January 29, 2010
We have received a lot of positive feedback regarding the August 2011 launch date for 6th grade and our expansion through grade 8. In addition, many parents have asked some great questions about what 6-8 grade will look like at Cliff Valley School. Below is a FAQ sheet that will provide you with some important information. We will have some information sessions later this winter to fill in the details that are not included in the FAQ. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I’d love to talk with you about this exciting new development at Cliff Valley School.
Have a great weekend!
6-8 Expansion FAQ
Why is Cliff Valley School expanding?
We have heard for some time that our parents and the community want "more Cliff Valley," and we are excited about this important step in our school’s growth. Our Board of Trustees included expansion through 8th grade in Cliff Valley School’s five-year strategic plan that was approved in May 2009.
When will expansion begin?
The program expansion will begin in August 2011 with the launch of 6th grade. We will add 7th grade in the fall of 2012 and 8th grade in the fall of 2013.
The facilities expansion will begin with the goal that new facilities are complete by the fall of 2012. We are currently working with architects to design the next phase of construction for our campus that includes plans for classrooms, a science lab, a music room, and a gym with a stage for performing arts. More details and information about facilities expansion will be available throughout this spring.
Where will 6th – 8th grade classes be?
For at least the first year, the 6th grade class will be upstairs in our current facility. This will require that we repurpose some of our current classrooms both upstairs and down. Grades 6-8 will be in new classroom space following the facility expansion.
Is Cliff Valley adding a Middle School?
No, Cliff Valley is extending its programs to become a preschool through grade 8 school. Although programs will be different and developmentally appropriate for grades 6-8, those classes will not be considered a separate middle school.
What is influencing the design of the 6th – 8th grade program?
Our new programs will be consistent with our current mission and philosophy. In addition, research and best practices on quality programming for adolescents (ages 10-15) from sources like the National Association of Middle Schools will guide decisions and practices.
Will there be sports?
Yes. Our goal is to offer lacrosse, soccer, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, flag football, basketball, volleyball, and cross country once we have enough students and interest to support these sports. Our students will compete with other schools and we will also explore partnerships with other organizations for sports like soccer, tennis, and swimming.
Who will teach those grades?
Teachers in our 6th – 8th grade program will be content specialists – teachers who specialize in math, language arts, science, and social studies. Cheryl Keshner, our current 5th grade teacher, is a middle school content specialist with experience teaching at that level, and she will teach in grades 6-8. New teachers hired for this program will be experienced content specialists who understand our mission and philosophy and are dedicated to providing high quality instruction for adolescent students. Head of School Michael Edwards will be the lead administrator for grades 6-8 during the expansion, and he is a content specialist for grades 5-12 and has experience teaching those grades as well.
What will the curriculum be like?
The curriculum will be college preparatory and designed to prepare students for top independent and public high school programs. It will be based on national and independent school standards, differentiated to meet students’ academic needs, and implemented in small groups. Students will have regular access to their teachers after school for academic support.
Students in grades 6-8 will continue to have the outstanding enrichment programs offered in grades K-5: music, art, Spanish, PE, and Outdoor Classroom. They will have drama experiences as well, both musical and theater. Enrichment classes will continue to be highly integrated with academic studies.
How will students in grades 6-8 use technology?
Students in grades 6-8 will use laptop computers in their classes for work and research. They will develop skills in software applications and have opportunities to learn introductory computer programming skills.
What will be the tuition for grades 6-8?
Tuition for grades 6-8 will be approximately the same as the tuition for grades K-5.
January 8, 2010
Optimism in 2010
I don’t know about you, but I have a great feeling about twenty-ten. As you read in the Cliff Hanger, we have a lot of good momentum at Cliff Valley School as we work toward meeting the objectives in our strategic plan, specifically the extended day options for preschoolers beginning next fall, the program expansion through 8th grade, and expansion of our facilities. If you are interested in knowing more about the strategic plan and vision for the school, you can read the plan in its entirety on our website: http://www.cliffvalleyschool.org/userfiles/File//cvs%20strat%20plan.pdf.
