Caraway Classrooms

We focus on classes with multi-age groupings. Our emphasis is on social and emotional learning, as well as project based, hands on learning in a democratic and respectful environment.

Every year looks different in terms of classroom structure; this can be based on enrollment and the number of students in each grade level that coming year. Your parent tour may not reflect what the classroom structure will look like the following year. The staff works very hard to create class groupings based on friend dynamics, individual kids needs, and the needs of each classroom as a whole.

Blue and Purple Room

We lovingly refer to this group as “The Blurples.’’ We typically have bottom heavy enrolment with the influx of kinders, so we often split kindergarten and grades one, two, and three into two separate classrooms. The structure of our classrooms vary year to year.

Green and Yellow Room

In green and yellow room, students begin to take ownership of their education and their roles begin shifting into mentors and leaders for the younger kids as well. This year, green and yellow room house grades four, five and six. We lovingly refer to the Green and Yellow Rooms as "The Grellows"

Red Room

Our Red Room is a large studio space where the students come into their teen years. They focus heavily on connection to self and others while further developing interests, social emotional development, leadership skills and academic skills. As in the other classrooms they are looking to retain wonderment, and have a joyful and playful atmosphere in an attachment-style classroom that balances autonomy and community. Students in red room are expanding their knowledge of the global world they are part of, in order to become democratic citizens that see themselves as empowered to create change.

DAILY RHYTHM & SCHEDULE

The Caraway Way

Our belief about how children learn and the unique relationship that our students develop with staff has practical implications on the timetable of our curriculum offered. Our rhythm must have some flexibility and time offered for self-chosen activities and exploration. The students learning is seen as a continuous process of development. Our days typically begins with a start at 8:41 a.m. and our gentle structure begins shortly after. We then gather as a collective group for a morning meeting where the days plans are discussed and any issues that have come up are addressed democratically. Collaborative communication and discussion happens during these crucial meetings and they help children to develop multiple skills. Often there is time for gym, ravine adventures and projects; in the older rooms there is dedicated space for numeracy and literacy. After lunch, the groups gather again for a meeting before breaking into exploration, free choice and student/parent run clubs. The older children often participate and engage in a social & emotional sharing circle and are able to manage this style of collaboration because they have honed the skills through the fundamental practice of our meetings in the primary years.

OUR UNIQUE PROGRAMMING

Some of the program offerings we have at Caraway

Yawarac

This is our entrepreneurial unit. All Caraway students participate in coming up with a concept and working collaboratively in a group. They developing a plan, create the product and launch their own business at the school. The students set up and sell within the Caraway Marketplace. So much incredible learning happens during Yawarac!
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Life Cycle

Nature Days and ravine exploration is vital to the goals of the Caraway Program. Being in nature builds personal resilience, problem solving, collaboration and risk taking. It also helps our children retain better mental health, autonomy and stewardship over our earth.
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Potion Shop

Potion Shop bridges numeracy, literacy, science and play all together to create a spooktacular learning experience!
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Tinkering

Hands on exploration and creativity takes place during this time. Trials, failure and triumphs are all part of the process when becoming inventors. Gutting, Gadgets and gizmos, oh my!
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Field Trips

We believe that actively engaging in new experiences allows for positive enrichment in our learning. As a program, we go on many adventurous field trips and also participate in classroom workshops. From skiing, to catching frogs, camping and swimming, we cover it all!
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Art and Theater

In grade four, children have the opportunity to be part of Caraway’s story theatre. In the past, they have even performed at The Fringe Festival and received glowing reviews! Our students also have access to the creative art room where they can do everything from painting to throwing clay on the wheel!
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