Admissions Viewbook (2023-2024)

Northern Light School

ADMISSIONS VIEWBOOK

A Look Inside the Community & Culture at Northern Light School

A LITTLE BIT About Us

Northern Light School is a co-ed, independent day school located on an expansive 10-acre campus nestled in the beautiful Oakland Hills. Dedicated to young learners - toddlers through eighth graders - Northern Light School focuses on providing an empowering education for children from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Through our 30+ year commitment to Educating the Whole Child, we strive to provide a loving environment where students can thrive as learners, leaders, and engaged human beings.

“Northern Light is an extension of our family. From the first moment we walked through the halls, we could tell NLS was where we were meant to be. From the students to the faculty, everyone is treated with love and respect. Values, positive and affirming actions and habits are created here. We couldn’t have chosen a better place for our boys.” -Ariana, parent since 2013

THE HISTORY OF Northern Light School

Northern Light School was founded in 1989 by four women with a calling to make a Whole Child Education accessible to all children.

At Northern Light School, we cultivate an environment of positive expectation and collective responsibility between our students, their families, and our community of teachers and educators. Our children are encouraged to be compassionate, courageous, confident, and creative--four essential traits of a Northern Light School student and graduate. Northern Light School students know that their actions create consequences-that what they do and how they do it matters--and they are taught daily to give rise to that which will generate the most positive outcomes and opportunities for everyone, everywhere.

WE ARE A VIBRANT

Preschool-8th Grade Community

“NLS is my family."

-Kaiden, alumni, class of 2022

“The small, tight-knit community provides a sense of family and home like no other place I’ve been before.”

_Thurston Gill, 1st Grade Teacher

“The warmth of the community, the diversity of the students, and the love from each of the administrative staff and the teachers our kids have had (and currently have) make us so grateful to have a place here.”

“I love the community NLS creates for our students. I love seeing the children care as much about the world as they do their grades. This flows from the top down at NLS.”

-Courtney, parent since 2012

“I love Northern Light because they make learning fun. Plus, I get to learn with all my friends!”

-Landen, 5th grade

-Isha, parent since 2017

“Northern Light is not just a school, it’s a community of driven educators that assist in making our children successful. We chose Northern Light because of the small class sizes and the dedication to the children learning not just the curriculum but about themselves. They learn to be a productive part of the community. They truly educate the whole child.”

-Michele, parent since 2014

“Tengo mi hija Génesis que empezó desde primer grado y ahora ya está en el grado 6 y esta muy contenta y motivada. Una de las cosas que más me gusta de la escuela es que las clases son pequeñas. También me gusta como los motivan me gusta la frase de la escuela qué nada es imposible. Así que como madre estoy muy contenta con la escuela y su personal.

-Rosa, parent since 2014

“I chose to teach at Northern Light because it’s a place where teachers can create curriculum that addresses the realities of the world students are navigating. Instead of being driven by testing, students are empowered to take charge of their education and make meaningful change in the community.”

-Dana Watchorn, 5th Grade Teacher

STARTING OUR DAY In Morning Circle

Morning Circle is a special gathering, held on Wednesdays and Fridays, when everyone comes together to celebrate all aspects of our community. It is a time for our students, faculty, and families to connect in community to develop and affirm our values. In Morning Circle we celebrate special days, honor cultural heritage, support student leadership and voice, discuss world events, host exciting performers, and so much more.

MONTESSORI

The Northern Light School Preschool program is designed to help children develop a joy for learning

discovery. This environment allows each child to develop at their own pace in several areas of study, which include Practical Life,

Language, Mathematics, and Cultural Experiences. Our program is designed to help nurture each child’s innate sense of curiosity and

with dedicated early

educators who stress

DAILY

LOWER SCHOOL

Kindergarten through 5th Grade

The Lower School program is designed to engage students as active participants in their education, drawing on their natural curiosity and developmental readiness to instill a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. We encourage students to pursue their interests and passions while fostering empathy, creativity, and collaboration.

