The Unquowa School :Our School
Message from the Head of School
Ms. Sharon Lauer
(203) 336-3801 ext 102slauer@unquowa.org
Born of progressive roots, our school has been at its current site since its inception in 1917. While our little school has added wings to its original building in 1926, 1929, 1944 and 2001, it remains a school that feels more like a house than a facility, with a culture more like a family than an institution—all of which is by design.
Our Co-ed, PreK through Eighth Grade model, housed on one campus, is one important aspect of this design. Whether traveling together for mixed-grade field experiences, performing side by side in school-wide productions, developing skills in cooperative sporting events, or simply sharing classroom experiences, students' school lives are enhanced socially, physically, and academically within this model. These planned interactions are rare and wonderful opportunities, not only for the students, but also for their teachers because they encourage and facilitate a constant dialogue about development and cognitive growth. Our younger children love to be taught by and show their knowledge to "the big kids" and our Middle Schoolers enjoy the chance to both return to an earlier childhood and be good models for their young buddies.
The relationship between students and their teachers is also at the heart of learning at Unquowa. We consciously limit enrollment at each grade level in order to maintain a culture where children, teachers and parents in the community truly feel like part of a family. One unique illustration of this at Unquowa is family-style dining among children of mixed ages. Older students serve, all children participate in clean up, and a teacher at each table participates in conversation in an environment of socializing, sharing and learning.
It is important to note that our school's motto, The Future is in our Care, is taken quite seriously. Whether participating in our sustainable dining program, focusing on fresh foods—seasonal and regional when possible—or participating in outreach programs for which we have received national recognition, our students enjoy thinking beyond the classroom and learning to participate in the care of our future.
Our high school placement program begins at the end of seventh grade. When it comes time for students to move on, our placement director and I work closely with families throughout the eighth grade year to insure a smooth application process and an outcome that provides our graduates with the best fit for the next stage of their education. In our small school atmosphere, each student will be known beyond the classroom, he or she will be cared about beyond the classroom, and when the time comes to move on, each child will be ready for the future, both socially and academically—all of which is by design.
