A little over one week ago we received a phone call that totally changed our world! Back in January we put in application for the girls to attend Parker Charter School. As we were not sure what the 2021-2022 school year would hold for me (work wise) and the girls at Seasons of Seven wise (would they have a high school program?) we decided to cover our bases and apply. We knew it could be tricky as there aren't often many open spots for grades eight and nine but we figured what was the worst that could happen? They don't get in? And so, they were waitlisted and we figured that perhaps mid-year we'd get the call. Little did we know that we'd be getting the call one week prior to the new school year beginning but that's exactly what happened!
After I got off the phone and my head stopped spinning I shared with David what I had just been told. He was as blown away as I was! We then discussed this opportunity as a family and the answer was clear: Grace (who was being offered a spot) really should take it. After all, this was her only chance as they don't take new students after ninth grade. And while we have absolutely loved homeschooling we knew that with me working full time that they would not be given the rich experience that they had been given all the years prior. Honestly, there was one day last spring, as Emma was making her catapult that I found myself really sad watching her. She was doing a great job, but I couldn't help but feel that that project really would have been so much better if she and a group were able to work on it together.
With how rich their entire educations have been all these years we wanted them to have just as rich of a high school experience, too. And we knew that they would not get that at the town high school (and we knew the town high school was not the right place for them at all). We toyed with enrolling thing in one of the local Waldorf high schools but both required sizeable tuitions and were at least an hour away. We were hopeful that Parker would work out in the end and after the people we have spoken to and the tour we took (and registration today) we know that this was a school that was made for them!
Parker is such a truly special place! It is an essential school, which means that they follow these ten common principles. They do not give traditional grades, nor a traditional diploma. To move up to the next division the students need to present their portfolios and give an explanation of why they feel ready to move up (in that subject area). To graduate they need to complete a senior project and portfolio and present that at senior exhibition. The school encourages students to think outside the box. They encourage students to embrace their mistakes. They encourage and embrace individuality and diversity. Parker truly is the stuff of dreams!
Parker's very unique education is so very much inline with how our girls have been raised and educated. We are grateful to have been a homeschooling family all these years, and we are grateful that the girls had all the opportunities they had as a result, and became the incredible young ladies they are as a result, as well. And while we are sad that our homeschooling days are drawing to a close we are excited that they will be gaining a community of people that will step in where we left off ('cause Lord knows high school is NOT in my wheelhouse)!
To learn more about what makes Parker so unique be sure to watch this video. It captures so perfectly why we are glad that our girls will be attending!
And so, we went to register Grace today and ended coming home with Emma registered as well! The girls are thrilled and so are we! We are so very excited to be a Parker family and cannot wait to see all that awaits them. xo
