What does a day at Fountainbleau Cottage School look like?
Students will start the morning outdoors before the weather heats up. The farm has nature trails and areas to play in the forest. FCS will utilize Forest School curriculum of forest activities to foster a love of nature. We will also engage with farm animals. We will hatch eggs in the classroom. Kids will have a raised garden bed to plant and harvest a garden. We will create art with messy materials and learn about famous artists. Final curriculum selections will be made by May 1st, but this will be a once-in-a-lifetime day camp.
How do I enroll?
Submit a completed application via Google Forms by April. You will be notified no later than April 7th of acceptance. The first tuition payment of $150 will be due by May 1st, and the second payment will be due by May 7th. Tuition payments will be due each week by Thursday. The last payment will be on July 10th. Dates are subject to change slightly as we narrow down details. Parents will have a full pay schedule prior to enrolling.
We reserve the right to dismiss a child if deemed necessary. Every effort will be made to refund tuition for a student/family that is dismissed.
How can I see the school before I enroll?
Renovations are currently taking place to get the schoolhouse ready. Follow along on our social media accounts and join our email list. You can also schedule a site visit as we get closer to completing the renovations. Our teacher will not arrive until early May. You may contact the school administrator with any questions at rpierce@FountainbleauCottageSchool.com.
Why do I have to sign a waiver?
The schoolhouse is on a small working farm with livestock, nature, electric fences, and noxious weeds. Students will be educated on potential hazards. While we strive, pray, and prepare for your child’s safety on the farm, we can't control everything.
Will you ever be a full-time school?
We prefer to offer educational opportunities to students in the community when public school is out of session. We are considering other ways to utilize the schoolhouse outside of summer school. Mr. Pierce is a well-loved STEM teacher. He dreams of a science club that could teach kids about drones or aerospace engineering. Or, maybe my kids will have slumber parties with their friends. We will continue to offer summer learning opportunities as long as there is interest.
How many kids will enroll? Why mixed ages in a classroom?
To maintain a quality program, we will keep enrollment near ten to twelve students. A one-room schoolhouse allows older students to model and mentor younger students. We have seen this work well in our other learning communities across Missouri.
How is the curriculum curated?
With nearly twenty years of experience, I have selected my favorite and most impactful resources that I go back to time and again, stories that are enjoyed by students and adults alike, and activities that kids remember years later.
What is on the property?
In 2021, we purchased 10 acres and have worked to improve the property for the last four years. We currently have sheep, some chickens, one old grandpa horse named JJ, a Jersey cow named Taffy and her calf Tilly, and a pig named Tiger. We hoped to have our hives up and running again this year. Structurally, we are finishing our farmhouse, a garage, a greenhouse, the schoolhouse, and a family campsite where we like to hammock camp when the weather is cool. We will use the campsite as a daytime learning space for our summer camp.
My child has an IEP. Will they fit in?
While we call it Summer School and learning opportunities abound, it is very much a day camp. We hope to provide memorable learning experiences through hands-on activities and meaningful mentorship by our teacher. Please let us know if your student needs any accommodation we can assist with.
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed daycare. We are also not an accredited day camp. This is a hands-on program with inherent risks to kids playing outside, being in nature, or learning to prepare snacks. The schoolhouse sits on a working farm with electric fences and live animals.