My daughter attended the Groton Farm School (GFS) for three academic years, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. Sending her to GFS was one of the best decisions that I made for my daughter. Under the guidance of Shelly Sullivan and her wonderful team of colleagues, she developed both academically and socially. Equally important to her academic and social growth, was the happiness she experienced each day at school. She loved going to school and looked forward to spending time with her multiage classmates and, of course, the animals on the farm. Due to the multiage nature of the school, the children cultivated caring and supportive friendships with one another.

The benefits of the outdoor learning opportunities at GFS were numerous. Instead of being confined to one classroom, students had access to a 20 acre farm as their learning space. Walking in the pasture, writing on lap desks in the orchard, completing art projects in the gazebo, and conducting science experiments in the garden are just a few examples of the way nature was an important component of daily activities on the farm. In addition to being able to learn academic concepts while exploring the natural world, students also develop a sense of confidence, responsibility and compassion from working with the farm animals. For example, my daughter spent a lot of time working with the bunnies on the farm and was able to guide other students in the proper care of this particular animal. The farm provided her a space to not only develop academic but also leadership skills.

When it was time for her to transition back to public school, she had developed all of the skills needed to transition to a traditional classroom setting as well as a sense of independence and confidence as a learner. The team at GFS ensured that she cultivated the reading, writing, math, social studies and science skills needed to enable her to be successful in a public school setting. Moreover, while at GFS, she cultivated a curiosity for learning that she will carry with her throughout her lifetime.

On a personal note, I work in the field of higher education and had the opportunity to bring pre-service teachers to visit the school. My students were able to observe that “one size doesn’t fit all” and that there are many benefits of a nature based classroom setting. GFS is a very special teaching and learning community that meets learners where they are at. I am incredibly grateful for Shelly Sullivan and her colleagues for the positive and lasting impact they had on my daughter.

Our two kids have attended GFS for two years, during a time of significant transition and disruption in their lives. It was precisely the environment they needed to stabilize, relax, find their confidence, and explore new social and intellectual opportunities. All of the staff and instructors at the School take great care to get to know each student for who they are, balancing the need to both challenge and support students as they grow. Best of all, the beautiful environment and presence of animals keep the kids deeply connected to nature and play. Now, as our two boys thrive in their middle school, we can clearly see how well-adjusted they are, and how the curriculum at GFS prepared them both academically and socially for the next stage of their education. We’re incredibly grateful for the strong foundation that GFS has provided for them.

We sought out Groton Farm School due to concerns about the lack of recess time our son was getting in public kindergarten, where his love of learning seemed to be contracting rather than expanding. After a few months at GFS, we saw his joy and curiosity reignite. His spirit has flourished in a setting where he is able to have varied experiences throughout the day (indoor and outdoor, independent and collaborative) that facilitate multidimensional, interdisciplinary learning. In the two years he has attended GFS, his reading, writing, and math skills have excelled. He often comes home excited to share observations of wildlife and plants, and he enjoys the frequent opportunities for music, art, and hands-on projects on the farm. We are so grateful to the wonderful teachers and community at GFS for helping him become the curious, kind, and self-possessed learner he is today. ~H.R., Lunenburg

Our gentle animal-loving Kindergartener loves attending Groton Farm School. He looks forward to learning with founder Shelly Sullivan every day. Our son comes home feeling proud of his work and his accomplishments on a daily basis. He enjoys having the opportunity to feed and spend time with the animals on the farm. We know that our son has made memories that will last him a lifetime. His willingness to take risks, be a community member, and be an engaged learner are priceless for us as parents. We are grateful for our child’s opportunity to attend Groton Farm School.

As parents of two students currently enrolled at Groton Farm School, we feel incredibly fortunate to have discovered a truly unique learning environment for our children. Ms. Shelly and the staff at GFS have created a magical space for children; a space where they not only learn the traditional core concepts found in elementary education, but are also encouraged towards a deeper exploration into their individual interests. Our children are thriving under GFS’s approach to learning their focus on nature, respect for all creatures big and small and the fostering of independence and personal growth are just a few examples of what sets Groton Farm School apart from other schools. The beautiful and expansive property and up close and personal access to the animals is truly special; and no two days are ever alike!

Groton Farm School would have been a saving grace for our family at any time, but especially this year when it was hard to feel that we could hit the nail on the head in any area because of the pandemic. What a gift! This really unique and integrative format has been the missing puzzle piece for us. Our family celebrates daily that our daughter receives a consistent, high-quality academic curriculum. There are plentiful opportunities for extracurricular creative expression and skill-building, along with care and attention to her socio-emotional and developmental needs. We are a year in, and I’m still so excited about the amount of outdoor, movement, and play that she receives in a day – on a Farm!  It’s just ideal. I can’t say enough about how Shelly and her teachers pay attention to unique giftings and invest in our kid’s opportunities to develop across the whole person.  As a parent, GFS is truly a dream come true.

My daughter has been attending Groton Farm School for 2 years and she still runs out of bed to get there in the mornings. She has made the best of friends and her teachers have become extended family. She has learned and grown so much in this caring, supportive environment. This school and it’s farm is such a treasure.

We have been so pleased with our decision to send our children to Groton Farm School. We really wanted a different experience for our younger 2 children, specifically we wanted an educational experience for them that offered more time learning in nature and that didn’t confine them to the constructs of the traditional core curriculum. They have both thrived at GFS and are learning at a pace far exceeding our expectations. The competency and enthusiasm of the teachers at GFS is evident in the vigorous progress we have seen in both of our children this past year. Our children are eager to go to school each day and are always excited to tell us about the fun things they did and learned at school that day. We feel so fortunate to have found such a wonderfully unique school for them!