petpics

YADKIN VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL

It’s mission: to develop a unique educational environment that fosters the whole child by encouraging academic excellence, joy of learning, creativity, curiosity, mindfulness, self-empowerment and community awareness. WRITER Cindy Martin

Imagine beginning your school day with a morning hike to observe the wonders of nature while studying the water cycle or identifying leaves or trees or budding plants. At Yadkin Valley Community School, the primary students do just that. This K-8 school offers small, multi-age classrooms with a Montessori-based curriculum. Learning is hands-on and the children progress at their own pace.

Each student is regarded as a unique individual, with lessons designed specifically for them. This student-led learning is an education style that emphasizes selfdirected education, creativity, and discovery, rather than rote memorization or traditional lecture-style education. Students are encouraged to incorporate their own interests into projects, within a set of broad guidelines. There is no homework or end-of-the-grade testing.

Yadkin Valley Community School helps children grow academically, socially, and emotionally by providing enriching opportunities both in and out of the classroom. They utilize the parks and trails in and around Elkin, as well as capitalizing on local resources available. Another curricular highlight for the students is participating in the Science Olympiad, a K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competition that elevates science education to the level of support and enthusiasm typically reserved for school sports. “Whether the children are working with Montessori materials, crushing it at the Science Olympiad, or exploring the environment around them, they are always learning and having fun,” Kimberly Seipel-Parks, Administrator, explained.

Although COVID was raging, the school remained full-time this past year by swapping their indoor classroom for one outdoors and bringing new experiences to the students through virtual field trips. “The students continued to learn, explore, and create,” Seipel-Parks proffered. “We focused on keeping our students and staff safe and healthy, while meeting each child’s academic and emotional needs and staying true to our educational philosophy.”

When the students complete their studies at Yadkin Valley Community and transition to a traditional school setting, they are academically and socially well-prepared. During their eight plus years, these pupils have developed self-confidence and a sense of independence, while honing their time management skills. They become responsible leaders of learning. For them, the future looks bright.

Yadkin Valley Community School is located at 246 East Main Street in Elkin, NC. Anyone interested in applying or getting more information should visit their website at www.yadkinvalleyschool.org or call 336-526-2625. Yadkin Valley Community School’s staff includes: Kimberly Seipel-Parks – Administrator and K-2nd grade teacher; Kathy Neumark – Teaching Assistant; Joe Dougherty – 3rd-5th grade and Middle School Science teacher; Perry Lloyd – Middle School Language Arts and Cultural Studies teacher.