A Parent’s View of Nashoba Brooks
Parents are always welcome here. If you a have an area of interest or a particular hobby that jibes with the curriculum, you are welcome to come into the classroom and make a presentation or help with a special project.
The faculty are not only welcoming, they are responsive. They check their voicemail and e-mail frequently throughout the day. I have never waited longer that one day to hear back from a teacher, and frequently they return my message with in a hour or so. The small class sizes help the teachers manage educational and social situations which may arise. When I have made appointments to see a teacher about a concern, each time they are already aware of issue before I bring it to their attention.
The rapport that the students have with the faculty and staff is wonderful. They learn to respect and to be respected by adults. The confidence with which the girls present themselves in "grown up" settings is marvelous to see.
Students are given a great deal of freedom as well as the responsibility that goes with that freedom. You'll see our four year olds bringing the daily attendance sheet to the front office, then going right back to the classroom without distraction. You'll see our 12 and 14 year olds enjoying the privilege of eating lunch outside on nice days and being certain to clean up all of their trash.
The integration of the curriculum helps to enrich the children's experiences. In grade 7 they study ancient Egypt. They read a fictional account of a young girl of that time period in humanities, learn about the number system used in Egypt in math class, create clay scarab beetles in art class and study the astronomy that guided the daily lives of the people of ancient times in science.
We integrate technology into the curriculum at many points. The students use their tech know-how and apply it in many different areas such as EXCEL spreadsheets in math, PowerPoint in humanities, electronic artwork in writing workshop, digital photography in art.
Our innovative facility also enriches the curriculum. We have designated space for each subject area so that when the students are in the art room they are artists, in the labs they are scientists, on stage they are presenters, in the gym they are athletes.
The inter-scholastic sports are outstanding. The girls have a chance to learn to play a sport which they then can continue in high school. The sports and related skills are introduced in PE class, and those skills are then applied in a team setting. The school provides the uniforms and buses to away game and equipment if needed. There are no "cuts" so anyone who wants to play can play!
Small class size is a key to effective teaching and learning. The student-teacher ratio of about 15-1 is often even lower when a specialist in one or another area of curriculum is in the classroom working with students. I have two daughters who are very different learners and very different people, and the school has served them both well based on their individual needs and talents.
— NBS Parent Christina Woodford
Parents' Association
The goal of the Nashoba Brooks Parents' Association is to arrange programs and activities to support students and to create community spirit, while providing both financial support and cultural enrichment to the school. All Nashoba Brooks parents or guardians are members of the Parents' Association (P.A.).
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations provides support for the Nashoba Brooks Parents' Association and its committees, as well as support for P.A. special events and fund raisers.
The Parents' Association meets monthly to plan educational, social and fundraising events for the school. All Nashoba Brooks parents/guardians are encouraged to participate in these meetings.
Each year, in May, the Parents' Association holds its Annual Meeting at which time members of the Association vote on the slate of officers, the proposed budget, and any changes in the Articles of Association.
Parent-School Communication
Communication is an essential part of the family-school collaboration, with numerous avenues including advisor conferences, school publications, curriculum evenings, discussion groups, parent-teacher conferences, parent visiting days, letters from the Head of School, and progress reports.
If you are already a member of the Nashoba Brooks Community, you can access more information on NBS Net.
