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ADMISSIONS
Process for September
Outdoor Tours:
We offer three tours so families have a sense of our farm-based school.
Tours are from 9:30 am to 10:15 a.m. the following times:
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Monday, October 16, 2023
Thursday, October 19, 2023
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Please call the school to register for a spot: 617-731-6463
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We meet at the tree stumps in front of the school near the parking lot.
Zoom Interview:
We are conducting 30-minute interviews via Zoom. Please call the school (617-731-6463) to arrange a day and time. Interviews will be offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from November 1st - December 8th.
Applications:
Applications for Chicken Coop and Class I are due by December 15th. Applications for Class II and Class III are due by March 1st. There is a non-refundable $50 application fee.
Sibling Applicants: If your child is a sibling of a current or former Apple Orchard student please call Diana Walcott in the Admissions Office at 617-731-6463 and request a sibling application.
New Applicants to the school:
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Those interested in our Chicken Coop (2.9-year-old) and Class I (3-year-old) programs should call the school to arrange a Zoom interview. Parent interviews for these age groups are conducted in November and December. Applications will be sent out after the Zoom interview and are due by December 15th. Decision letters are sent at the end of January.
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Those interested in our Class II (4-year-old) program should call the school to arrange a Zoom interview. Class II parent interviews are conducted in January and February. Applications will be sent out after the Zoom interview and are due by March 1st. Decision letters are sent in mid-April.
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Those interested in our Kindergarten (Class III) program should call the school to arrange a Zoom interview. Class III parent interviews are conducted in January and February. Applications will be sent out after the Zoom interview and are due by March 1st. Decision letters are sent in mid-April.
Our Commitment to Creating a Diverse Community
We seek families who understand our mission as a play-based and nature-based program that focuses on the joy of learning through children’s natural curiosity about the world and their peers.
Our community is made stronger and more just through the inclusion of families from various racial, cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. We value the rural landscape our farm setting provides, and are committed to having AO accurately reflect the diverse and larger world around us.
As early childhood educators, we focus extensively on developing the social-emotional skills of our students. We recognize those skills are best practiced by experiencing difference and similarity through the “windows and mirrors” students encounter each day. They learn through “windows” when they are attuned to perspectives and experiences different from their own, and they learn through “mirrors” when they see their own experiences or perspective being reflected back to them, thereby affirming their place in our world.
Our teachers actively seek out opportunities to model embracing difference and to challenge stereotypes, thereby nurturing anti-racist perspectives in our students. This best happens through real interactions with a diverse group of students and teachers. In the classroom, we celebrate the differences we see in ourselves and others through song, literature, projects, and dramatic play. In our outdoor classroom, there are numerous moments to observe and discuss differences in the context of nature and animals. We seek applicants who feel a strong connection to our outdoor learning environment and who believe a diversity of students, teachers, and families are essential and the best preparation for an excellent 21st century education.
Decisions to accept new families and children are based on a variety of factors including a balance of gender, birthdate range, diversity of race, cultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, and different demographic communities. Acceptance letters are mailed at the end of January for Chicken Coop and Class I, and in mid-April for Class II and Class III. Apple Orchard is committed to creating a diverse community of families, students, and faculty. We strive to ensure everyone at Apple Orchard feels a sense of connection and belonging.