Blog

January 7, 2021 Dear High Meadows Community, I am writing to you as history unfolds. Yesterday afternoon and into the evening, we witnessed actions in and around our Nation’s Capital that have shocked our collective conscience. I spent a good part of last night and today attempting to understand how the actions of several hundred people have affected our community individually as well as reflecting on how they could shape…

With just a few weeks left of summer, it’s time to start thinking about how to prepare your children to go back to school. To make the transition into the school year easier, we offer a few tips for parents and students. Establish Bedtime and School Preparation Routines Over the summer, many children get used to going to bed later…

Last week, our 4th and 5th graders completed their Exhibition unit. This six-week study is a collaborative, student-initiated process for students to explore, document, and share their understanding of an issue or opportunity of personal and global significance. "Exhibition is an exciting time of learning and taking action that comes as older elementary students begin to move from a self-centered view…

Can you guess what Space, Bees, Chemistry, Egypt, Cars, and Vesuvius have in common? They are all topics that one class of 2nd/3rd grade students have chosen to explore as part of Project Power. This student-driven learning started three years ago when teacher Katie Huffner encouraged her students to explore what interested them. That first group of students really enjoyed…

A treasured part of the week for the Tie Dye Turtles Kindergarten/1st grade class is Forest Friday. That's when students in the class taught by Rebecca Drage andShannon Hostetler spend most of the day in the forest learning, exploring, and building their classroom community. They jump over the creek, say hi to turtles, read in hammocks, cook on a campfire, make fairy houses, and write in…

In late January, about 50 former students returned to High Meadows for Alumni Night which features a panel discussion open to the school community. Middle Years Teachers Anne Lovatt and Issac Wolf, both High Meadows graduates, moderated the panel in which 10 alumni shared honest insight about how to prepare for life beyond the meadows. See the list of panelists and highlights of…

  You're likely to see the name ‘Charli Shapiro’ someday at the movies! Charli, a 2017 High Meadows graduate, is a sophomore at Roswell High School and an accomplished filmmaker. She recently earned a Student Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the Best Short Form - Fiction category for the film Brute Force. She…

When you were growing up, your math learning likely consisted of memorizing facts and practicing procedures the teacher demonstrated for what seemed like a million times. Your homework assignments probably were something like this: "Do the even problems, 1-100, on page 23 of the math textbook." Today, math education has shifted from teaching the "history of mathematics" - the procedures…

Kelly and George Cave know the value of a High Meadows education. For the past 13 years, they have had at least one child in school there. For five of those years, all three of their children attended the school at the same time. Along the way, they have seen their children thrive, learn and have fun. “We learned of…

When their son Edward was in preschool last year, Sarah and Drew Gibbons discussed what type of education they wanted him to experience. They agreed that they wanted a school that offered: A strong academic program that challenges and engages Support for their son's social/emotional development Teachers that would get to know their son, understand his strengths and weaknesses, and help…

Finding the private school that fits the needs of your child and your family requires lots of research and school visits. However, knowing that top private schools share some common characteristics can be helpful to parents who are evaluating school options. Three things that the best private schools do are: Address social/emotional development to build resilient children Prepare children for…

It's common to see students of all ages at High Meadows observing, measuring, discussing, and hypothesizing both inside classrooms and outdoors. These activities help them become critical thinkers for whom learning is a natural part of their every day, at school and elsewhere.   Parents regularly share that this type of learning is one of the reasons they selected High Meadows.…

In a progressive school like High Meadows, a child's progress is continually assessed vs. measured by periodic assignments or tests. Authentic academic assessment methods give parents, teachers, and students common points of reference to guide continued, sustained progress. Assessment focuses on the entire learning process, not just on the final product of a unit of learning. Teachers measure and document…

At High Meadows, we have a private school preschool & pre-kindergarten program unlike any other: Recording a caterpillar's journey to become a butterfly; learning to write your name with items found on nature walks; feeding and playing with campus farm animals; exploring transportation methods around the world; watching how changing seasons affect our pond habitat... these fun, engaging activities are…

When students attend a private middle school, they are rewarded with the opportunity to dive deeper into areas that will benefit them the rest of their lives.. High Meadows has an amazing Debate program for  students in 6th - 8th grades. Debaters learn and practice their skills during two mini-courses, one at the novice level as well as an advanced…

At the best private middle schools, programs are consciously designed to motivate kids personally and academically by teaching both life and problem-solving skills. At High Meadows, our middle school (what we call Middle Years) students enroll in mini-courses throughout the year to try something new or pursue a passion. Course offerings vary, but mainstays include debate, music/band ensembles, technology, life skills,…

What’s in a Name? Charter School vs Private School Explained Choosing a school that’s the right fit for your child can feel overwhelming as there are many aspects to consider. Charter and private schools are two types of education environments that parents and students often explore to figure out what is best for their family. Both private and charter schools…

This school year has just begun, but some families are looking ahead to next school year, signing up for open houses and evaluating the right learning environment and school community for their child. Here’s a primer on some differences between public and private middle school for families considering those grade levels. Class Size A private middle school typically has a…

You say ‘preschool,’ I say ‘pre-K’… is there really a difference between what an education program is called and what it offers children? Yes, there is. While both programs offer important unstructured playtime and help children learn how to follow directions, there are distinctions to note. Here are three things parents should know when considering a private pre-Kindergarten program versus…