Students are celebrated for their individual learning styles and abilities as teachers differentiate instruction to provide the right amount of challenge or scaffolding. In the classroom, teachers foster an appreciation for diversity through experiences that help young people develop their talents as emerging inventors, intellectuals, mathematicians, artists, and civic leaders.

“What I love most about Northern Light is that it’s a small school and everyone knows everyone, so it feels like family. With the class sizes being small, the teacher is able to spend more time with each student and not allow any student to struggle.”

-Jalen, 6th grade

Classes ENRICHMENT

"We chose Northern Light School because we agreed with the values they teach. The quote, "leave no child behind" is perfect because the faculty makes sure that all of the children rise to the occasion. My son has been going to this school since Pre-K and is now in the 8th grade. This school and faculty have challenged him to be the best he can be. The added bonus, we inherited an additional family. I walk into the school and feel like it’s my second home!!

-LaShanda, parent since 2013

At Northern Light School, our enrichment programming is designed around the development of the whole child, while providing a rich array of electives in the creative arts. Classes include Music, Spanish, Art, STEM, Dance, and more. Our enrichment program provides students with opportunities to strengthen their creativity and passions through diverse forms of self-expression infused with art, technology, language, movement, culture, and design.

“Ser parte de la comunidad escolar de Northern Light no solo me ayudó a crecer como persona, sino que también me permitió apreciar mi cultura, quién soy, y de dónde vengo. Sin NLS, no tendría la confianza, el sentido de comunidad y el conocimiento que tengo hoy. Estoy increíblemente agradecida por poder tener un hogar en NLS.”

-Carolina, alumni, class of 2017

MIDDLE SCHOOL

6th through 8th Grade

Middle School is a time when students are engaged in developing their identities, embracing increased independence, taking on new leadership roles, and building meaningful friendships. Our middle school program empowers students to express their talents and capacities through rigorous inquiry, real-world problem solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiences that nurture curiosity and critical thinking. Our academic program also highlights the connections between learning experiences at school and the outside world, so students graduate with the skills to effect meaningful change no matter what fields, passions, or projects they pursue.

"My favorite thing about Northern Light School is the teachers. They are super supportive in making sure that we understand the work. Also, they make learning fun.”

-Bryce, 8th grade

ATHLETICS Program

At Northern Light School, the Athletics Department is an extension of the Physical Education Department. The core values of our athletic program are learning fundamentals, fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship, and scholarship. Since 2016, Northern Light School has offered opportunities to participate in a variety of sports and has joined over 15 other East Bay Independent Schools in competing in intermural sports leagues.

Northern Light School offers an Extended Day program, both before and after school hours.

Our Extended Day is an extension of the regular school day and is designed to support and enhance the student experience with homework assistance, free choice, and arts programming. We are proud to offer an extended day program fully staffed by our dedicated faculty, who create and facilitate exciting enrichment programming focused around athletics, STEM, music, art, and more.

EXTENDED DAY Programming

Extended Care Hours

Morning Care Hours

7:00 am - 8:00 am

Afternoon Care Hours

3:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Each November, the election presents an opportunity to engage our students and community in The Future Voter’s Project, where we discuss themes of voting, civic engagement, and the power of voice.

A Legacy of CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Service learning and civic engagement is central to Northern Light’s mission. Through volunteer opportunities, Student Council, community dialogues, and mutual aid endeavors, students are taught the impact of leadership, problem solving, and activism on a local and global scale. Students regularly engage in projects and activities that highlight their perspectives and encourage them to be change makers. By empowering their voices and presenting opportunities for leadership, students feel a greater sense of ownership over their own experiences both inside and outside

SPEAKER SERIES Impossible is Nothing

Our Impossible is Nothing Speaker Series, a monthly lecture series instituted in 2005 for our middle school students, hosts a rotating roster of guest lecturers. Our guest lecturers represent some of the most accomplished individuals in the fields of the fine and performing arts, education, science and technology, medicine, sports, and philanthropy who share their words of wisdom, obstacles and accomplishments, and truly inspirational life stories with our community.

