Maybe a friend told you about us or you saw a post on your Facebook parent group or another school sent us your way. However you made it this far you are wondering what a Microschool is and more specifically what our school is. And this is a big question when you thinking of school choice in the Portland metro area. The best answer is why families, much like your own, have reached out to us. Because ultimately it is our community that drives our direction. So to give a sense of where our community is headed let us tell you about the people. We are hearing from families who have tried or looked closely at their neighborhood school and either find the class size too large, the curriculum inflexible, or the environment very standard. Families worry about safety from experience or headlines. Or they have found that their child is bored or sensitive or needs more relationship based instruction (we mention this a lot around the website). In a lot of cases the parents are seeking that relationship too, face time with their child's teacher even if just to hear an anecdote at the end of the day or to get sent photos of the daily happenings. Some come because they want an alternative but they cannot homeschool (there's so many approaches! Who has the time! I can't build the village!), parochial options don’t suit their family, or they want something non-standardized but alternative/progressive spaces aren’t quite the fit either. Many alternative programs on one side of the spectrum come with a lifestyle and all the way on the other side you find traditional spaces can leave you at a desk for a lot of the day.
The people that land here? Well, they are looking for a balance where research backed curriculum and child directed experiences. Their child needs a program with routine and with flexibility and there just aren't many schools that fall in the middle. Either you spend most of the day at the desk or you have a guide instead of a teacher which can leave some kids without boundaries or direction. Everyone thinks their child is special, and yes yes every child is, but Bright parents see that what makes their kids special might take off given the right environment. A common thread is the value families are placing on these early years. This is a chance to protect the playful, joyful aspects of learning.
Lastly, community matters! Who do you want to stand around with at a birthday party?
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