By Anna Cruz and Kean Fleming
Thursday, May 01, 2008 |
Well into its second year of operation, The Wilderland School has already become a staple among the Langlois, Bandon and Port Orford communities it serves.
The Wilderland School is a Montessori-based program where children “learn by doing.” Preschoolers, kindergartners and first-graders from all three towns come together to learn in a specially designed classroom with the intention of preparing students to become confident, interested and involved with their own educational path. Whether mixing yellow and blue water or placing triangles and trapezoids into puzzles, the answers are discovered by the child, instilling a love of learning and an interest in the world.
On any given day, students could be taking on tasks that range from bread baking to practicing their reading and measuring skills to art projects to planting seeds in the school’s garden or greenhouse. Projects are designed to be engaging and to tie into the current area of study. Geography, for example, is explored not simply in terms of continents and countries, but incorporates culinary, linguistic and cultural activities specific to the geography being examined.
Students also deepen their connections to the local area. On outings to cranberry bogs, sheep ranches, tidepools, fish hatcheries, and a monthly visit to the Langlois Library, children learn something about their own context here on the South Coast. Throughout the year, language, reading, mathematics and science are integrated with hands-on, practical experiences — giving real-life meaning to everyday schooling. While endorsing creative ways of gaining knowledge, the Wilderland curriculum remains committed to Oregon state standards and preparing its students for public school requirements.
Because The Wilderland School is a private institution, its sole source of funding comes from student tuition. Tuition funds pay the rent, utilities and liability insurance, sustain up-to-date school supplies and learning materials, provide for a daily, healthy snack for students and go toward upkeep on the large facility — the former “Sweet Annie’s Nursery” — in which the school is located. The remainder covers the salary of the school’s three teachers. Enrollment is limited to provide an 8-1 student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring small class sizes and attentive teachers who are available for any individual guidance students may need.
Although The Wilderland School is a relative newcomer as an early education option, the teachers at the school have been involved with education for years. Both George and Kelly Fleming, Wilderland preschool teachers, began their teaching careers as educators at Children’s House, a Montessori preschool that operated in Bandon for almost 20 years. George became a certified Montessori instructor and spent more than 12 years working at Children’s House. Kelly, in addition to working with Children’s House students, went on to serve as a teaching assistant in the Bandon, Langlois, and Port Orford public school systems. Teal Fleming, George and Kelly’s daughter, inspired by her parents commitment to the importance of educating the children of the area, has returned to become the kindergarten and first grade teacher after earning a bachelor of arts in educational studies, family and human services, and a master’s degree in teaching, early childhood and elementary education. Teal also spent more than five years involved in Eugene public schools and community youth programs.
The Wilderland School is now accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year. Prospective enrollees can get more information about the programs offered or arrange a visit to the classroom by calling 348-2414 or picking up a brochure at the local library. The Wilderland staff also welcomes involvement from community members who desire to share their skills with the students, whether they are butterfly collectors, musicians or speak a foreign language.
(Anna Cruz is a teacher’s aide and parent at The Wilderland School. Kean Fleming is George and Kelly Fleming’s son.)
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