Agenda - 05-19-2008-c2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTENT TOPRUCH4SE FOR SCHOOL ZONING: The Montessori Farm School wishes tn � the 711 Terry Road property, and develop an educational facility for children ages 3 through 6th grade. Traditional academic skills taught using the Montessori method witt be enhanced by a focus on stewardship of the earth through combining a school and farm environment designed specifically for this purpose. We have strived, in the last year, to locate the most appropriate location for this venture. A property in Orange County ix the most attractive for a few reasons. YYe feet the location iu especially desirable due to the fact that Orange County is dedicated to the same goals of environmentai-mindednessasvvnare. While more and more farms are sold for neighborhoods, we see the importance of educating children as to how to protect the land, ensure safe living conditions, and understand how food iogrown. VYe see the importance of working with families in a rural farm setting towards the preservation of common knowledge mffood production and care of the earth, as well as an acute understanding nf the interdependency ofnature, animals and humans in the environment. The area is central to the clientele that vva attract, and are families are like-minded in this venture. Our c6rhentk/ enrolled students, andtheir deepk/=invoh/ed families, all come from the HiUsborouQh and N. Durham County area. Presently, Montessori Farm School is renting space in the education building behind the Abundant Life Church. The children vve enroll start aa early as 3 years old, and our oldest is third grade. We intend to add fourth grade next year, fifth the following year and then sixth the following year. Three and four year olds attend five days a week from 8:3O-12:15, Kindergarten through elementary attends five days a week from 8:30 - 2:30. Once vve have reached ourgoaioffuiicapacity;/0ontensnhFarnmSchooiwil[housethree preschool classrooms, one tower elementary classroom (1 st through 3 m grade) and one upper elementary classroom (4 0 through 6 m grade.) Total enrollment at that time wilt consist of BO preschool/ kindergarten students and 4O elementary students. Each classroom will have 2 adults (one lead teacher and one nsxistant,) Th� Head of School, and anassistant administrator, wilt occupy the of�ice' bringing ourtotal staff count to 12. We are a private non-profit, run by a board consisting of parents and members of the community who share our vision and cgmrnitment, While we currently do not offer scholarships, we have started m fund in order that vve may do so in the near future. Students bring their own lunch, since we do not (and wilt not) have lunchroom facilities. Aside from our academic and agricultural intentions, we also intend for our students to participate in, and champion, causes reflecting our vision outside of the farm school confines. To that end, for example, our kindergarten through elementary students have already started participating in4-Hweekly. YVe see this program asa wonderful way to enhance our science curriculum while working With environmental issues and learning how tn care for large animals. YYe believe that one teaches, Learns and lives through example, and therefore also promote the necessary life skills of recycling, composting and water conservation. While vve work towards the realization of our own farm school facility, vwe visit other farms, plant and harvest gardens around our present school environment, and care for the small animals we have. We would deeply appreciate your consideration in our venture, and are most grateful for all th� support and encouragement we have received from the Orange County administrators to date.