Frequently Asked Questions

Q: The Summer Center at Nashoba Brooks advertises as a program of academic enrichment as well as active outdoor activities. Is the Summer Center a school or a camp?

A: It is neither or perhaps the more accurate answer is that it is both! We employ many strategies that make summer learning fun by incorporating projects, art and high energy activity within a classroom setting where each group is lead by a CORI-ed, experienced, adult teacher who plans curriculum with specific disciplines, like Math, Spanish, Science, Web Design at the core.

Q: So, if academic disciplines are the center of the curriculum is the program geared for gifted students?

A: Though many of our students are gifted academically or artistically, all are bright kids who are comfortable in a classroom setting, have a reasonable attention span and have interest in the topics offered.  Our students solidify skills and are exposed to new ways of applying these skills.  The only prerequisite to admission to the Summer Center is that the student be enthusiastic about learning.

Q: Will my child be able to accelerate in skills?

A: Summer Center is not Summer School.  We do no pre assessment of skills.  We do not test students while we have them nor do we follow a school like set curriculum.  There are no texts and few pencil and paper activities. You won’t find MCAS preparation as part of our mission.  We gently group based on age and grade so even if your 6 year old understands the quadratic equation, she will not be placed with the Middle Schoolers.  In that circumstance, our goal is to provide activities that are rich, broad based and have enough knowledge embedded to engage the wide range of our students’ abilities, aptitudes and interests.

Q: What kinds of activities might my child experience that are academic as well as high energy?

A: As many students return to us year after year, fresh curriculum is devised every summer.  Some activities in the past have included: Playing a Jeopardy game using only Spanish Vocabulary, Building a motorized car, Designing a map and using Orienteering tools to follow it, Constructing and naming polyhedra and using the shapes in a mobile, Producing a play with sets and lighting design, Designing a web page complete with animation, Producing a film with script and music.  The list goes on and on.  There are an infinite number of academic permutations of these kinds of activities that teach, refresh and extend skills.  Our teachers are encouraged and supported to think out of the box and offer the most creative and cutting edge curriculum using the latest technology.

Q: Safety matters.  What safeguards are in place to keep my child secure?

A: The emotional health and physical safety of your child is our #1 priority.  We keep class sizes small.  Our student to adult ratio is 12 to 1.  If a class grows to 15, an aide is always added.  In our primary classes the ratio drops even lower.  We have a full time RN on duty.  Our nurse handles the occasional skinned knee and wobbly tooth but also provides a quiet haven if a child is anxious or out of sorts.  Our nurse also completes 3 attendance checks a day. Medication oversight, providing resources to parents and daily contact with teaching faculty are included in the nurse’s responsibilities.   The environment of the classroom is well supervised by adults and behavior management is key.  Students are there to learn and teachers are there to teach. Manners, cooperation and respect matter. Bullying and other disruptive behavior are not tolerated.  Students and adults bond quickly and work together to establish a relaxed and nurturing environment.  The extensive Nashoba Brooks campus allows students to safely work and play in two gymnasiums, two age appropriate play areas and laboratories/classrooms that have passed every child safety code.  Students are never without adult supervision.