Our School.
Built in 1907, New Suffolk School educates children in New Suffolk from grades Pre-K through 6. Within the school’s three classrooms, under the guidance of three full-time teachers, students study the general subjects of English Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Science. Also offered through part-time teachers are enrichment classes in Physical Education, Music, Art and Spanish.
The Grade levels are split into three classrooms, as follows: Pre-K – Grade 2, Grades 3-4 and Grades 5-6. One classroom also serves as an all-purpose room used for enrichment classes, lunch and recess when the weather is not fit for students to be outside. Children take part in lessons for their particular grade level with teachers, and then work independently when teachers need to focus on another grade level in the classroom. Teachers may also conduct one lesson for all grade levels focusing on a theme, and then later assign age-appropriate individual projects based on the lesson.
Our Feature in the Wall Street Journal
Our Curriculum.
New Suffolk is a unique school community. The most noticeable difference from traditional schools is our multiage classrooms. In a multiage setting, developmental diversity is celebrated as part of a natural community of learners, and harnessed to support each childs’ learning. The family nature of multiage groupings provides positive support and challenge to each student at their individual level. Teachers loop with their students for three or four years, creating strong relationships and seamless transitions each September. Teachers know each child’s strengths, needs, and interests, and often create personalized learning experiences.
At New Suffolk we integrate project-based learning into each unit. Students have hands-on experiences, and learn through our natural environment weekly. We are student centered; as students learn within larger themes and through shared topics, they also learn at individual paces and with multisensory options for exploration. We invite experts from our community to share their passion and knowledge at New Suffolk; we have learned from local beekeepers about how important conserving the bee population is, and our intermediate students learned the game of Petanque from one of our generous neighbors!
Our teachers are collaborative and use overarching themes to gather students together throughout the year. For example, as part of a Fall theme, we have gathered to read about, share, identify, and taste test local apples. Our content is often integrated; children read, write, record, explore, and learn their grade appropriate content while also building, playing, problem solving, and creating with students in Pre-K through 6th grade.
Each week our students enjoy Physical Education, Music, Spanish, Art, and a daily whole school movement break. Students maintain traditions like ringing the 8:30 a.m. school bell, a daily reminder of the magic in New Suffolk.
