Sierra Nevada Children's Services

everyone appreciates the eclectic background of the teachers while getting to experience the beautifully unique methods of either Waldorf or Holistic Education?

eachers use a peaceful conflict resolution model in your child’s classroom?

your child is in school 3 days per week fostering a much greater balance between schooling and family?

the adults involved strive for simplicity, clarity and transparency in how they work together?

There is such a school here in Nevada County... I would like to share more.

This morning a friend of mine stopped by for a visit; it was quite ordinary in many ways – two mothers connecting in the kitchen. A little one playing near their feet, two cups of tea full then empty. In those few moments we shared a piece of homemade bread, our mutual joy about the sun shining brightly today over Nevada City, and our appreciation for the local farmers who grew the food we were eating. Yet something about her visit felt quite profound. Our time together, although so simple, was actually a rare gift in today’s fast paced world: we consciously made the space and time to connect deeply. We were ignoring the rate of speed that seems to be swirling around this world right now. We intentionally stood still in time. Even for just a bit.

This probably seems like an odd introduction to an article about Nevada City’s newest member on the alternative school circuit, but actually it’s very much what Nevada City’s newest school is all about. This richness that my friend and I shared this morning, taking a bit of time to step outside of todays usual hurried pace, to learn what was important to each other in that moment; this is the essence of the New Leaf School.

From the moment our first born started the first grade, he actually began to spend more weekday waking hours away from us than with us. We woke his younger brother and sister five days a week to get him to his school on time and we woke those same younger siblings from their afternoon rests to rush back and pick him up. We started to rush through our afternoons to fit it all in. We rushed to errands, rushed to a now and again play date, and rushed to fit in a visit to grandma or the nearby horse farm. We even found ourselves rushing to create quiet and space away from the rushed world.

Then, one day, about 2 years ago, our eldest spoke up and out of nowhere declared that he wanted to not only be home more, but to actually be home schooled. And I wasn’t sure where to go with his request.

The home school I had known about was the old paradigm; mom and children wrapped around the dining room table. I picture the mom teaching her eldest child reading, writing and arithmetic while trying to nurse her youngest child. At the same time, the middle child is learning her letters. I wondered if I could actually hold that space for my little ones. If I, who had never wanted to be a teacher, and in fact knew very little about how to bring academics to the school age child, could do it.

Was there a way that children could learn while being with a teacher-a strong and important model in their life- but could, at the same time, have a life that allowed a more natural rhythm for home, for family, for the passions and interests that even a very young person can have? Was there a way that children could learn while being with a teacher-a strong and important model in their life- but could, at the same time, have a life that allowed a more natural rhythm for home, for family, for the passions and interests that even a very young person can have? Could children possibly learn more information in less time if they were in a smaller academic setting?

One morning, my husband simply said, “Let’s just start a new way of doing it. Let’s create a hybrid of sorts: a community of parents who want freedom and flexibility for their family, but don’t necessarily see themselves being the solo teacher of all the academic pieces. Let’s create a hybrid school.” And that’s how New Leaf School started.

We called friends we’d known since our eldest was a tiny boy; their family had been homeschooling for a year and they were also looking for a more balanced way to educate their children. We liked their ideas; they liked our ideas. So we partnered up and quickly became rebels with a cause.

Our original conversation led to what is now New Leaf School. We currently offer classes for 5 through 11 year old children. If you are looking for a new way to educate your child and a way to be deeply involved in your child’s education and life, New Leaf might just be the school for you.

Please plan to join us at our next open house, February 13, 2008 from 3-5 at Camp Augusta. RSVP’s appreciated. Feel free to call (530) 470-9236 if you have specific questions about our learning initiative.

Thank you to our funders: