Unique Features

In handwork, children learn through the work of their hands. Knitting, sewing, and other local fiber arts cultivate patience, focus, and imagination while developing brain development and nurturing fine motor skills. Each project is more than a craft—it is an expression of beauty, care, and purpose, teaching children that what they make with intention can bring warmth and joy to the world.

Woodwork brings the classroom into direct relationship with nature’s gifts. Students engage deeply with natural materials—shaping, carving, and building with purpose and care. Through this hands-on practice, they not only develop fine motor skills and craftsmanship but also cultivate perseverance, creativity, and problem-solving. Just as importantly, they gain a deep sense of reverence and stewardship for the natural world.

Working with highly sharpened tools demands mindfulness. This begins with an awareness of others’ safety, then extends to personal safety, and finally, to the focused attention required to master carving techniques. Using tools such as Swiss carving knives, draw knives, and gouges, students refine their ability to “make the cut” with precision and care.

Our primary materials are locally harvested woods—Rocky Mountain juniper, poplar, and aspen—bringing regional ecology into direct contact with the students’ hands. In grades 4 through 6, the curriculum centers around carving bowls and spoons, alongside a range of other projects that introduce fundamental techniques.

As students progress into 7th and 8th grades, they pivot toward more complex work: carving marionettes and collaborating on a full puppet production. This effort is closely aligned with handwork classes next door, in partnership with Ms. Aragon, creating a rich interdisciplinary experience.

Ultimately, woodwork connects students to something elemental. The human capacity for intelligence and mindfulness evolved in large part from our ability to use our hands—learning to shape tools, craft objects, and engage the world through thoughtful, intentional action.

Movement is woven throughout the day, balancing body, mind, and spirit. Circle games, cooperative play, and guided physical activities awaken joy in motion, support healthy development, and strengthen community. Through movement, children grow in coordination, confidence, and connection—with themselves and with one another.

Learning Spanish opens the children to the richness of another culture and language. Songs, stories, and lively conversations create a joyful introduction to language that is rooted in rhythm and imagination. This early exposure nurtures curiosity, broadens perspective, and builds a foundation for lifelong learning.