By Margaret Jones, Associate Head of School When thinking about traditional educational practices in the early years of childhood, the three R’s often come to mind – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. These core academic areas are integral to the development of children’s communication through words and figuring with numbers, data and space. Yet, young children are really only beginning their…

Lunchboxes are coming out of summer storage, school supplies are flooding stores, and new clothes are being bought. It’s back to school time in Georgia as more than 1.7 million students head to class in 181 public school districts and 867 private schools. Both public and private schools offer students many great academic opportunities and extracurricular activities. So, why do…

Merriam-Webster defines innovation as 1. ‘the introduction of something new’ and 2. ‘a new idea, method or device.’ At High Meadows, we define it in those ways and many more. In addition to teaching students WHAT innovation is, we teach them HOW to be innovative in their inquiry, thinking and actions.    Since we began in 1973, High Meadows teachers have emphasized an innovative, inquiry-based, integrated educational approach that fosters…

Looking for a private school near Marietta? Be sure to explore High Meadows School! While technically we are over the East Cobb line in Roswell, we are a leading independent private school located just steps away from Marietta/East Cobb. Our 42 acres of grassy fields and woodlands and our farm animals offer a rich learning landscape to complement and expand…

With all of the education options that exist for Atlanta families, what makes our Roswell private kindergarten and pre-k classes unique? At High Meadows, we include "play-based" learning in our Early Years classrooms to encourage kids to learn about the world by experimenting with it, tinkering with items found in nature and interacting with one another. Preschoolers naturally operate this way, dismantling the…

By Gail Albert, Prekindergarten Teacher Eight years ago, I began working at High Meadows. I remember coming back to campus after my first winter break, and on my walk to class that morning, thinking, "I'm excited to be back!" It went through my head that I couldn't possibly tell anyone that. It sounded crazy – even to me – but…

By Genna Fidati, 8th Grader I started at High Meadows five years ago, when I was in the Third Grade. Now I am in Eighth, my last year here, and I have had nothing but positive experiences. One of the best things about High Meadows is that it encourages individuality. My classmates and friends accept me for who I am,…

By Emily Bacon, Prekindergarten Teacher When people ask me why I became a prekindergarten teacher, I tell them because in my job, I still get to play! Humans are wired for play. Our brains have evolved to learn about the world by experimenting with it, tinkering with natural items and interacting with each other. Preschoolers naturally operate this way, dismantling…

By Anna McConaghie, High Meadows Class of 2008 Anna attended High Meadows School from first through eighth grades. She graduated from Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia, and then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hendrix College in Arkansas, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2016 with distinction in two majors: Anthropology and Spanish. When I think back to the…

By Cari Newman and Jennifer Hannah, Fourth-Fifth Grade Teachers High Meadows teachers love the idea of children exploring their world and finding out how it works. But many people wonder how our inquiry-based approach translates to content-rich subjects like science, history, and math, especially for older children. How do we know that they are getting the content they need? Visit…

By Margaret Jones, Associate Head of School and Lower Years Principal When we think about the early years of a child's formal education, we are often reminded of the 3 R's--reading, writing and 'rithmetic. These core academic areas are essential to children as they begin to master communicating through text and figuring with numbers, data, and space. And yet, young…

By Brenda Major, Art Teacher Success in the visual arts is often judged solely by the artist's finished product, using a variety of criteria such as composition, color, form, and balance. Teaching Art at High Meadows, however, allows me to see each student's progression as artists and as individuals. One way to help students recognize their work as steps along…

By Katie Huffner and Ensley Nesbitt, 2-3 Teachers When I reflect on my childhood education, I remember how I struggled with learning to read and with memorizing multiplication facts and spelling words. If one believes there is a "straight and narrow path" toward success (to borrow Madeline Levine's words), it was clear I wasn't on it. Teaching at High Meadows,…

By Emily Kleinberg and Elizabeth Swern, K-1 Teachers In the Kindergarten and First Grade Classroom, students acquire new academic skills at a surprising rate; they develop phonemic awareness, math literacy, and an understanding of basic science principles. Traditionally, when students display proficiency in these areas, we say they are "successful." In our classroom, however, success is not so narrowly defined;…

By Kate McElvaney, Director of Educational Advancement and the Center for Progressive Learning How do we know if our child is "successful?" Is it winning a trophy in a soccer tournament? Is it scoring in the 99th percentile on a standardized test? Tangible accolades are certainly markers of achievement, but are they indicators of future success as adults? And are…

By Michelle Griffin, EfS Teacher Students arrive at my door, choose a seat on the rug and enjoy low-volume chatting. I take my seat among them and begin the ritual of calling each child's name. They respond with a non-verbal "thumbs up, middle or down." From consistent practice, we all know this communicates if they are feeling good, ok, or…

By Allison Stanley, Support Teacher & Yoga Instructor Students giggle with glee as they gather up their belongings and head out to carpool. Not long after the last child leaves, you can hear the sound of sticky mats unfolding. Today is "Yoga Tuesday," an after-school yoga practice for High Meadows teachers and staff. Some of the yogis unfolding their mats…

By Sarah Bobbitt, Pre-K Teacher As a mother of two young daughters and a Prekindergarten teacher, I spend the majority of my day with young children. Two of my favorite activities to experience with both my students and my children are cooking and gardening. Both create positive (and fun) learning experiences that teach independence and creativity, as well as fine…