2025-2026 Family Handbook
CONTENTS
OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS
OUR MISSION
PROFILE OF A TVS LEARNER
School Hours
Drop-off/Pick-up Procedure
Late drop-offs and early pick-ups
Biking, Walking, Scootering
Lunch/Snacks & Birthday Celebrations
Friday Flex Days & School Absences
Extended Day
Session Breaks
School Closings & Delays
Mastery-Based Learning
Tracking Progress
Badge Plans vs Grades/Report Cards
Exhibitions of Learning
Online Dashboards
Learner-Led Conferences/Journey Reviews
Standardized Testing
Accommodations & Support
Studio Transitions
“School Rules”: Studio Contracts
Community Meetings
Conflict Resolution
Honor Code
Peer Feedback
Brain, Buddies, Books or Links
Wellness Assessment
Health Forms & Medical Authorization
Illness Policy
Safety at School
Bullying/Mean Behavior
Communication Platforms
Guide Communication: When and How to Reach Out
School Communication: What to Expect
OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS
This handbook equips families with the “how to” of daily operations at The Village School. Every policy and system created for our community to function and thrive is based on our values and beliefs:
Our community values
TRUST
RESPECT
AUTONOMY
INTERDEPENDENCE
CURIOSITY
JOY
We believe failure is essential to learning
We believe learning happens in community
We believe who our children are is more important than what they know.
We believe learning is better in a diverse environment
We believe young people need freedom and responsibility within structure.
We believe in free, unstructured play and all-weather learning.
We believe young people can be trusted to learn from their own experiences.
We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, learning to be, and learning to live together.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to give children agency in their learning. By changing the student’s role from passive consumers of knowledge to architects of their own learning, we are empowering them to discover themselves and, in turn, what they can uniquely contribute to the world.
PROFILE OF A TVS LEARNER
LEARN TO KNOW
Math
Reading
Civilization
Science
Health
LEARN TO DO
Goal Setting & Reflection
Entrepreneurship
Design Thinking
Communication
Creative Expression
LEARN TO BE
Curiosity
Self-direction
Resilience
Self-awareness
Purpose
Growth Mindset
LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER
Collaboration
Compassion
Respect
Accountability
Leadership
Gratitude
DAILY LIFE
SCHOOL HOURS
Drop-off: 8:20a - 8:40a *Please do not drop your learner off on campus until a TVS staff member is visible and present.
School Day: 8:40a - 3:20p
Pick-up: 3:20p - 3:40p
Extended Day: 3:30p - 5:00p
DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PROCEDURE
The Village School is located in a neighborhood, so we ask that you be mindful of our neighbors at all times, and especially during drop-off and pick-up. Our drop-off and pick-up procedures were created to minimize the impact of TVS traffic on our neighbors. Thank you for your patience and understanding. All learners will enter the building through the Potomac Street Entrance to get to their respective studios. A guide will be there to greet learners.
**Please help us keep the drop-off and pick-up process safe and efficient by adhering to these guidelines**
During drop-off, we ask that learner(s) remain in their cars until you are on Potomac St.
If you know that your learner(s) require more time to load and unload from the car, please find a parking spot and walk to or meet your learner(s) at the school entrance.
Please safely minimize the space between you and the car ahead of you in the queue.
Please do not, under any circumstance, make a U-TURN on N. Potomac St. in front of the school entrance.
Please do not, under any circumstance or for any duration of time, block bike lanes, private driveways or fire hydrants.
You are in charge of being clear with your learner about who is driving them home if it is someone other than yourself. Your learner should be confident and knowledgeable about the people who are allowed by you to drive them home. If your learner is ever confused by who is there to drive home, they should go immediately to a guide to request help. We discourage last minute carpool coordination, as it is not guaranteed that guides will receive your communication.
LATE DROP OFF & EARLY PICK UP PROCEDURE
LATE DROP-OFF: Learners who arrive after 8:40 must wait until 9:00am to be let in to not disturb the morning launch. Families are asked to call/text the school phone.: 703-493-0664. This is the number for early pick-ups/dismissals.
EARLY PICK-UP: If you are picking up your learner at any time other than dismissal, please park and please call/text the school phone. 703-493-0664. A guide will come out with your learner. It is most helpful if you inform your learner so they can be prepared to pack up their things and be ready when you arrive. Anytime there are changes to your usual pick-up drop off schedule, please email the studio guide(s) at the earliest convenience. For emergencies, please call/text the school phone 703-493-0664.
