Group of nine young people jumping in the air outdoors in a forested park.

A Montessori-Based Learning Community for Adolescents

Founded by

Tracey Etelson & Patti Mitchell

Dear Parents,

There is a moment in every child’s life—often between the ages of 10 and 14—when something begins to shift.

Curiosity deepens. Identity awakens.

And too often, traditional education narrows just as the child is ready to expand.

We have created this middle school for that moment.

This is a place where students are not managed—but guided.

Not pressured—but challenged.

Not defined—but discovered.

With Love and Grace,

Patti and Tracey

Creative Learning approaches

✳︎

A strong sense of identity

✳︎

Confidence in their voice

✳︎

Critical thinking and collaboration skills

✳︎

A deep understanding of their role in the world

Creative Learning approaches ✳︎ A strong sense of identity ✳︎ Confidence in their voice ✳︎ Critical thinking and collaboration skills ✳︎ A deep understanding of their role in the world

Close-up of a vintage incandescent light bulb with visible glowing filament, mounted on a dark surface.

Our Vision

Adolescence is not a problem to be solved—
it is a transformation to be honored.

Students are not just learning facts.

They are forming identity, values, and voice.

Here, learning meets life.

A Three-Year Journey

Year One —
Identity & Power

Who am I? Where do I stand?

Power vs. Force —
Colonization in the Americas

Self-Determination & Sovereignty —
American Revolution

Growth & Development —
Westward Expansion

Year Three —
Responsibility & Awareness

What will I choose now?

Cooperation & Collaboration — World War II

Values & Goals — Mid-Century America

Mind vs. Matter — The Information Age

Year Two —
Systems & Consequences

What have we built—and at what cost?

Self vs. Other — Civil War & Reconstruction

Innovation & Progress vs. Sustainability —
Industrial Revolution

Personal & Global Economics — World War I

Someone standing on a sidewalk with shoes and jeans visible, looking down at a tiled floor with a sign that says 'Passion Led Us Here' and shadows of leaves overhead.

A colorful sign on a white wall reads 'LOVE TO LEARN' with a purple and yellow background. The sign is positioned near a landscaped area with white gravel, green bushes, and flowering plants, with a blurred person walking in the background during sunset.

How Students Learn

Students engage through:

Project-based learning
Interdisciplinary studies
Collaborative group work
Independent reflection
Real-world application

Students don’t just absorb information—
they engage, question, and create.

Personal Development
Each unit integrates:

Self-awareness
Emotional intelligence
Responsibility
Ethical thinking
Identity formation

Students are not only learning history—they are learning themselves.

A group of diverse students socializing and studying in a university lecture hall with wooden tiered seating and large windows letting in natural light.

Program Schedule & Daily Rhythm

Our program is designed to provide both structure and spaciousness—
a rhythm that supports focus, independence, and meaningful work.

Days of Operation: Monday through Thursday

Program Hours: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Fridays:Expedition Day

Experiential learning, field studies, and real-world exploration

Optional Extended Day: 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM

A man and a girl hiking on a dirt trail through a forest with tall trees and green foliage under a bright blue sky.

Various paintbrushes covered in dried paint are lying on a white surface, with a wooden palette featuring colorful paint swatches.

Tuition & Program Contributions

Base Monthly Contribution

$1,000 per month

Expedition Fees

Varies based on destination

Extended Day Option

$200 per month

Supplies & Technology

Provided by families

Enrollment Process

1. Schedule a conversation with the Founders

2. Share about your child

3. Student visit (if applicable)

4. Enrollment decision

An art installation with two people, one sitting on the floor and another standing, surrounded by an intricate web of black thread or string connecting various points in a large white space.

Get In Touch

If you're interested in our school, complete the form and we will reach out to schedule a call with one of our founders. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.

Student Exhibitions

Each unit culminates in meaningful demonstrations of understanding:

Debates
Simulations
Presentations
Creative projects
Public showcases

Every student presents individually and contributes to a group experience.

Two women sitting at a wooden picnic table, reading books and taking notes, with a drink nearby, outdoors on a sunny day.

A Typical Day Includes

Morning work cycle (deep focus time)

Seminars and group lessons

Community dialogue

Outdoor time and movement

Project and exhibition work

A top-down view of a round container filled with yellow colored pencils with sharpened tips, arranged in a circular pattern on a blue surface.

Wooden Scrabble tiles spelling out the words 'LIVE LEARN' on a white background.

Silhouettes of three people jumping during sunset over mountains.

What Students Become

Students leave with:

A strong sense of identity
Confidence in their voice
Critical thinking and collaboration skills
A deep understanding of their role in the world

They are prepared not just for high school—but for life.

A living room with a gray sofa, a yellow armchair, a colorful abstract painting, string lights, a small table with a lamp, decorative feathers, a TV, a bookshelf, and patterned rugs.

Closing

Middle school can be a time when students shrink…

or a time when they expand into who they are becoming.

We are here to create the latter.