Drinking Gourd Elementary School

 

 

Visit Us Soon!

COME TO OUR OPEN HOUSES
Wed. Feb. 6, 2007

Open house tours are given between 6 and 8 p.m. You can meet our staff, tour our facility, and learn about our teaching philosophy and curriculum.

• Click here for a program overview.

 

 

DEADLINE
Applications are accepted until April 1. Classes are filled by April 15.

Look what I made!

 

 

How and When to Enroll

The Drinking Gourd School admits students and families of any race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities available at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs or any other school-administered programs.

 

Open House and school visits

Open House events are held in January and February. After attending an Open House, interested parents schedule a day to visit the school with their child. Enrollment applications are accepted after this visit. Occasionally the teacher will request an appointment to work individually with the student at this time.

 

Enrollment Decisions

All students are considered for enrollment at the Drinking Gourd School. Each child is assessed before being offered a space.. The school will only offer a space to a student if we are sure we can meet that child’s learning, behavioral, and emotional needs. Additional time for assessment, formal evaluations, a visit to the child’s current school or previous school records may be required.

The Quail Class often has many more applications than spaces available. All applications are accepted for the next school year until April 1. After that date, the teacher considers every child’s application and makes decisions about how to fill the open places in the class.

These decisions are very difficult to make and are based upon several factors: maintaining a balance of ages, academic levels, gender, personality styles, and special needs. Priority is given to children who would benefit most from the school’s special program. Priority is also given to minority children.

 

Timeline

There is no fee to apply for enrollment.

Applications are accepted until April 1. Spaces are filled by April 15. A waiting list is made at that time and parents are told where their child's name is on the list. Children who are awarded a space have that space reserved for them for September with a reservation form and a non-refundable $200 deposit, which will be applied to the enrollment and materials fees.

Occasionally we will have a space available mid-year, usually in the North Star class. When this is the case, individual tours and classroom visits are arranged at that time for interested families.

 

Tuition

Tuition for the 2008-2009 school year will be $500 a month, based on a ten-month school year. In addition, parents pay enrollment and materials fees of $350. These fees pay for books and materials.

Partial scholarships are available for students who would not be able to attend without one. The Drinking Gourd considers every student for enrollment. We are committed to meeting the needs of every child enrolled with us.

 

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded, based on need, whenever the school’s finances or scholarship donations make this possible. Scholarships for as much as half the tuition are usually available for several students each year.

Proof of income as well as information about any special financial circumstances is required along with a simple scholarship application form. Scholarship applications must be made when the student’s Space Request form is submitted. Application for a scholarship is not a factor in deciding who receives a space in one of the classes. After the student is awarded a space, the Board of Directors will consider the Scholarship application.

All scholarships are granted for one year at a time. The school meets the scholarship needs of current students before offering scholarships to new applicants.

 

References

The following parents will be glad to discuss the school with you:

• Kurt/Debby Engle 688-4851 . . . past parents
• Carol/Brian McDermott 935-1430 . . . present parents

FOR MORE INFORMATION: call Trisha Whitney at (541) 689-5255