BIKING, WALKING, SCOOTERING
Learners who ride their bikes to school must wear a helmet. Bike racks are located in the back of the playground.
Families who walk are expected to adhere to their studio drop off/pick up windows and can meet their learners at the Potomac Street Entrance.
Discovery learners need parent permission in the form of an email to the studio guide team if they are planning to walk anywhere without an adult after school. Families should email guides at least 24 hours before.
Adventure learners are permitted to walk home/to Westover after school and are expected to coordinate this with their families. Families do not need to communicate with guides.
LUNCH AND SNACKS
We believe that learners should be responsible for packing and bringing their own healthy, nut-free lunch and snacks. Families of younger learners can support this by offering a sampling of healthy options and letting their learner select what they would like to pack, or packing lunch together until the learner is able to accomplish the task independently.
We also believe that a healthy lunch, snacks and water are essential for learners to find flow, focus, and engage productively in the studio. Please do not include candy or excessively sugary snacks.
We expect learners will forget their lunch occasionally. If this happens, please know that your learner will be okay! We always have snacks and extra food on hand. Please do not drop off or have food delivered from UberEats, DoorDash, or other delivery services.
Learners eat lunch outdoors except in unfavorable weather conditions. Adventure learners have use of the refrigerator and microwave.
BIRTHDAY AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
We are delighted to help celebrate your child’s birthday! We ask that instead of a birthday treat, you consider donating a favorite book of your child’s to the studio library in their honor. Additionally, we will celebrate at school with a special “trip around the sun” ceremony, song, and character call-outs.
Throughout the year there will be times when learners may want to take part in certain holiday traditions, i.e. Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc. We will rely on the learners to initiate and discuss their plans for these days and vote as a group as to if and how they would like to celebrate. Participation is not required.
FRIDAY FLEX DAYS
The Village School offers an open-studio format on Fridays which allows learners to work on projects and personal learning goals of their choice one day a week. Families may decide to learn from home, engage in outside school interests, travel on these flexible learning days, or simply enjoy a more relaxed schedule without the daily commute. (Programming costs are the same for 4 and 5 day attendance).
Adventure learners may engage in various service projects in the community throughout the year, and are encouraged to schedule apprenticeship hours on Fridays.
ATTENDANCE / ABSCENCES
The Village School does not have an attendance policy that specifies the required number of days that your child must be in school. It is the school’s philosophy that traveling with family and engaging in experiences with family is fruitful and educational. At the same time, consistent attendance will help your child be fully engaged with the community and with the project/quest learning. In fact, most projects depend on the participation of all team members. If you know in advance that you will be taking your child out of school, it is helpful for the other learners in the studio to be informed so they can make alternative work plans. Discovery and Adventure learners will be able to access online programs and their learning dashboard for studio assignments while he/she is away from school. Note: Consistent and frequent absences, for all or part of the school day, will have a negative impact on your child’s learning experience at TVS. For unexpected absenteeism, such as when your child wakes up and is ill, please send an email to the studio guides.
Spark Studio: Guidesspark@villageschoolnova.org
Discovery Studio: Guidesdiscovery@villageschoolnova.org
Adventure Studio: Guidesadventure@villageschoolnova.org
EXTENDED DAY
TVS Extended Day Program is open to Spark and Discovery learners from 3:30-5:00pm, Monday-Friday. There is no additional fee and it is open for daily and drop-in use. Extended Day is run as an open-studio format: Learners will have the option to engage in independent or lightly guided art projects or do school work. Extended Day is offered throughout the school year when school is in session (it is not offered during intersession camp days, early release days, holidays, or session breaks).
SCHOOL CALENDAR
SESSION BREAKS
The Village School takes regular breaks every 3-6 weeks throughout the year. These breaks allow learners to rest and recharge and guides to prepare the studio for the next session.
Break 1: October 6-13
Break 2: November 24-28
Break 3: December 22-January 2
Break 4: February 9-14
Break 5: March 30-April 6
Families who are in need of intersession break childcare are encouraged to reach out to other families to share in the planning of childcare for the week.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND DELAYS
The Village School follows Arlington County Schools delay and closure decisions. Updates will be sent via email regarding weather-related closure/delay decisions. If The Village School is open and the county schools where you reside are closed, we encourage you to use your discretion and examine local road conditions before driving to school.