If you ever have any questions about the school’s future, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to meet with and talk to you. Also, as you look at our plan and future goals, if you are particularly interested in or passionate about a certain objective or aspect of the plan, please let me know. I would love to find a way to put your interest and passion to work to help us move forward.
Stay tuned for updates and information as the year unfolds. I look forward to sharing exciting news about our plans and progress throughout this new year.
Michael
December 18, 2009
As 2009 comes to an end, it’s a good time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. We have much to be thankful for at Cliff Valley School -- actively involved and supportive parents, eager and enthusiastic students, talented teachers, and a dedicated board of trustees guiding us into the future. There’s also much to be excited about for the upcoming year. Here’s a brief list:
Top 10 Things to Look Forward to at Cliff Valley School in 2010
10. The Talent Show in February
9. Michael’s Halloween costume
8. Viva la Vida – the 2010 Auction
7. More buddy relationships between older and younger students
6. Summer fun, including great programs at Cliff Valley
5. The 5th grade trip to Costa Rica
4. Extended day programming for preschoolers
3. Welcoming new students and families to Cliff Valley School
2. More details about and plans for our 6th-8th grade expansion
1. An outstanding educational experience for students and families
Thank you for your support of and commitment to Cliff Valley School. Have a wonderful winter break and best wishes for the new year. We’ll see you in January!
Michael
December 4, 2009
Friday Assemblies at Cliff Valley School
You’ve probably noticed that parking is a challenge on Friday mornings. That’s because every Friday from 8:40-9:00am the elementary students gather in the library for the weekly assembly. Parents are always welcome to attend – preschool parents, too. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the entire K-5 student body, feel our school spirit, hear about what’s been going on in school that week, and sing the Cliff Valley School song.
I think one of the best aspects of the assemblies is the opportunity it affords students to develop their public speaking skills. Throughout the year, students from all classes have multiple chances to get in front of their peers, teachers, and parents (approximately 150 people) and talk about a project they are working on in class or a field trip their class has taken. Although the audience is large, it’s a safe and supportive environment for students to become comfortable and gain confidence with public speaking. It’s great to see how this skill develops in students over the years, and I love it when I can ask an upper elementary student to share something at an assembly just moments before it begins and see them confidently get in front of the group and do a great job.
In addition to student presentations, we also have guest artists perform at assemblies. Most frequently from the Young Audiences program, the artists come and share music, performances, or stories that are directly connected to a subject being studied by one of the elementary classes.
We also dedicate some time each week for acknowledgments. This is a time for students to recognize their peers or for teachers to recognize students for something noteworthy from the week. It could be that some students worked very hard in class or achieved a particular goal, or friends worked together to solve a problem or support each other. The students’ sincerity and their heartfelt acknowledgments make this a special part of the morning.
Students enjoy and benefit from assemblies, as do parents. Many parents make it a regular part of their weekly routine and talk about how uplifting assemblies can be. If you’ve never been, you should come sometime. I’d love to see you there.
Michael
November 6, 2009
What an amazing fall it’s been at Cliff Valley School! Our new strategic plan has resulted in palpable excitement in the community, and events like class socials, Grandparents’ Mornings, and the Fall Festival have provided wonderful opportunities for students, parents, and friends to enjoy Cliff Valley and our community. November is the beginning of admissions season, which is our opportunity to share the Cliff Valley School experience with prospective families – something we love to do. Our best advertising is word of mouth, so if you know of friends or families who may be interested in Cliff Valley School, please encourage them to check out our website, come to an open house, or call the school for more information. I appreciate the role you play in communicating good news about Cliff Valley and attracting new families to our community.
Have a great weekend.
Michael
October 16, 2009
Fall is here and with it come a lot of fun activities at Cliff Valley School: the book fair next week, storytelling night on the 23rd, Grandparents' mornings the week of the 26th, the Halloween parade on the 30th, and fall festival on November 1st. I'd like to thank the many parent volunteers who work very hard to help with these events. We could not do it without you!
