Sweetgrass School offers an integrated learning experience That is entirely unique in the Bozeman area.

OUr Mission

To encourage the intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and creative growth of children through meaningful connections with the outside world and integrated learning experiences that promote student voice, community mindedness, creative and collaborative problem solving, critical thinking, and stewardship. We encourage our students to embrace differences and celebrate individual strengths as they expand their independent thinking and grow as compassionate, curious, and confident beings.

OUr Vision

Students recognize themselves as thoughtful, creative, and engaged global citizens, stewards of intellectual freedom, and as advocates for themselves, each other, the broader community, and the natural world. We embolden our students to take risks and let their voices be heard by honoring their ideas, exploring their interests, and cultivating a classroom culture of mutual respect and support. The student experience intertwines with the greater Bozeman community. In response to curriculum, we invite experts (e.g. local artists, ranchers, fishing guides, engineers, community organizers, etc.) into our classrooms. Students learn directly through integrated, authentic experiences, and are empowered to engage meaningfully with the world beyond the classroom walls.

CORE BELIEFS Of SWEETGRASS SCHOOL

• The learning experience should be dynamic and joyful for all students.

• Students should be honored and celebrated for their strengths.

• The learning environment should not be contained to a traditional classroom space but instead flow into the natural environment and surrounding community.

• Childhood is precious. The school experience should enrich and reinforce the magic of being a child.

• Students should receive appropriate, individualized supports for areas of need.

• Education should nurture a deep appreciation, care, and enthusiasm for new experiences, new people, and new ideas.

• Learning how to think critically and ask meaningful questions is integral to the learning process.

• Children are inherently capable and should be encouraged to take developmentally appropriate risks to support development.

• School should foster an environment that supports self-confidence, integrity, compassion, creativity, activism, courage, curiosity, happiness, empathy, responsibility, kindness, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth, and ethical citizenship.

• Students should be provided with a range of artistic and creative opportunities and endeavors that expand their ability to communicate and represent their thinking and learning, support the development of new skills, and celebrate the act of learning.

• Classroom design should encourage the independence of students by making learning materials available, accessible, and valued.

• Diversity stimulates a deeper consciousness about humanity and promotes the development of compassion, mindful curiosity, and a critical awareness of the similarities and differences that connect all humans and also make us unique beings.

• A rigorous integrated curriculum incorporates social studies, literacy, math, science, foreign language, woodworking, fine arts, traditional arts, performance arts, music, blocks, movement & physical education, outdoor living skills, and play.

• Whole-school traditions unite the student body and encourage the development of supportive relationships.

• Time spent outside is critical. It is good for the body and for the mind and it brings deeper meaning to the learning experience.

• Small classroom size allows learning experiences to be tailored to meet the needs of both individual learners and the classroom community.

• Educators should actively work to increase their efficacy as instructors by keeping themselves involved in the learning process and exploring new research, teaching and learning strategies, philosophies, pedagogies, and materials.

THE PROGRESSIVE MODEL

As with the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly often witnessed in the classroom, child development occurs in a distinct progression with subtle, but vastly important variations in stage duration. Progressive educators are tasked with creating a learning environment that is optimal for children and directly responds to, and is reflective of, the needs of their students. It is common for the classroom environment or teaching structure to change from year to year as educators respond to the needs of new groups of students. Students in a progressive classroom are simultaneously viewed as learners, teachers, and classmates. Each student's unique abilities, interests, ideas, questions, needs, and cultural identity contribute to the classroom culture and the choices made by the teacher in regards to teaching tools. Progressive education emphasizes shaping curricula around student interests, social-emotional and intellectual growth, problem solving, critical thinking, experience-based learning, collaboration, and the balancing of personal needs with those of the community.

GOVERNANCE

In its founding year, Sweetgrass School will be a single-classroom, teacher-lead school wherein all academic curricula, interventions, collaborations, and experiences are designed and implemented by the core teaching faculty; a Board of Directors will be ensure that the school is meeting its mission, oversee strategic and organizational planning, financial management, resource development, and fundraising; and the Parents' Council will support faculty, plan special events, and represent the voices of the families. As the school grows, a Board of Faculty will be appointed by the teachers and will be responsible for all matters directly relating to students, curriculum planning, and admissions.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Sweetgrass School encourages community involvement and believes that children are positively impacted by the choice of parents/caregivers to be involved and engaged in their schooling. Our learning environment will be all the richer with the direct involvement of families in school operations, special programming, special events, and the student learning experience. Sweetgrass School seeks to build a thoughtfully engaged and inclusive community by welcoming the support and expertise of its grown-up members. Please be sure to share ways that you are interested and able to be involved!

FACULTY