Please note that, while we acknowledge that TVS is a small, independent school, we adhere to the County’s discretion on delays and closures to accommodate families with siblings at other schools and, more importantly, to ensure that our staff, many of whom take public transportation and/or do not reside near the school, remain safe.
LEARNING DESIGN
MASTERY-BASED LEARNING
Learners at The Village School work at their own pace to complete academic badges. Provided a learner is making progress, we recognize that each child learns at different speeds and bursts. Some learners complete multiple level badges in a school year while others take a bit longer. We invite parents to embrace their child’s learning speed and the philosophy of, “the only person you should compare yourself to is you yesterday.” Our learners are provided the privilege and respect of being held to an expectation of mastery. This may mean that a child needs more than one school year to complete their learning goals, but families can be assured that their child is not being pushed into more difficult concepts before understanding foundational skills.
*Details on studio specific requirements and badge plans are discussed in detail at the beginning of the school year.
TRACKING PROGRESS
BADGE PLANS VS. GRADES/REPORT CARDS
At The Village School, we do not use letter grades nor do we give written reports from a guide. Instead, each learner has a badge plan for the year. Learners will receive feedback on the work they produce from their peers, guides and from other sources as appropriate. Their progress will be documented through their achievement and mastery of badges in the Core Skills of Writing, Language Arts, Civilization, Math, Reading and Socratic discussions. For our ES and MS learners, the software programs in language and math track the progress of learning and can be accessed by parents at any time.
Badges can be translated into traditional transcript requirements for families relocating, college applications, Curriculum Vitae, and to celebrate authentic accomplishments of each Village School graduate. (Completion of a badge equals mastery of a subject area and translates into a traditional A.
EXHIBITIONS OF LEARNING
Several times a year, our learners host a public exhibition of learning for parents and community members. Learners demonstrate learning through debates, speeches, presentations, and demonstrations. Exhibitions of Learning allow students to showcase what they’ve “learned to do” in Projects, Civilization, Writing, Art, and other learning challenges and include “learning to be” reflections of personal growth. These experiences serve as a key way to share with parents what the process of learning looks like and to give them a learning experience of their own. These are not "neat and tidy" events run by adults but rather authentic, sometimes messy, learner-driven showcases of learning.
These exhibitions of learning take place in the Fall, Winter, and Spring each school year.
ONLINE DASHBOARDS
We encourage parents to find a healthy involvement in their child’s learning that works for their family. You have many tools available. Documentation of weekly goal achievement is available for learners to share with their parents at any time. If your learner is in the Discovery or Adventure Studio, they can show you how to log into Headrush. Headrush is software that documents progress in goal setting, badges, project and writing challenges, and peer reviews.addition, you are ere encouraged to become familiar with your learner’s online learning sites- ask your learner to teach you how to log in and to give you a “tour.”
If your learner is in the Spark Studio, you will be able to see your child's progress with weekly updates via Transparent Classroom.
LEARNER-LED CONFERENCES: “JOURNEY REVIEWS”
Twice per year, families will participate in a learner-led conference. Learners will share their progress in each area of our learning design: 1) Learning to learn 2) Learning to do 3) Learning to be and 4) Learning to Live together.
Spark Parents and Guides meet one-on-one while Discovery and Adventure Studio parents, learners, and guides meet all together to discuss growth, progress, and areas of challenge.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
Once per year, learners will be given a national achievement test to measure where they are in comparison to national norms. New learners will be assessed in the Fall and Spring. You will be notified in advance of testing dates. While learners are guided through the process and purpose of the tests, we do not spend time preparing for standardized tests nor do we emphasize their importance in any way. Score reports will be sent home. Results are kept confidential and we leave it up to families to discuss results with their learner if they desire.
SUPPORTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Our learning model honors the fact that each child has a unique learning profile. However, it is not well-suited to support learners with severe learning struggles or behavioral challenges. When a Guide recognizes that a learner is not reaching their full potential or showing signs of growth, parents will be contacted regarding the school’s concerns. Certain studio accommodations may be established to best meet the needs of the learner. In addition, recommendations and/or outside support to meet the needs of the learner will be discussed. It is our ultimate purpose to best serve every learner in our care, thus we acknowledge when a learner may need additional support or services beyond what we can provide. Our school is limited in scope and ability to serve learners who may need special resources or personalized assistance including but not limited to:
Psychotherapy, eye, and ear exams, ADHD/ADD/Dyslexia screening or intervention, tutoring, etc. It is the family’s responsibility to seek out special services their learner might need based on their observations or recommendations of the Guide Team.
