good human beings who can work with other people in a positive and progressive way. “One of our missions is to provide excellence to diverse students,” Creeth said. “When you learn that your perspective is not the only one, you are able to develop empathy and understanding, which helps develop leadership skills.” She is passionate about dispelling the myth that a private school in Chesterfield does not have a diverse population. Based on the school’s religious and ethnic diversity, she says it definitely exists. And with scholarships available, based on need, the price of attending is not a barrier to entry. Parent involvement is critical. Parents are encouraged to walk the hallways and observe the classrooms in action. Using a portfolio tool that resides on parents’ phones as an app, parents can access updates and videos of their child’s work. This tool allows parents to have more in-depth conversations with their children beyond the typical exchange: “How was your day?” “Fine.” Parents also learn that their role in their child’s
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Out & About | Oct - Dec 2016
education is not to do homework. It is simply to make sure their child is fed and gets a good night’s sleep. Homework starts in second grade with 20 minutes of assigned work daily. Teachers add 10 minutes per grade as the child progresses through the school. The foundational piece of Chesterfield Day School is the Montessori model, which encourages independence, a sense of order, cooperation and coordination. By the time students transfer out of the Montessori portion in second grade, they are able to function on their own. Since a key principle of this model is mixed age groups, each student is able to learn at different rates, times and manners. Preschool consists of 3- to 5-yearolds; kindergarteners are in class with first-graders. “This mixed age concept allows for a culture of leadership early on,” Creeth said. “For example, the older kids do everything from teaching the younger ones how to tie a shoelace to showing them where their cubbies are. And it allows the 3-year-old to see the 5-year-old reading and aspire to do that.” As part of its goal to develop students who can
All pictures courtesy of Chesterfield Day School.
Mrs. Hoyt with a toddler student doing a matching work.