Independent school carves its own approach

Welcome to the Mountain River School, where Stowe’s recreation trails, streams and mountains are viewed as classrooms and a holistic curriculum nurtures students’ social and emotional development as well as their intellectual growth.

In addition to reading, writing and math, students study yoga, music, foreign languages and art.

Upon entering the tranquil classroom each morning, they ponder a question such as, “How do you feel today?” Or, “Where do you feel most peaceful?”

The nonprofit independent school opened last week on Mountain Road in Stowe, in the same building as Phoenix Table and Bar.

Nine students are enrolled in a kindergarten and first-grade mixed classroom; there are plans to expand to a K-12 school over time.

Last year, school founders Kary Bennett and Rebecca LaScolea decided to create the type of education program they wanted for their children when they realized such a program didn’t exist locally.

LaScolea, a Stowe resident, has a son enrolled at the Mountain River School and Bennett, who lives in Morristown, has a daughter enrolled.

Parent interest

Earlier this year, Bennett and LaScolea conducted online surveys to gauge local interest in an independent school and to find out the qualities parents would like to see in such a school.

They received close to 100 completed surveys, showing there was considerable interest in a school that emphasized experience-based learning and whose curriculum focused on outdoor education.

Milan Kubalova enrolled his daughter at the school in part because he believes it will “build her confidence and nurture her passion for learning.”

“When I think about the skills I use every day, I realize I didn’t learn them in a classroom, but rather through trial and error, discovery and experience,” Kubalova said. “When I heard Mountain River School was an option for my daughter, it was a no-brainer.”

Jessica Hennessey has two daughters enrolled at the school and points to studies showing that, with ample play and outdoor time, students learn better and faster.

“I love that my children will develop a love for nature and beauty through outdoor play and artistic activity this year,” Hennessey said. “I believe the integration of movement, art, music, science and nature will give my children the opportunity to fully develop their abilities and appreciate each subject for its substance and beauty.”

LaScolea and Bennett chose the school’s location, in part, because it’s easily accessible from points north and south of Stowe.

It has drawn students from Stowe, Waterbury, Morristown and Johnson.

The building sits along the Stowe Recreation Path and has a large area that has been turned into a fenced-in natural play space. A parent of one student created climb-on structures from logs harvested from his land.

Inside the building, the classroom space features locally made furniture, nontoxic craft supplies, wooden shapes for counting, wooden cards for matching games and lots of books.

There’s a cozy reading nook and a glassed-in sun porch where yoga and art lessons take place.

“We’ve done a lot to make the space feel like home,” LaScolea said.

Students bring their own silverware and hand towels to reduce paper and plastic waste.

“Our vision is about teaching sustainability,” LaScolea said.

Personalized learning

The school uses Lucy Calkins' curriculum for reading and writing.

LaScolea and Bennett want to make sure that, when it comes to learning, Mountain River School embraces students’ unique passions.

With two teachers and nine students, the student-teacher ratio is low.

“One of the advantages is they can individualize the curriculum for each of the children,” LaScolea said.

Children arrive between 8 and 8:45 a.m. and can choose to be inside or outside before school starts. Activities — from morning meeting to reading, writing and science workshops — can take place inside or outside.

Students spend at least two hours outside each day. This winter, a school van will transport students to Trapp Family Lodge for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, or to Stowe Mountain Resort for downhill skiing. They will also use the van to visit the Montshire Museum in Norwich and other places. Next spring, they’ll plant a garden.

“Parents who send their children here know they’ll be outside a lot,” LaScolea said. “Winter is just another opportunity to be out in nature.”

The discoveries students make in the fields and woods surrounding the school often bring classroom lessons to life.

“The other day, they read a book about crickets and then they went out into the meadow where there were thousands of crickets,” LaScolea said.

“They’re making connections.”

Information: mountainriverschool.org.