Not only is the fall a time for fun, it's a great opportunity to strengthen and expand our community as grandparents spend time with their loved ones and get to know the school better, parents meet other parents and develop new friendships, and students enjoy each other's company outside of the classroom setting. I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to spend some additional time at Cliff Valley, enjoy the activities and company of others, and in doing so, help keep our community vibrant and strong.
Have a great weekend and please let me know if you have any questions.
Michael
September 25, 2009
Class Socials -- Just the Beginning
As you know, we have had a series of class socials over the past six weeks with almost one social for every class. We've received positive feedback about the events and parents have really enjoyed them. I recently talked with a family who was inspired by the class social to try to have more class get-togethers throughout the year. This is just what we were trying to accomplish with these events: encourage parents to get together so that they can meet other parents, interact, and develop new friendships and relationships. Please consider hosting your own class social sometime this year and know that I appreciate your effort in developing the Cliff Valley School community.
Have a great weekend.
Michael
September 18, 2009
I hope you had a chance to attend the open houses the past two weeks. Please remember to email the teachers with any questions or concerns regarding the class or your child.
Very soon we will be posting the five-year strategic plan on the website. If you missed the strategic plan presentations or have any questions about the strategic plan, please feel free to email or call me, or you can reach out to Bob Byrd or Miriam Patterson, co-chairs of the board of trustees. (robertbyrd@yahoo.com, miriamgp@comcast.net)
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Have a great weekend!
Michael
September 4, 2009
I hope you have a wonderful, long holiday weekend with your child. If you are looking for something to do, include a trip to the library on Saturday and spend some time with your child looking for books that you can share together. One of the best things parents can do for their children is read to them on a regular basis. While parents of young children often do this, it is important for parents to continue to read to and with their children even after they have learned to read. It's a wonderful opportunity to model skills like good reading fluency and reading with expression. You can also stop along the way to engage your child in a conversation - What do you think will happen next? How do you think that character feels? Why do you think the author wrote this story? are great open-ended questions to explore with your child. In addition, you are demonstrating to your child that you value reading, books, and most importantly, sharing meaningful time with them. What better way to spend a long weekend.
See you next week.
Michael
August 28, 2009
Another excellent first week of school! Thank you, preschool parents, for the role you played to make it a smooth beginning of the school year. The preschool teachers spent a lot of time and effort preparing for the week, and as usual did a wonderful job creating inviting and nurturing environments in their classrooms to help with the transition back to school. Nice work, everyone!
Parents, we are striving to do an outstanding job communicating with you. The teachers are available to address your questions and concerns regarding your child and classroom issues, and they would love to hear from you. You can email them your questions or to set up a time to meet or talk on the phone. Please remember that the teachers are focusing on the children from drop-off until pick-up, so please schedule a time to talk with them outside of the school day.
As a faculty and staff we pride ourselves on being responsive to parents and creative problem-solvers, but the first step is knowing if there are any questions, problems, or suggestions. If you have questions regarding program issues outside of your child's class, please contact Ann Gorelow for preschool issues and Lori Jackson for elementary issues. Any school-wide questions, comments, or concerns can come directly to me, and I'd love to hear from you.
Have a great weekend!
Michael
August 21, 2009
It's always exciting to begin a new school year, particularly at Cliff Valley School. Teachers and staff return to work in August with smiles on their faces and enthusiasm for another terrific year - it's a positive energy that's infectious. Add to that the eagerness of students who wait in line outside of the building on the first day of school, and you have a recipe for the wonderful climate and learning community that is Cliff Valley School.
Please be sure to look at the school calendar for upcoming events. August and September are very busy with exciting back-to-school related events, and we want to make sure you have the opportunity to attend. Something else to note is that Bob Byrd and Miriam Patterson, co-chairs of the board of trustees, and I will be presenting Cliff Valley School's new five-year strategic plan to parents prior to the open houses on September 9th, 15th, and 16th. The presentations will begin at 6:30pm and take place in the library. We hope you can make it.
If you ever have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email, call, or stop by. I'd love to hear from you.
Michael