Parents acknowledge that The Village School does not have a school nurse, or diagnostician on staff.
When considering outside tutoring, we ask that families consider the following:
At TVS, we empower the learners by leaning into their curiosities, which make their learning timelines look different.
If you choose to explore tutoring, please consider some unintended consequences that we have noticed in the past. A tutor can convey that the learner needs direct one-on-one attention to learn, which is not how learning is framed at TVS. Tutoring can lead to a lack of motivation during school to be self-directed, as well as communicate that learning can only occur during tutoring sessions, creating confusion for the learner. The intention of the tutoring is often overcome by learners developing a disinterest in the learner-driven approach because in the moment, it feels much better to just "get" the answer.
Tutoring is far more powerful when used as a tool, not as a crutch/absolute need. We encourage you to begin a conversation at home offering different tools to address the challenge. For example, ’You have shared with me that you are struggling in __… there are many tools to support your learning- would you like to explore daily family goals for a month, sitting with me everyday for two weeks, a tutor for two months or something else?
When using the tool, one way you can empower your learner is by setting specific and measurable goals: What is the exact goal for using a tutor? What metrics will tell us that we have outgrown this tool? Etc.
Take your learner’s studio schedule into account when scheduling outside tutoring or therapy appointments. If you are unsure, reach out to your learner’s guide team. TVS is not able to accommodate on-campus tutoring or therapy appointments.
STUDIO TRANSITIONS/FLEX LEVELS
To ensure that a learner is ready to thrive in a new studio both academically and socially-emotionally, The Village School has flex levels. A Flex Level means that a learner could remain in their current studio or move into the next studio. The academic challenge will be the same regardless of the studio; the difference stems from increased responsibility or structure.
STUDIO SYSTEMS
“SCHOOL RULES”: STUDIO CONTRACTS
At the beginning of the school year, Learners create a Studio Contract and Rules of Engagement (ROE) outlining their promises to themselves and others in the community. These are the community norms that create the positive peer culture of the studio.
Guides model and support learners in keeping these promises through consistent modeling of character traits such as kindness, empathy and curiosity, positive reinforcement, growth mindset language and provide timely and honest feedback when a learner is not following the studio contract.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Each week, Learners practice self-governance with the support of the Guide. Learners engage in weekly Community Meetings whereby Learners can problem solve studio issues, encourage each other through character call-outs, or plan studio events/activities.
Guides model and support learners in leading Community Meetings and help facilitate the process throughout the year.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Learners are encouraged to resolve interpersonal conflicts independently through conflict resolution strategies modeled and practiced by the Guide Team. Guides will step in only if necessary or if requested by the learner. Guides and learners follow these steps to work through a conflict:
Define the problem
Identify possible solutions
Make a plan to move forward.
If your child has a conflict within the studio, we encourage you to let them handle the matter.
An important part of our learning model is to guide learners to resolve their own conflicts by:
Controlling tempers and words
Sharing their feelings
Focusing on solutions
Learners and Guides work closely with the Head of Childhood Development to navigate conflicts and build skills to help them continue to learn how to live together.
HONOR CODE
In addition to conflict resolution, Guides will hold learners accountable when breaking the contract (uniquely created for each studio by the learners) or TVS Honor Code.
Learners are responsible for upholding their studio contracts and Honor Code.
TVS Honor Code:
I promise not to intentionally hurt myself or others either emotionally or physically.
I promise to be honest.
I promise to be respectful of all members of our community.
Guides and/or School Leadership are responsible for holding learners accountable to the TVS Honor Code and seeking partnership with learners and families when we notice ongoing conflicts or patterns of disruptive behavior.
Parents/Guardians are responsible for presuming the positive about the members of our community, supporting learners through curious questioning, and communicating with the Guides and Leadership when there is an ongoing problem or concern.
PEER FEEDBACK
Feedback is an important part of each studio. Learners in all studios are expected to participate in the feedback process. Guides will model different feedback protocols for learners and provide ongoing support.
