What happens when you give 28 middle schoolers complete control of a field trip to the zoo? They navigate the metro system, manage the schedule, and get everyone there safely—while adults at the station nervously shuffle away from the "scary" group of teens. In just six weeks, our learners at The Village School planned field trips, created a music video, wrote an AI guidebook, and proved what we already knew: middle schoolers are wildly more capable than the world gives them credit for.

What happens when, instead of warning “watch out” or “be careful,” we step back and let children discover the courage and problem-solving skills that come from taking risks?

From playing outdoor games to sharing stories during circle time, Spark learners have begun forging connections and creating an atmosphere of trust and friendship. They have shared valuable insights about what it means to be honest and kind, and how these qualities play a vital role in their learning environment. Returning learners jumped right in to show how they could help and collaborate, making the learning space inclusive and exciting.

The next time your child feels upset, disappointed, or uncomfortable, pause before rushing to smooth it over. See it instead as an opportunity. These moments, though challenging, are where growth happens.

This blog was originally published in March of 2021 during my first year as a TVS parent and prior to me taking on my current role at school. Despite the fact that reading this causes a sharp pain in my heart at the realization that time is, in fact, a thief, the message is an important one for me to remember as my kids are older. Listening to them now is just as, or maybe even more important. I hope you’re inspired by this message just as much as I was.

Eight years ago The Village School started its first year with 12 learners and 3 guides with a mission that hasn’t changed: to give young people agency in their learning so they can discover their passions and uniquely contribute to the world.  Each year the school has grown and changed with new families, a new campus, new systems, and a newfound urgency to create a place where all learners can thrive. We begin each year with an infinite set of possibilities.

TVS parents drive back and forth from homes built on a purposeful set of priorities, values, and beliefs to a school where, despite our differences, we all feel like we belong.

“Ms. Elizabeth, no one teaches us how to fish. We teach ourselves. This is The Village School, remember?”