By MIKE MCKENNA
Shawn Myers wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when she started teaching at Syringa Mountain School in Hailey. She had never taught at a Waldorf-inspired school during her decade-long teaching career.
Shawn’s two sons had gone through the traditional Blaine County school system, just like she had. So stepping into the exceptionally large classroom at the south-Valley charter school was a new experience. But it didn’t take long for Shawn to realize she’d made a good decision.
“It’s definitely not a traditional school, but once you get into it, it all makes sense,” Shawn said. “I can’t imagine not teaching this way now.”
Syringa Mountain School opened in 2014 as a local public school choice. Offering classes in kindergarten through eighth grade, the school is free for Blaine County residents. Most Syringa students will actually complete their education by graduating from Blaine County School District’s Wood River High School.
What separates Syringa Mountain School’s program from a more traditional model is that it focuses on a liberal arts and arts-integrated, experiential-learning style that is guided by the core principles of the Waldorf educational philosophy. This is done while still adhering to Idaho educational standards. The goal is to create a supportive community of peers, parents and teachers so that each child is a confident, self-directed and engaged learner who is invested in his/her own education.
Based on the theories of Austrian scientist Rudolph Steiner, there are more than 160 Waldorf-inspired schools scattered throughout the country and no two are exactly alike. One of the things that makes Syringa unique is its access to the natural splendors of the Wood River Valley. The rivers, mountains and trails that abound here are ideal platforms for movement-based, outdoor-focused education.
“In every lesson we are inclusive of the head, the heart and the hands,” Shawn said. “The more they care about something, the more they’ll care for it.”
The motto for Syringa is “Cultivating curious and passionate learners prepared to build a life with purpose.”
The school accomplishes this goal by accepting that every student is unique and has different skills, needs and challenges. The strength of the school is that it can adapt to fit each student.
“We meet the kids where they’re at and support students in the ways they need. Each kid is different and they’re not just a number in our classrooms,” said Christi Thompson, Syringa’s charter administrator and Special Education director.
Michelle Harris is president of the Parent Council. When she first visited the school as an option for her young son, she was “floored by the kindergarten room. It didn’t look anything like a typical classroom.” The large, spacious classroom allows plenty of room to move and is the typical setup for each grade. It’s one of the reasons why Michelle highly recommends Syringa.
“More than anything, as a parent, I’m most pleased with how much my child is learning and that he is learning to love to learn,” Michelle said, adding, “He’s positively supported in areas where he struggles and challenged in areas where he thrives. He loves coming to school every day.”
Find out more at SyringaMountainSchool.org.
