New blog address!

Hello friends,
Rising Tide School's blog has moved to www.risingtideschool.wordpress.com!  We are enjoying the improved formatting capabilities at wordpress and will continue our weekly updates there.  Head on over and subscribe!

Learning is Serious Fun

Because all activities at Rising Tide School are equally valued, anything and everything can become a platform for serious learning. It doesn't matter if a student's curiosity is sparked by an academic subject or by paper airplanes. Any aspect of our wide, fascinating world works wonderfully as a springboard for questioning, trying, practicing, modeling, making mistakes, failing, getting resources, trying again, and eventually succeeding. These students amaze me as they strive to learn as much as possible and to do the most excellent work possible, every day. Why? Nobody tells them to learn and to try over and over until they succeed, but they do it anyway. Nobody tells them to schedule a class or to spend several hours testing different models of airplane. They make the commitment of their time and energy because they want to. Their choice of learning platform is often "nontraditional" but the learning is always as serious as it gets. Seeing them at their work/play, I increasingly trust that this dedication to learning is not something that can be taught. It is simply, wonderfully, human nature. All that's needed is the space to let it unfold.

Considering your Choices in Education?

Rising Tide School is hosting a January Open House this Sunday, January 31st, from 1:30-3:30pm. Parents, prospective students, siblings, and interested community members are all welcome to get informed about Sudbury education and enrolling at Rising Tide School. Join us at the school, 114 20th Ave SE in Olympia, for conversation and information.

We'll also be at the 1st Annual Olympia Area Private School Fair. This event is on Saturday, January 30th, from 1-3 pm at 1601 North Street in Olympia.

Can't make it this weekend? You can contact the school to schedule an Admissions Tour at a time that's convenient for you. We are excited to share our thriving, growing school with you!

2010

2010 has begun with lots of new energy and activity at school. Emmett and Elijah, pictured above, are each flying a spaceship at hyperspeed to unknown galaxies, carrying precious cargo of captured aliens. The spaceships were built by several students out of folding chairs, cardboard blocks, and the benches from the lunch area. A pair of rainboots wielded by another student served as ship's guns. Deep in a state of flow, the players in extended creative games like this one are blissfully, totally, engaged throughout the school day.

The new year also brings new challenges for this vibrant little school to grow on. As a Staff member, I'm finding my own balance of engagement and letting-go as tensions arise among us. Noise and exuberant indoor play are one issue that we are all dancing with. How can the people who need to run and play loudly get their needs met in balance with the needs of people who need quiet and our landlords who work on the floor below us? School Meeting recently voted to keep the current school law which forbids running and rough-housing in the building. So how will the students who need to be physically exuberant create space for their activities in another constructive way? Likewise, the school's current internet capacity is stretched to the max. How will the people who need the internet take action to meet their needs? I'm challenged to be supportive and available without jumping in and solving the problem for others. I'm also reminded to slow down and take delight in the delicious learning that happens along the way!

If you haven't already, take a moment to subscribe to this blog via email or RSS. You'll get new posts in your inbox and stay up-to-date on school happenings. We expect a lot of growth and change as the school evolves this year and we want you to be a part of it! In expectation of a wonderful new year,

Abbe