2-day home-school program in Vandergrift doubles enrollment after 1st 12 months

A hybrid home-school program has doubled its fledgling enrollment since opening final 12 months in Vandergrift.

Willow Tree Academy opened final September at The Middle on Franklin Ave. Lessons are held in two classes, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All college students enrolled are required to be in a home-schooling program the place their guardian or guardian is in control of their training.

This system was developed by
Alle-Kiski Valley home-school mother and father and educators.

This system permits for a spot for home-school college students to study and have social alternatives with their friends.

“Our program retains mother and father in management whereas offering college students with developmentally applicable, hands-on studying experiences and instruction,” Willow Tree Director Jamie Lloyd mentioned.

The academy operates individually from The Middle, occupying a number of rooms upstairs in a former church at 262 Franklin Ave.

New this 12 months at Willow Tree Academy is the addition of kindergarten, third and fourth grades.

Willow Tree Academy enrolled 20 college students in kindergarten via fourth grade after welcoming 10 college students final 12 months.

“We wish to have as much as 12 college students in every grade,” kindergarten trainer Chloe Kruse mentioned.

Trainer Jamie Lloyd of Gilpin teaches first and second grades. Lloyd is state licensed in early and elementary childhood training.

All three Willow Tree academics home-school their kids. Two are state licensed.

Two applications are provided. A base hybrid program prices $225 monthly and covers all topics besides math. A math enrichment program is obtainable for $75 monthly.

“I’m happy with what we did final 12 months. It was only a nice alternative to have one thing for our personal kids and different house faculty college students locally,” Lloyd mentioned.

Trainer Nicole Capone of Allegheny Township mentioned the academy permits home-schooled college students to make new associates.

“My fundamental targets with the hybrid is to ensure the scholars can collaborate with different college students. and I additionally need them to have the chance to complement their research in a conventional classroom setting — slightly little bit of that — though they’re home-schooled,” mentioned Capone, who is also state licensed.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Evaluation

Willow Tree Academy college students paint rocks with constructive messages that might be sprinkled round Vandergrift, part of Vandergrift Rocks arts mission at Willow Tree Academy hybrid home-school program.

Scholar Isabella Lloyd, 9, enrolled for a second 12 months at Willow Tree.

“I just like the scavenger hunts and going to artwork, like after we made animals out of egg cartons,” Isabella mentioned. “I preferred making a fake pizza to find out about fractions. And I like studying tales. I actually like every thing about my faculty.”

Nicole Capone of Allegheny Township teaches third and fourth grades. Capone’s youngest daughter is enrolled at Willow Tree.

“Lots of home-school mother and father do fear concerning the socialization issue, and it’s an enormous help as a result of they will meet different kids right here,” Capone mentioned.

Capone strives to supply an attention-grabbing mixture of actions in her classroom.

She lately introduced a number of of her chickens to class for a show-and-tell meet-and-greet along with her college students.

“The chickens had been handed round and everybody held them. We attempt to be artistic,” Capone mentioned. “The primary 12 months of home-schooling, I felt fairly remoted. However now, it’s an enormous group of individuals.”

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Evaluation Courtesy of Willow Tree Academy

Willow Tree Academy hybrid home-school college students Gianna (left) and Isabella Lloyd pet a rooster throughout show-and-tell on the faculty positioned in Vandergrift.