Learning Through Living: WHEW!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

WHEW!

Happy to be back at Sego Lily School!

All I can say right now, is WOW. We haven't had a week one like this for several years! After spending a year holding school in a temporary location (The Quaker Church on 4800 south) and another year setting in to our new home at 447 West 4800 South, we have finally had a much-needed growth spurt. September first was our first day back for the 2015-2016 school year, and we opened with 8 returning students and TEN visitors! Then we added another returning student on Thursday, and yet another this week. We still have seven more visitors in the wings who will be coming in soon (well, the first five will anyway, then we have to start a waiting list!). Needless to say, it has been a week of steep learning curves, high energy, dynamic activities, and so many art projects we could start a museum.

Some of our older students get the
opportunity to be preschool helpers.

There are many new things besides new faces! Over the summer, we rearranged our building to create a better traffic flow, moved our art supplies into a more public space, and designated a whole room to be used for our new preschool program! Two mornings a week, we welcome a group of 3-4 year olds, and their teacher Erin, to play with us. The early childhood program is a play-based learning environment, and is a time for our youngest students to have a little more direction and a lot more supervision. Our older students have enjoyed working alongside our preschoolers, helping them with projects as well as participating in their play. In addition, the redesign of our playroom has created a nurturing play space for all of our students when the little ones aren't at school.

Rebecca (staff) teaching scissor certification.

Honestly, the last two years have been hard on our school. It's hard to bring in new students when you don't have a real home. It's hard to watch friends move away, and not be replaced with new friends. And it's hard to have many great ideas that you just can't carry through with, due to time constraints and a scaled-back staff. It feels so amazing to be back to 'normal' - a whole lot of people running around and doing a whole lot of playing and learning.

One of our students teaching the others
how to make duct tape roses.

So... what are we up to now? Yes, lots of playing and learning, of course. Picking weeds out of the back yard. Meeting new friends, learning new rules, eating lunches, earning and spending Sego Lily Bucks, and of course playing some more. Two students have applied to graduate this year; three are taking math classes with Alyssa; eight people joined the Pet Corporation; pretty much everyone joined the Art Corporation.

Workshop Wednesdays are starting up again next week, beginning with Owls (Jen will teach about owls, we will dissect owl pellets, and more), and Fairy Villages (create houses and other things our our backyard fairy world). Odyssey of the Mind is having our first meeting for anyone interested on Thursday the 10th. Field trips are being planned. Our weekly Art Challenge Competition began today. Can you say BUSY!

Sometimes we just need a quiet moment
and a good book.

Some of us miss the quiet of days with only 7-8 students in house - I'm sure all of us at times, actually. Most of all, we are happy to be growing again. Now all we need is a magical money fairy to fund the next phase of our expansion, and we will be able to take even more students!

I want to again welcome all of the new families to our communities. To those returning families, I say thank you for sticking with us through the changes. It's exciting to be where we are now, and we look forward to what the future holds.

If you are interested in joining the Sego Lily School community, please join us for our next Open House on September 15th at 6pm. We have a few spaces for our regular program, as well as 3 openings in the preschool. Come play with us!

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About Our School

Children are naturally curious and want to learn. We feel it is the job of a school to nurture that curiosity. Providing our students with the time, facilities and support (when requested) to pursue their interests and unique talents is our ultimate goal.

Students of all ages can learn with and from each other. Children from age 4-18 mix freely at Sego Lily School.

Play is the language of children. Children of all ages learn through play. Play takes many forms, from a game of catch to a creative endeavor, but all forms of play are a valid and important part of a person’s development.

Learning happens everywhere, all of the time. Learning takes place in formal and informal settings, in large or small groups, with or without staff members or mentors, but all learning is initiated by the student.

Decisions should be made by the people they affect. Sego Lily School is run by the students and staff, through the weekly School Meeting. Each student and staff member has one equal vote in this managing body. The Judicial Committee, also composed of students and staff, handles rule infractions. Parents have a role in setting school policies through the Assembly, which meets annually or as needed.

FAQs

1. How do children learn at Sego Lily School?
Children are naturally curious and want to learn about their environment. When a student is given the responsibility for his education, as well as the freedom, support, and respect needed to fulfill his goals, learning begins to take place as a natural byproduct of all activities. Children challenge themselves and each other as they gain confidence and learn new skills.

2. Will my child learn everything she needs to know?
The basic knowledge of reading, writing, and math that are used by adults on a daily basis cannot be avoided by a student who is experimenting with her interests and passions. There will come a time for each student when learning these skills becomes essential to pursuing the path she is following. Allowing children to follow their own time lines can actually increase their learning curves – when motivated to read, for example, a child will throw herself into the task, learning more quickly than a child who is being told, “Now is the time to learn this.”

3. Do the students really run the school?
Yes! Students and staff work together to run the Sego Lily School. The students and staff members each have one vote in the weekly School Meeting and make all decisions needed for the school to run smoothly, including passing laws, allocating funds, and hiring staff. The Judicial Committee, composed of students and staff, handles rule infractions. School Meeting members also have a vote in the Assembly, the larger voting body which includes parents and board members, in making policy decisions such as setting tuition rates and approving the annual budget.

4. How does graduation work?
Each student, upon completing the requirements for graduation, must write and present a thesis. The topic of this thesis is “I am prepared to become a responsible adult in society.” The student must defend this thesis at the annual meeting of the Assembly. After receiving a favorable vote from Assembly members, students will receive a Certificate of Graduation. State regulations in Utah do not allow us to be accredited or to issue official state diplomas. However, most colleges will accept graduation certificates from non-accredited schools or a GED.

5. What about college?
Many students will want to continue their educations with some form of higher learning – college, university, or trade school. For these students, the statistics from the Sudbury Valley School (SVS) are in their favor! 90% of students that attended SVS from 1968 to 2004 went on to some form of secondary education. Most of these students were accepted into the school of their first choice. Students simply take their SATs and write essays for their applications, and interview with administrators when necessary. Usually a certificate of graduation is adequate for admissions. Current statistical trends in higher education suggest that having an “alternative” education is actually a benefit in the admissions process. Many prestigious schools such as Harvard and Yale Universities are looking for students who can do much more than learn what is placed in front of them. We are happy to support our students in any way we can with their application process.