SOCIAL JUSTICE Curriculum, Community, Culture

We believe our school is stronger when we cultivate diversity, inclusion, and equity throughout our program.

We put this into practice by:

*Affirming diverse traditions, histories, and cultures

*Practicing culturally responsive pedagogy

*Embracing the values of tolerance, non-violence, and advocacy

*Integrating multicultural arts-based activities

*Parent engagement and community partnerships

"When you come to Northern Light, you are coming home because they treat you like family. There is a constant emphasis of engagement, inclusion, and being nurtured and loved.”

-Lupita, parent since 2014

STEM PROGRAM Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math

Part MakerSpace, part tech station, and part science studio, our STEM program is designed to support innovative, handson learning that prepares students to be inventors, creators, and problem-solvers. Students create with their hands, learning fabric and clay crafts, painting, and cardboard construction. They create with their minds, designing objects in Tinkercad for the 3D printer. Our STEM lab serves as a hub for creativity and discovery across key disciplines, one that encourages students to use a variety of tools and resources to solve real-world challenges.

CULTURAL INCLUSION Identity-Celebrating Programming

Inside a Northern Light School classroom you’ll find culturally inclusive programming that affirms and celebrates our diverse, multicultural community and beyond. Culture and identity are at the center of every day learning, encouraging students to feel a sense of belonging and creating a space where they feel safe, respected, and heard. Through diverse performers and storytellers, cultural art projects, antiracist curriculum, monthly heritage celebrations and more, we recognize the power of an inclusive environment that not only reflects our families but gives social and cultural context to all identities and voices.

BLACK HISTORY

Black history is American history. Students celebrate and honor the endless achievements, talents, and contributions of African Americans in America's history all year long. Black History Month is a time of focused unity, honor, tribute, and respect. During lockdown, our incredible Family Teacher Community (FTC) led our community in The NLS Black History Celebration: Expressions of Us 2.0: The Virtual Experience. Through speeches, essays, poems, spoken word, artwork, songs, dances and various other forms of expression we celebrated Black excellence through a powerful virtual community celebration.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION & FIELD TRIPS

Northern Light School is proud to offer a wide range of opportunities for students to explore the world outside the classroom walls. Field trips are designed to support relevant academic content, expose students to diverse experiences, and engage with the greater community. During their 8th grade year, students fundraise for a spring trip to Washington D.C that serves as a capstone of their Northern Light journey.

ALUMNI

Our Legacy

We are very proud of the young people who chose Northern Light School as their starting point for their bright future, from preschool to eighth grade and beyond. Northern Light School's high school graduates have gone on to pursue higher education and academic careers at prestigious colleges and universities, while blazing trails as community leaders and changemakers.

We are delighted to celebrate over 25 years of academic excellence and the graduates who have made our Oakland School the legacy it is today.

“Northern Light is a school for the mind and an education for the heart.”

-Brian, alumni, class of 2020

FACULTY & STAFF Our Dedicated & Dynamic

“Northern Light cares deeply about the academic success of students, which is evident by the challenging curriculum, the constant support and check in from the teachers, and the structure of classes that gives students the opportunity to learn beyond the essentials and dive deeper into their own interests.”

—Lindsey Parrott, Middle School History Teacher

OUR CAMPUS

Surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty, our expansive 10 acre campus is nestled in the Oakland Hills, just past the Oakland Zoo. Complete with outdoor classrooms, lush baseball field, and two seperate playgrounds, our campus sets the stage for a peaceful and inspiring learning environment.

ADMISSIONS Information & Process

We are thrilled that you are exploring Northern Light School as place for your child to

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through the admissions process, answer all

and help you learn about what makes Northern Light School such an extraordinary, empowering community.