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Tuition aside, the school is amazing. Jo Ellis (head-of-school) is a real find. She get's it. She has vision, seeks to blend head/heart in the classroom, understands the needs of gifted kids (skew of high performance in one subject, poor in another, for some difficulty in sitting at a desk all day, ask 'too many' questions), willing to make personnel changes when warranted, absurdly responsive to parent concerns, long term thinker, and former veteran teacher. In class, the teacher ratio allows each child to work at their level (whether above/below/same as others). Project-based learning makes learning more fun and real-world (no death by worksheet). Great place for active learners. You'll see kids standing, sitting, lying on floor doing their work-all acceptable. Great place for a bright child that doesn't conform well to traditional classroom environment. Our child loved the time spent there.
Our daughter is finally happy and thriving, thanks to Helios. She was counting down the days of winter holiday until she could go back to her Grade 1 class! The teachers are so responsive and respectful, letting the children guide the curriculum but also providing a wealth of their own amazing ideas and a safe, comfortable structure for the children. The constructivist school philosophy matches our desire to have our daughter continue to think independently and question the world around her. We are so thrilled to have found such a fantastic school and highly recommend it, especially when the special needs of gifted children come into play.
Helios New School honor children as active learners. Our son is not stuck behind a desk like he would be in a traditional classroom. Instead he is on the floor telling the group a story using animal figures, 'working' in the clinic he and his peers set up in the classroom, writing a book to add to the library, singing with the music specialist or learning math 'hands-on' (no worksheets here). Our son now sings 'Happy Birthday' to family members in Mandarin. The best way I have found to describe his experience at Helios is to say that 'his brain is on fire'! The teachers are flexible and ready to explore new ideas. They make the children feel brilliant and honor each child as an individual. Yes, the school is small but the backbone of the school is strong, with great professional support. The parents are very active and welcomed!
I visited this school and wasn't all that sure until I met some parents outside, waiting for their children. They spoke very highly of the school and the projects that these kids were doing sounded amazing - I wish I could have gone to a school like this! But the best part was when the children were whining and crying that they didn't want to leave!!!!! The parents love this school and the kids love it even more. I'm sold on it. I have visited lots of schools in the area and this is where I want my daughter to attend.
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