The Learning Collective in Middletown holds OPEN HOUSES April 24 and May 8
Contact: Marcella Trowbridge:
(860) 346-4390 or
Photos attached by Rani Arbo
The Learning Collective, a progressive school for children grades K-3 in Middletown, invites families to an open house on Saturday, April 24th at 10:30 am. Please join our teacher and current TLC parents in the classroom space at 186 College Street, Middletown. We will provide light refreshments and a fun activity for children!
The Learning Collective (TLC) was founded in 2009 by a group of parents with children from age 16 months to 17 years old — and an experienced teacher, whose children are nearly grown. The group came together with the shared ideal of creating a small, creative, nurturing school environment for young children. The school began with six children in grades K-2, and the success of this first year has inspired the group to continue, and to add another grade level — and teaching staff — for 2010-11.
TLC’s mission is to awaken in our students a love of learning that will last a lifetime; to support each child's capacity for a creative, meaningful, intellectual, social, emotional, artistic and physical life; and to create a vibrant school community with a strong connection to the wider world. At TLC, children are offered the time, materials, experiences, guidance and support they need to fully bloom in a classroom setting. They learn to work together and independently; to trust themselves, to communicate, and to be confident.
TLC's head teacher is Andrea Simmons. Her role at TLC is that of learning facilitator, community builder, resource and guide. She structures the learning environment and activities in ways that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development; helps them grow in competence and confidence; encourages creativity and celebrates their achievements.
TLC parents are an integral part of the school and its success. Parents administer the school, lend their time and expertise in the classroom, lead field trips and more.
TLC has no religious affiliation. The class schedule for 2009- 2010 is Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Wednesdays, most TLC families participate in the full-day Green School homeschool program in Middletown (contact Judy Rintoul at:
TLC’s mission is to awaken in our students a love of learning that will last a lifetime; to support each child's capacity for a creative, meaningful, intellectual, social, emotional, artistic and physical life; and to create a vibrant school community with a strong connection to the wider world. At TLC, children are offered the time, materials, experiences, guidance and support they need to fully bloom in a classroom setting. They learn to work together and independently; to trust themselves, to communicate, and to be confident.
TLC's head teacher is Andrea Simmons. Her role at TLC is that of learning facilitator, community builder, resource and guide. She structures the learning environment and activities in ways that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development; helps them grow in competence and confidence; encourages creativity and celebrates their achievements.
TLC parents are an integral part of the school and its success. Parents administer the school, lend their time and expertise in the classroom, lead field trips and more.
TLC has no religious affiliation. The class schedule for 2009- 2010 is Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Wednesdays, most TLC families participate in the full-day Green School homeschool program in Middletown (contact Judy Rintoul at:
The current TLC families are open to restructuring the schedule to suit the needs of incoming families next year.
Tuition for 2010-11 is dependent on a host of factors, including incoming class size. We predict that it will fall between 3,000 and 5,000 for the year, and we will do everything we can to keep our school as affordable as possible. Incoming parents are invited to help us come up with new ideas!
Tuition for 2010-11 is dependent on a host of factors, including incoming class size. We predict that it will fall between 3,000 and 5,000 for the year, and we will do everything we can to keep our school as affordable as possible. Incoming parents are invited to help us come up with new ideas!
An additional open house will be held on Saturday, May 8 at 10:30 am
For more information, visit http://www.thelearningcollective.org or call 860-704-8181.
Oh, great! A "progressive" school, founded way back in 2009. Just what we need, another incubator for Liberals, er, Progressives.
ReplyDeleteWonder if the NEA wants these teachers to be certified, like it wanted home-schoolers to be.Won't get any per capita from this bunch, I bet.
I would guess there will not be any grades given out, no red pencils, and no keeping score in kickball. Bet somebody's picture will be in EVERY classroom, though! Mmmm,mmm,mmm.
Gordon:
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should be glad that these kids have been taken out of the public system, so their ideas, questions, and unstifled creativity won't rub off on your kids.
Personally, I do hope the kids will at some point share their own and their parents' talents and energy with the rest of the community. I figure every time I complain to a principal on my kid's behalf, I am also speaking for other parents who don't feel able.
Would much rather have an incubator for 'Liberals, er, Progressives' than one for those who would take the time to make such mean-spirited remarks.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a loss for the public school system. We need more energy and parent involvement in our public schools.
So, Gordon, what did you mean by "I bet somebody's picture will be in EVERY classroom, though!" ? Since you clearly have strong opinions about this school, there's no point in leaving anything up for interpretation. People might think the wrong thing. Please do let us know. Seriously! I don't know whose picture might be in every classroom. Fellow readers? Anyone?
ReplyDeleteAnother, minor question: why is it a problem that the school was founded last year? That makes it the same age as the Tea Party Movement, and they seem to be taken very seriously.
Looking forward to your response!
Possibly a loss for the school system, but ultimately a boon for the community that these children will grow up to be a part of.
ReplyDeleteTo Ms. Bobrick: Seriously, I think you know EXACTLY whose picture I mean.
ReplyDeleteHow can you have more parental involvement in the public schools when you take your children out of the public schools?
Oh, by the way "Proud", it's Progressive now.Seems Hillary thought "Liberal" was getting a bad rap-you know, more taxes and such.(Would Barry consider this sedition?)
I'm not trying to cause trouble or annoy anyone. I really, truly have no idea whose picture you are talking about. It seems to be a picture of someone you don't approve of. Honestly, if you put a reference to it in your original post, why are you unwilling to clarify?
ReplyDeleteI think that postings should be for free and frank exchanges, not insinuations, even when people prefer not to sign their full names to what they've written. So please, clarify. Thanks!
Gordon you sound like a real gem. Do you Golf?
ReplyDeleteI am still a Proud Liberal, even if some have maligned the term, causing others to abandon it. I'm also a Feminist -- another maligned term, best defined by Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler, now on T-shirts and bumper stickers: Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.
ReplyDeleteGordon, call yourself what you want, but don't steal my right to choose my own labels.
Meanwhile, when I was growing up, the pictures in every classroom were of Washington and Lincoln. Got a problem with that, now that Geo Washington has been shown to have massive unpaid library fines?
Proud, you are looking for a fight where there is none.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I called myself anything.
I don't remember singing praises to Washington or Lincoln. Library fines,cute.Don't know how it pertains to the arguement, but cute nonetheless.
My sole intent was to point out the keyword "progressive". And I stand by my original post.
I'm not trying to steal anything from you--much as you would like to think so. You being a Feminist doesn't bother me--much as you would like to think so. Just stick to the topic, please.
And, yes--I do golf.
Since Gordon just doesn't want to divulge the name of you-know-who, whose picture is in every classroom at TLC, I propose a candidate: Voldemort, he whose name cannot be spoken. Or, it seems, written.
ReplyDelete(C'mon, Gordon! You gave such a forthright answer to Proud. Just one more, that's all I'm asking. Or go visit TLC and tell us whose picture really IS there.)
Okay, patient Eye readers, I'm done, except to say, if you write a comment, and believe what you say, then make it clear, and stand by it: sign your full name.