The Village School is an independent school for students from preschool through the 6th grade. Located in Royalston, Massachusetts, the Village School serves children from over 20 of the surrounding nearby communities in north central Massachusetts, and southern New Hampshire.
The nature based Village School education focuses on in-depth, hands-on academic studies together with kindness and attention to the individual student. 
The First Village School All School Sing CD!
24 classic Village School songs from Monday morning All School Sing and more. Sung by K-6th Village Schoolers, recorded in a studio in spring 2011. These are songs you want to sing with your kids. $10 (and $2.50 for shipping) each at the school or click to order below. Read the Village School Children Create CD article >>
All School Poetry Project 2011
Magical Place Reading Buddies Poetry Poetry Project
Read the poems, view art samples and see the students hard at work >>
Student Art Work
Look through our student photo albums and view great student art work from our current and past student body.
Photo Albums
Look through our student photo albums and view great student art work from our current and past student body.
Parent Reminders
- YES! Theater/Vaudeville Residency This Week January 23-27 We ask that all K-6th children arrive promptly at 8:30 a.m., all week, so they don't miss any practices. Parents and friends are invited to the All School Vaudeville Show this Friday at 4:00 p.m. at the Royalston Town Hall. This includes all the preschool children. 2nd-6th children can stay after school with their class, (though parents are welcome to pick them up, so they can 'chill.') We ask that K-1 parents arrive at 3:15 to be with their children until 4:00. Otherwise, make arrangements to place K-1 children in After School. All children staying past 3:15 (including K-1) must pack an extra snack to eat before the performance.
- Come to Parent Group Meeting This Wednesday January 25 8:30 a.m. at the Dawsons' house next door to school. We'll do a mini math lesson together with math teacher Lynn Nystrom, and we'll prepare for upcoming events.
- Open House Saturday February 4 from 10-12 Flyers are in the hallway. Your help is really needed - please post flyers in your town and wherever you go. Bookmarks are also in the hallway to leave in various places.
- 1st-6th Grade Parents:
Cross Country Skiing on Fridays, don't forget skis and ski boots. - Snow Day Protocol We are closed when Athol/Royalston Schools are closed. When we can send an email by 9:00 p.m. the night before, then you will not receive a phone call in the morning. Otherwise, classroom teachers will call all parents by 7 a.m.
- view newsletter >>
Upcoming Field Trips
If you have a TD Bank account...
Academic Highlights
Preschool
The Village School provides a warm, safe, supportive, nurturing garden for children to grow and become themselves. Teachers are facilitators, gardeners and role models ...
Kindergarten - Grade 1
Themes last over five weeks. They reflect the changing seasons and give children a taste of some of the subjects that are covered in the upper grades ...
Grade 2 - Grade 3
The foundation for all learning at the Village School is a strong sense of community. The children view themselves as integral members of the larger Village School ...
Grade 4 - Grade 6
Our day starts at 8.30, with a class meeting circle, run by each of the children in turn. By taking responsibility for the meeting, the children learn both how to lead a meeting ...
Community Events
- Open House Saturday February 4, 2012 - 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Come meet the teachers, visit with parents, see the classrooms, talk to alumni, find out about our unique curriculum and get your questions answered.
More Details >> - A Parent's Report on Math NightOn January 11th the Village School hosted an informative and inspiring Math Night, helping us parents understand how much learning about math has changed since it was drilled into us as youngsters. The Village School's Math Coach, Polly Wagner, has a gift for presenting math as a non-scary and even fun topic. She showed us that our kids are really learning to think and solve problems as opposed to memorizing numbers. We can be thankful that the Village School continues to be at the forefront of math evaluation by utilizing the Math Investigations curriculum and its periodic upgrades. Thanks to the Village School staff for offering this important evening of "parent training" to help us work with our children to think about numbers and problem solving rather than confusing them with our old, rigid ways. Almost all of the parents attending were surprised by the new, more problem-solving approach Polly showed us. Understanding that there are many ways to solve a math problem is half the battle! - Village School parent
- More Upcoming Events >>
New from the School
The DVD of To Weave or Not to Weave, the Village School play, is available for a suggested donation of $10.
Village School Children Create CD - written by George Bennet for the Athol Daily News
April 2011
From the Director:
Director Rise Richardson says, "The Village School is all about enabling children to develop all their capacities fully - mentally, emotionally and physically. Love of learning, instilled at the Village School at a very young age, flourishes as students engage in strong academic studies that are enhanced and supported by art, music, movement and a dynamic contact with nature. Village School students are inquisitive, self-directed learners, who actively engage in the world around them. The education here is a value added education; children learn Spanish, learn to play recorder, go swimming, work with scientists and artists - what would be after school lessons in other schools - is incorporated in the daily curriculum, without compromising academic learning. In fact, it enhances academic learning."
The Village School's Mission
Founded by parents in 1989, the Village School's mission is to instill a lifelong love of learning in children, establishing contact with nature as a foundation, stimulating intellectual curiosity and engaging in community spirit. In addition to providing hands-on, rigorous academic studies, the school aims to promote kindness and address the unique individual student.
Here is a short video of Sir Ken Robinson talking about Creativity and Education, selected and approved by Village School teachers: A Sympathetic View of Education >>
Featured Quote of the Month
"There is so much about The Village School that I love - its focus on community, time spent with nature, honoring individuality and learning styles, open communication, and support of the WHOLE child. My shy 9-year-old has flourished here where she may have fallen through "the cracks" at a traditional school. Childhood is a happy, innocent time ... and this learning environment reflects that!" - Village School Parent
Coffee Fund Raiser
Enjoy Dean's Beans organic coffee and help out the school. Place your coffee order online today!