Our Schedule
In 1st-5th grade, classes run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The Hedge School partners with The Earth Keepers School to offer a Friday Program of Nature Connection, Art and Magic
The Hedge school runs on a year-round calendar with programming beginning in late August and running through the end of June. This allows us to learn during all four seasons, each of which is marked by the celebration of earth-honoring festivals and a multi-week break.
Handwork
In The Hedge curriculum, handwork brings balance between intellectual and movement activities, allowing students to experience the struggle, joy, and care required in the creative process. Handwork is taught to all students in grades 1-8. Handwork begins in the Early Childhood classes with finger knitting and simple hand sewing. Then, it continues and expands through the grades with knitting, crocheting, embroidery and fine hand sewing.
Equestrian
The Hedge School has partnered with Wild Hearts Equestrian to offer our students weekly horseback riding lessons in the Autumn and Spring. In addition to traditional horsemanship, the children participate in vaulting and liberty.
Nature Connection and Craft
In the afternoons and on Fridays, students deepen their connection to the natural world through experiential study of local flora and fauna. They use materials from the land to create beautiful and practical arts, crafts and tools. The stories of this land and it's first people enliven these lessons.
Art, Music and Theater
Visual and performing arts are woven throughout all that we do in our academic learning. Songs bring the curriculum to life and children enjoy daily singing, and weekly flute playing. The students artistically create all of their own "text books," incorporating artistic sensibilities with academic knowledge. Each class puts on a theatrical production related to the myths and stories they connected with over the course of the year.
Literacy
At The Hedge, we cultivate awareness, appreciation, and skill in both the spoken and written word. Our approach honors individual child development, with the intention that students experience a love of writing, language and literature. Generally, we follow the Waldorf Curriculum in our literacy approach.
Mathematics
At The Hedge, learning math is a dynamic and alive experience. We sing, clap and move our numbers in the early elementary years. As the students age, math becomes more experimental and hands on. Whenever possible, we look for mathematical patterns and truths in the natural world around us. Generally, we follow the Waldorf Curriculum in our mathematics work.
Foreign Language
At The Hedge, our students study Spanish. They are lucky to be taught by two highly experienced teachers, one being a native speaker. They incorporate art, drama, games, story, music and gardening into our dynamic language program.
Movement
Hedge students have generous time and space for active, free movement on our 32 acres of forest, field and wetland. More conscious movement is brought through organized games, cross-country and downhill skiing at Schweitzer Mountain and an archery program.
Ancestral Skills
Students and community members are encouraged to attend two ancestral skills gatherings each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Ancestral skills from the stone age to homesteading are demonstrated and taught by master craftspeople throughout these week long gathering of community, craft and fun! Though these gatherings are not required, they are counted as school days.
Sit Spot
Each afternoon, the elementary age students transition from a vibrant and dynamic time of social learning into a quiet and still solo experience on the land. They settle into this meditative space quite naturally, sinking into the company of themselves and the natural world around them. They return to the same spot again and again, where they can experience the seasons change and the shifts in the natural world. We call this time Sit Spot and, in many ways, it is the most valuable and radical aspect of our daily learning experience.