The Healdsburg School celebrated two milestone markers last week
at the opening assembly of their fifth school year.
“We have much to celebrate with our students at our opening
day,” said THS Founder and Head of School Sandi Passalacqua. “We
will acknowledge the start of our fifth academic year and laud our
acceptance by the International Baccalaureate Organization as a
candidate for the Primary Years Programme.”
Four years ago, just as The Healdsburg School was planting its
roots, they submitted an application for candidacy to the
International Baccalaureate to become an IB world school. Last week
they received their confirmation of candidacy and will move forward
working with an IB consultant this year to receive
authorization.
“This falls right into line with our mission of teaching
children how to think, not what to think and to understand the
world from a very informed position,” said Passalacqua.
Schools pursuing authorization as an IB World School share
common philosophies such as a commitment to high quality,
challenging, international education and following the IB
curricular structure of small teacher-to-student ratios and
language programs.
“Being authorized as an international school creates a network
in a global community,” said Passalacqua. “And we will become
recognized as providing one of the highest academic standards in
the world.”
The Healdsburg School is designed to teach accelerated course
materials and students study both Mandarin and Spanish yet
Passalacqua says that there is still a large emphasis on the three
R’s including a heavy amount of non-fiction reading.
“We want to know that good learning in going on and we are
always watching how students are engaging. It is our goal to draw
out, not pour in, that is our bedrock,” Passalacqua said.
In 2007 The Healdsburg School opened their doors with 16
students enrolled and only three teachers on staff. Five years
later they have expanded to 153 students and 23 teachers.
“This is due in large part to the growing and understanding of
what this school does,” said Passalacqua.
She also noted that the class size ratio is a draw for parents.
Currently classes are at an eight to one ratio and school policy is
to never exceed 11 to one. The facility on Healdsburg Avenue can
house 180 students before the school will outgrow its space and
need to relocate.
Students at The Healdsburg School travel over a 25-mile radius
across the county to come to school making up the other 50 percent
that are not from Healdsburg.
“We are different in so many ways,” Passalacqua said of the
school curriculum and goals. “We believe that our children learn
best by doing and that this is how real learning takes place.”
Over the course of the current school year, the school staff
will work closely with a representative from IB along with a parent
volunteer to meet the criteria and methodology needed for
authorization followed by a visitation committee for the final
evaluation.
“Why wouldn’t we do this (apply to become a global school), we
want what is best for our children, we want them to understand the
bigger picture,” said Passalacqua. “I remind them all the time that
‘this is going to be your world and it is up to you to make a
difference.'”
Robin Hug can be reached at Ro***@hb*****.com.
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