| For those desiring an alternative to our public school systems, there are several private schools to consider. These include Mountain Pathways, Appalachian Christian School, and the Lucy Brock Child Development Program. Mountain Pathways School (MPMS), a Montessori school, was founded in 1987 by a group of parents and educators who wanted the High Country’s children to have an opportunity for interdisciplinary education that met the needs of the whole child. They sought to develop an educational atmosphere that would foster self-reliant, self-disciplined children who would grow to adulthood with a life-long love of learning, and the ability and desire to positively contribute to society. MPMS adopted the Montessori philosophy and curriculum in 1992. The values and concepts of the Montessori method were deemed a perfect fit as a vehicle to carry through the ideals imagined by the original founders. Since adoption of the Montessori curriculum, MPMS has continued to expand its enrollment and facilities, and mature in its educational philosophy and mission. Education at MPMS is seen as a cooperative venture where individual freedom is balanced with recognition of the rights of others. The community of learners includes students, families, teachers and friends interested in the children’s learning. MPMS begins by focusing on the whole child involving the social, emotional, physical, spiritual and aesthetic growth of the child, along with the development of intellectual skills and knowledge. The child’s personal learning style and rate of learning are met with instructional strategies and a prepared environment that are suited to his or her developmental needs. MPMS values creativity and self-expression. The school currently has seventy-seven students, and a strong staff of eleven. All lead teachers are Montessori trained and certified. Appalachian Christian School, ACS, is governed by a twelve member Board of Trustees from area churches. ACS began in 1980 serving one local church and in 1996 ACS incorporated as an independent, nonprofit, community Christian School serving the entire community. ACS was fully accredited school by the Association of Christian Schools International in 2000. Appalachian Christian School is located just off of the Highway 105 Bypass in Boone. The 9 acre campus provides a fenced-in playground for the younger grades as well as an outdoor playing field for physical education classes and recess. The school houses a complete library, updated computer lab with high-speed Internet access, and a full-sized gymnasium for indoor physical education classes, sporting events, as well as a place to gather for other school-wide events. Because of its small size, Appalachian Christian School is able to maintain high academic and social standards for its students. The Lucy Brock Child Development Center is a laboratory program operated by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Appalachian State University. The mission of the Lucy Brock Child Development Center is to provide opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to observe children from infancy to kindergarten and to participate with those children in their everyday activities in a natural setting. In January, 2000, Lucy Brock Child Development Center entered a new era. The program expanded its schedule of operation as well as the age-ranges of children served. Today, Lucy Brock Upstairs provides for infants and toddlers, while Lucy Brock Downstairs continues to serve children ages three through five. The program places special emphasis on inclusion of children with disabilities or developmental delays. Under its current leadership, the Lucy Brock Child Development Center continues its mission to model currently accepted “best practices” in the field of early childhood education, as well as to apply innovative approaches that will eventually contribute to new definitions of these best practices. |
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Mountain Pathways Montessori School |
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Appalachian Christian School |
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Lucy Brock Child Development Center |
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