New Village School

The New Village School (NVS) is an independent school in Sausalito, California founded in 2008 with a focus on individualized education. The school serves students in Marin County and North San Francisco. In its seventeenth year of operation, the New Village School provides experiential education from preschool through 8th grade.

Mission

Meinir Davies, co-founder of the New Village School, described the school's approach: "We're not teaching to the test. We're teaching to the child. We're looking at the whole child." The New Village School strives to create a nurturing learning environment that enables students to become intellectually curious, resilient, and joy-filled lifelong learners. The school encourages students’ intellectual, social, and emotional growth as they pass through distinct stages of development, from childhood to adulthood. "Every day starts with movement and singing…All of the energy helps them to wake up for the day."Creative play and movement in the early years is followed by arts-infused academic learning and intellectual inquiry.

Campus

The campus is located on the North side of Sausalito at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and provides private outdoor spaces for all ages and a produce garden managed by the children and teachers, as well as access to a large grass field, a softball field/backstop, and a 1/3 mile track area. In October 2021, the Sausalito City Council unanimously approved the New Village School to “expand a preschool program” and “use more outdoor space on the campus.”. The New Village School also owns a sustainable farm in Novato that students visit regularly during the Classroom Without Walls (outdoor education) program.

Curriculum

The New Village School prioritizes small class sizes, meaningful and rigorous academics, media minimalism and a screen-free childhood, and an emphasis on social-emotional learning. The academic program provides a broad and rigorous curriculum in math, art, science, and the humanities and features extensive travel opportunities. The New Village School teaches in a way that is developmentally appropriate for the student’s age. The holistic educational philosophy aims to instill a strong sense of self and community. Through a curriculum that imparts geographical, historical, and cultural orientation, the school prepares the students for the challenges of high school and the journey of life itself. One of the cornerstones is the "block" system of teaching, where students immerse themselves in a single subject for an extended period, creating a deep and meaningful connection with the content. The New Village School recognizes that the most meaningful learning occurs when students engage with the world directly. The Classroom Without Walls program is designed to provide students with authentic, hands-on experiences that complement and enhance their academic studies. By venturing off-campus at least once a week, starting in Kindergarten, students learn to see the world as their classroom, full of endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Student life

The New Village School offers a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community.

Parents play a crucial role in their child’s education. They encourage parental involvement through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and school events. By fostering a strong partnership between home and school, they create a supportive network that benefits the child’s overall development.

The school holds a Winter Fair, Festival of Lights, and the Cherry Blossom Festival, among other celebrations.

External links

• New Village School