New outdoor alternative school needs more students to continue operating

Jason G.

Express

It’s been nearly a year since Roots School — a private educational alternative for students in pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 — launched and its director hopes enrolment grows so the program sees a second year.

The school opened in September 2022 at 52 High Street West — adjacent to A & L Royal International based, holistic-focused institution follows the Saskatchewan curriculum but focuses on immersive, hands-on projects and learning in nature.

Roots School has now moved into the basement of A & L’s new home at 502 Sixth Avenue Northeast. The program has access to three classrooms, a kitchen, and big windows to grow vegetables.

Amy Cojocar, founder and director of Roots School,uring out how to run a private school and seeing students

For students who came with learning or behavioural “issues,” a change in the learning environment — being

For example, a mother moved her nine-year-old son to Moose Jaw from Regina to attend the school, the diself-esteem, but — because the school held classes in na-

Other parents also told Cojocar how much their children grew, especially in their emotional maturity, conemotional skills is a big focus for the school.

Cojocar said.

One big success the school experienced was receiving from Carpere Canada a free acre (0.4 hectares) of forest land on the former Valley View Centre site for outdoor learning. The school acquired a grant to build a medicine circle garden while it is pursuing another grant to convert a shed into an open-air classroom.

“That’s been a huge win because that (land) took a long time to secure … ,” said Cojocar. “The owners really connected with the vision and wanted to support it.” it meets its operating goals and educational milestones, it will qualify for independent school funding up to 80 per cent. year and put in countless hours so their kids could have this school,” she said.

This year, Roots School’s main challenge was funding its operations, which it must do again in 2023-24 before the Ministry of Education provides funding in 202425, Cojocar said.

Fundraising — such as the Vivid Fun Run and Halloween Hustle — was more time-consuming than Cojocar thought since it was a full-time job on top of everything else. She thought the fundraising activities negatively affected the school’s image since they took the focus off what the school offers.

Due to the fundraising required, some parents said they would only send their kids in the third year when the province starts providing money. However, Cojocar pointed out that they should join now, otherwise, the private institution won’t reach its third year.

Ten more students must enrol for the school to succeed. Tuition is $900 per month, which parents can pay completely, or they can pay $300 per month and fundraise the rest. Part-time studies are also available, which could a week.

Roots School approaches education by meeting each child where he or she is, determining their interests and how their “unique brain” works — not everyone learns them, Cojocar explained.

Furthermore, the private institution views teachers as facilitators who guide students to the answers — there is plenty of child-led learning — instead of simply delivering information, she added. Kids also learn by doing things — making bows during math class, for example — instead of just reading textbooks.

Parents can enrol their kids through the school’s booth during Wakamow Valley’s farmer’s markets on Saturdays.