Warm and cool feedback, also called “warm-hearted” and “tough-minded” feedback helps learners grow in their character and relationships to others.
Families are also invited to be a part of the feedback loop. It is important to remember that perfection is never our goal when sharing feedback with learners, and many (if not most!) times valuable feedback can be shared through socratic questioning rather than direct instructions.
BRAIN, BUDDIES, BOOKS OR LINKS (BLINKS)
The Village School is a learner-led environment focused on cultivating the skills of life-long learning. Guides do not serve as traditional teachers, but rather as coaches, mentors, co-learners, and co-investigators. Learners learn how to learn themselves by developing problem solving skills. Beginning in Discovery Studio, learners are encouraged to put to use the Brains, Buddies, & Books or Links (“Blinks”) system. BBB is defined as: first exhaust your own knowledge by thoroughly defining the problem and attempting to solve it on your own. Second, ask a “buddy” who may have expertise in the area you are struggling in. This is not a time to simply get the answer from a peer but jointly work to understand how to solve the problem. Lastly, learners are encouraged to use the school library, other online resources, or reach out/collaborate with a community expert.
As careful observers of the learning environment, Guides serve as “coaches” to inspire, equip and connect each learner to the tools available to them. If a Learner is struggling or "stuck", a Guide will help by brainstorming how they could solve the problem or by helping them find the resources to further pursue their curiosities and interests.
WELLNESS, HEALTH, AND SAFETY
WELLNESS CHECKS
The TVS Guide Team will engage in ongoing wellness assessments to ensure and maintain a healthy community that is focused on the well-being of each learner and studio. The wellness of each learner is tracked through weekly “pulse checks”, a collaboration between Head of Childhood Development and Studio Guide Teams. Any patterns of concerning behavior that affect the health and well-being of the learner or the community will be communicated directly with families.
If the behavior is not resolved after families and school teams collaborate, outside resources will be shared and families will be responsible for any next steps. If necessary, learners might be required to attend school virtually, if possible, until the situation is resolved.
The Village School wellness assessment process is certified through the State of Virginia Risk Assessment Training.
Please contact Bridget with any questions.
HEALTH FORMS & MEDICAL AUTHORIZATIONS
Before your learner begins at The Village School, it is necessary to have a copy of your child’s health and immunization records from your pediatrician’s office. You were asked to submit your health forms during the enrollment process; please login to TADS to make sure your health forms are complete.
We are not permitted to administer fever-masking medications such as Tylenol or Advil. In the case of prescription medication, parents must bring in and give the medicine and written instructions to a guide. Please send the medicine in the original container from the pharmacy with the child’s name on it and a dated note listing the times and amounts to be given that day. Include whether or not refrigeration is required. A medical authorization form must also be filled out and signed by the child’s parent.
ILLNESS POLICY
Following the state law for illness policy, a student with any of the following symptoms must be isolated and the parents notified and asked to remove the student from school as soon as possible:
Fever of 100.5 F.
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Nausea
Severe cough
Unusual yellow color to skin or eyes
Stiff neck or headache with one or more of the symptoms listed above
Difficult breathing or wheezing
Complaints of severe pain.
If your child is not feeling well in the morning, please observe them carefully before sending them to school and risking the health of the others.
Learners must be free of symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
If your child develops any of these symptoms while at school, we will call you immediately to come pick up your child.
SAFETY AT SCHOOL
The entire staff has had first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. The school is equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine. In addition, a crisis procedure manual outlines how staff would handle various emergencies. We will continually update this manual and practice the procedures. If you would like to see a copy, we will have one in the office.
Per state regulation, we must practice what to do in case of emergencies such as evacuation or lockdown. We will do so in a way as to not increase the anxiety of our learners. While we certainly hope that this situation is never required, we do have procedures in place, and will practice to ensure learners and staff understand what to do in an emergency.
BULLYING/MEAN BEHAVIOR
What do we mean by “mean behavior”?
The Village School defines mean behavior as something that is done to intentionally hurt someone else. As a staff, we recognize that mean behavior is a normal part of childhood development. All children are capable of mean behavior and find themselves on the receiving end of mean behavior. As a school, we focus on the behavior and actions, avoiding the labeling of any learner in our community.
Why is Learning to Live Together Important to us at TVS?
