New Country School offers a continuous progress, multi-age educational program for children 3 to 12 years of age.
NCS strives to practice the principles of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where students learn in a nurturing, cooperative environment through hands-on, integrated experiences.
Our teachers use a child-centered, developmental approach in planning their curricula.
Each child is considered individually and guided in his/her education based on personal interests, abilities, needs and background.
New Country School is an independent school, begun in 1972, in the
village of West Baldwin, ME. At New Country School, each child is
respected as an individual with his or her own special interests
and needs. We foster close relationships among teachers, students
and parents. NCS students are encouraged to develop the
self-confidence necessary to make independent judgments. The
classroom is structured to offer periods of teacher-directed
learning, and periods when a child may choose a learning center or
independent project. The program provides a combination of large
and small group learning situations, as well as individual
instruction. We believe that by offering a variety of learning
situations, we provide children with a well-rounded experience,
giving them an opportunity to prosper in the situation that suits
them best. At New Country School, ideas are explored and creativity
is celebrated within a context of respect and caring. We teach that
all people deserve the respect of others. Rules exist to provide
guidelines for the respect of our environment and all of its
inhabitants.
History: New Country School was founded in 1972 as an ungraded
program for children aged 3 to 8 years. The founding parents were
dedicated to the following principles:
They wanted children to be respected as people with their own
special interests, abilities and challenges.
They wanted children to develop the self-confidence necessary to
allow them to make independent judgments.
They wanted a school that encouraged cooperation amongst children
and between children and adults.
They wanted a program which promoted a deep respect for, and
understanding of, all living things. It is upon these principles
that New Country School was conceived, and they continue to be at
the core of all interactions and activities at the school today.
Philosophy: New Country School offers a continuous progress,
multi-age educational program for children 3 to 12 years of age.
NCS strives to practice the principles of Gardner's Multiple
Intelligences where students learn in a nurturing, cooperative
environment through hands-on, integrated experiences. Our teachers
use a child-centered, developmental approach in planning their
curricula. Each child is considered individually and guided in
his/her education based on personal interests, abilities, needs and
babased on personal interests, abilities, needs and background. New
Country School is committed to the growth of the whole child, both
as a unique human being and as a member of the larger community.
Respect, independence and self-confidence are central to all we
teach. NCS is committed to serving students of varied backgrounds,
and to developing a classroom atmosphere which draws strength from
positive recognition of diversity.
General Program Structure: An exciting aspect of all New Country
School programs is the opportunity for all students to become an
integral part of our larger school community. Multi-age interaction
provides many unique opportunities for the personal growth and
development of our students. New Country School emphasizes a
process-oriented approach to learning. The classrooms are
structured to offer both periods of teacher-directed learning and
periods where the children engage in independent learning. In order
to motivate students who have a wide variety of learning styles,
our instructional format includes:
Small and large group discussions
Hands-on experiments
Class texts and reading materials
Individual subject choices
Short-term assignments and long-term projects
Guest speakers and field trips
Games and activities
Movies and videos
Lectures
Computers
Music
Foreign Language instruction
In contrast to more traditional learning institutions, homework is
not a large part of the New Country School curriculum. Children are
taught to manage their time, so as to finish their work during the
school day. This leaves after school hours free for quality family
time and extracurricular interests. While the curriculum used at
NCS is unique compared to other school programs, New Country School
focuses on providing students with the fundamental skills to
succeed in any educational setting. Children are taught a love of
learning and strategies to effectively gather information from the
world around them. New Country School students are instilled with a
respect for themselves and for others.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for New Country School?
The application deadline for New Country School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
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