Private school planned in city

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A new private school that seeks to have students shape their own learning is opening this fall.

RiverRun Community Montessori is renting space at the former St. Anthony’s School at 1840 Van Vranken Ave. for a new elementary school. Board of Trustees member Nancy Adis said the school would initially serve students in grades 1, 2 and 3, with the goal of expanding it to grade six. The plan is to start with no more than 15 to 20 students in one multi-age classroom and then add other classrooms as the program expands.

The school follows the Montessori model of student-driven learning in mixed-age classes. The founder of this type of school — Maria Montessori of Italy — said children should learn by engaging in experiences on their own, according to a Web site on the topic.

Adis said the focus is on not just academics but on developing the whole child.

“We focus on both the intellectual, physical, creative and spiritual dimension of each student,” she said.

She explained that the curriculum stresses hands-on student learning with students out in the community and on field trips. Adis said the smaller class sizes than public school would offer a more personalized approach to learning.

“The students are valued as individual contributors to the learning community and they get to have more independence and autonomy in what they’re learning,” she said.

Adis said the idea for the school came about because there were a number of parents who had sent their children to Montessori-style pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs in the Capital District. However, there was nothing locally for the rest of the elementary grades. The closest school was in East Greenbush. The families interested in starting a program locally came together to establish the school.

The school came up with the name RiverRun partly because this area of New York is near so many rivers, Adis said. It also symbolizes the process of education. “You start in one place. You’re continuing downstream and you’re learning new information,” he said.

The school will hold an open house from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on May 20.

Board President Jennifer Hanson said the curriculum follows the “whole child approach.” The instructors want to find out the best ways children learn and give them as much control as possible.

Hanson said the school will bring in additional teachers for subject areas such as foreign language, music and art. Students will also participate in clubs, intramural and extracurricular activities.

Teacher Mary Beth Arcidiacono said the multi-age approach works well because the older students get to help the younger students and it allows them to master the material. Another component of the program is getting parents involved, she said.

“If there’s a parent who has a special talent and wants to share it my job as a teacher is to find a way to incorporate that in the curriculum,” he said.

Tuition is $5,650 for the year, and the school can offer some financial assistance. There are a few slots left, Hanson said. The school plans to draw from Schenectady, Scotia, Clifton Park, Niskayuna and Rotterdam.

More information on the new school can be found at www.RiverRunMontessori.org.