The Village School is a place that is committed to helping young people learn to live together, a pillar of our learning design. Learning to Live Together means that:
Conflict is a part of being human.
We see conflict as an opportunity to grow.
Respect is an expectation. Empathy is what we strive for.
We value learner-led conflict resolution processes which include: making connections, perspective-taking, and repairing harm.
We believe there are no quick fixes, resolving conflict is a process and takes time.
Each conflict offers a unique approach to learning how to live together. Conflict will be handled in a way that is unique to the learners involved.
What do we do when there is mean behavior?
Guides are responsible for facilitating conflict resolution processes that are research-based, aligned with our core values, and developmentally appropriate. The Village School adopts a model of positive discipline, logical consequences, and restorative justice principles for repairing harm.
PARENT/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
REGULAR COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS
WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES
Throughout the year, a weekly update email will be sent each Friday. This includes logistical items, studio-specific news and updates, photos, and resources for parents of self-driven learners. When looking for specific information, we ask all parents to explore the resources available here and on the Parent Portal first, as many common questions can be answered here. It is critical that families read these communications each week to stay informed of important information.
FAMILY GOOGLE CALENDAR & FORUM
Families will be invited to join the TVS Family Google Calendar which includes all important dates for the school year. Families can also use the TVS google forum to connect with other families, plan playdates/hang outs, share recommendations, etc.
Google Forum: thevillage@villageschoolnova.org
VILLAGE SCHOOL BLOG
Our school blog is a place to read about weekly happenings in the studios. Each week, one of our Guides will post a blog entry with a recap and reflection of the week. Parents can also expect to see a monthly post from our Head of School.
Our blog site is https://villageschoolnova.blog/ and can also be found on our website under “resources”.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay informed by following us on Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villageschoolnova
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-village-school-nova
COMMUNICATION WITH GUIDES
WHEN SHOULD I REACH OUT TO A GUIDE(S)?
If you have information or important insights to share on things happening at home, (family changes, noticeable behavior patterns, health updates, etc), we welcome hearing from you as this allows us to partner in providing the best possible support for your learner. We do ask for parents/guardians to use discretion in sending an email or note to a guide and communicate to share information, rather than seek information from the guide. There are many opportunities and systems to gain additional information about your learner's experiences at school.
If you have a question or concern, it is our expectation that parents have done the following before reaching out to the school:
Used the resources available to you (such as this handbook) to answer your question or address your concern
Talked with your learner about their question/concern
Taken the initiative to stay informed by reading all forms of school communication (Weekly emails, Blog posts, etc.)
This communication protocol honors and respects your role as a self-directed learner, as well as your learner’s, and allows our team time to focus on refining and improving learning challenges and systems at The Village School.’s, and allows our team time to focus on refining and improving learning challenges and systems at The Village School.
HOW SHOULD I REACH OUT TO A GUIDE(S)?
Parents/Guardians can reach out to their child's guide by emailng the studio guide team email address;
Spark Studio: Guidesspark@villageschoolnova.org
Discovery Studio: Guidesdiscovery@villageschoolnova.org
Adventure Studio: Guidesadventure@villageschoolnova.org
Email is the most effective form of communication. Please refrain from texting guides directly. Guides have phones only for emergencies and are not able to take calls or texts during the day. The Head of School will be copied on all outgoing communication between guides and families.
Please understand that we will not be available to talk with you during the morning drop off, during school or afternoon pick up times; and will respond to messages between 8:00-8:30 and 3:30-4:00pm.
For any emergencies, you may call the school phone: 703-650-8629. In case of an emergency at school, you will receive a group text as well as a group email with instructions.
SCHOOL COMMUNICATION: WHAT TO EXPECT
We expect parents to actively seek out information and equip themselves using the resources available to them. That being said, there are regular communications from TVS.
LOGISTICS
TVS will communicate…
Weekly Updates every week: these emails have all the important information for the next week of school.
Invitations to special events like Exhibitions, Field Trips, Rites of Passage, etc.
Schedule changes
INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS
We will communicate…
Consistent red flags: patterns of behavior that inhibit the success of a self-directed learner
If a learner is not making progress or avoiding an area of learning for more than 2 sessions
When you can schedule a Learner-Led Conference/Journey Review to sit down with your learner and guides to reflect on their progress and celebrate their learning
When a learner is close to meeting all of the prerequisites required to transition to the next studio.
*Please note that we can only communicate our observations. We will not diagnose learning disabilities or social-emotional concerns.
SAFETY
We will communicate over email or a phone call if there is a head injury or significant injury at school, a major event at school, or signs of significant emotional distress (threats of self-harm, scary internet searches, etc.)
PARENT EQUIPPING
We will communicate our mission and tools and resources during Parent Meetings and coffees
You can always find more information in the Family Handbook or in resources shared on the Parent Portal.
NEW LEARNER/FAMILY ONBOARDING
We will communicate…
The on-boarding process
An update on your learner's transition into his/her new studio
If there are concerns in the trial period
TVS PROMISES TO FAMILY
The Village School Team promises the following:
To Provide a Safe, Supportive, and Inspiring environment for learning. We will set clear expectations for learners so they can be successful.
To Model ourselves as lifelong learners, problem solvers, and trailblazers. We will model respect, honesty and kindness at all times.
To See, Know and Trust the learners in our care. We will affirm each learner’s thoughts and feelings, and do our best to meet their individualized needs. We will trust each child, their process, and their abilities.
To Embrace Failure and healthy risk-taking as opportunities for learning. As learners learn to learn, learn to do, learn to be, and learn to live together, we will regularly engage learners in reflecting on their experiences.
To Provide a World-Class, Research-Based Education that focuses on the whole child. We will create meaningful learning experiences that have real-world application.
To Communicate Clearly and Consistently with learners and families with the goal of transparency. This includes communicating school wide events, logistics, and studio experiences as well as providing progress updates on the available learning platforms. We promise to reach out to parents if concerning patterns emerge.
To Seek and Welcome Constructive Feedback and use it to continue to improve and innovate while staying true to our mission and purpose.
To Assume the Best of learners, parents, and other members of our community at all times.
TUITION AND FEES
Our tuition for the 2025-26 academic year is $20,000 (Spark Studio) and $18,500 (Discovery/Adventure Studio) per learner annually with a one-time new learner enrollment fee of $500. Tuition is paid September through June in monthly installments. Parents are required to pay tuition by the first of each month. You will receive a reminder email to pay tuition through the TADS Tuition Management platform, where you will be given the option to pay your invoices by credit card or ACH. Families who choose to pay their tuition for the full year upfront will receive a 5% discount.
Trial Session: There are no binding financial obligations for the first session of a new learner’s enrollment at The Village School. This period is considered a trial period, giving both the school and the family additional time to determine if TVS is the right fit. If a family decides to leave The Village School after the trial period, the family is obligated to pay the full year’s tuition. If the school is responsible for asking a family to leave after the trial period ends, the family is obligated to pay tuition through the last day their child is enrolled at TVS.
All deposits and enrollment fees are non-refundable.
We are doing our best to make the fees affordable without ever sacrificing the quality of our educational service. As a non-profit organization, all of the finances will serve the learners, staff, and learning environment of The Village School.
PARENT AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION
As Village School Parents, we make promise, to our children and to the TVS team, that we will:
Trust our child and trust the process: We will welcome the self-paced environment at The Village School. We will be patient and respect that our child’s path may be different from ours. We will refrain from solving our child’s problems or removing obstacles, and we will resist intervening.
Embrace failure and experience as the best teachers: We will embrace the messiness of experiential learning and be willing to reflect on experiences regularly as opportunities for growth.
Embrace accountability: We will support the systems of accountability at school, and we will have clear and consistent boundaries at home, holding our child/children accountable using natural and logical consequences. We will act if needed to remove distractions at home so our child/children can thrive.
Meaningfully engage with our child: We will be present and listen well in conversations with our child, seeking to understand by asking questions. We will be curious, accepting, and affirming our child’s thoughts and feelings without judgment. We will give growth mindset praise and celebrate our child’s effort and progress.
Meaningfully engage with the community: We will attend parent meetings, exhibitions, and parent coffees regularly to get to know others. We will give and receive honest, thoughtful feedback. We will assume the best of others, modeling respect, honesty, and kindness. We will bring our child/children to school on time.
Be self-directed learners and problem-solvers: We will use the tools and resources available to us to learn more about The Village School's approach and learning design and answer our own questions. We will take responsibility for our own learning as lifelong learners with active learning projects that we share with our child/children.