Salmonberry School has much to celebrate as they turn 20

||| FROM PAUL FREEDMAN for SALMONBERRY SCHOOL |||

Twenty years is a long time. When you’ve lived here in the San Juan Islands for twenty years, you have just about earned the privilege to call yourself “a local.” And for one island school, that badge is about to be on proud display!

In 2001, a small group of island parents, led by Lydia Miller and others, did something rather audacious. Having previously initiated friendships and built a shared understanding of parenting and child development at a parent-child playgroup, this little group took the bold leap to found a 501c3 non-profit community school.

Salmonberry School: educating with heads, hearts and hands since 2001

Soon after founding, Salmonberry School found a home on North Beach Rd. where it has been ever since, and became a WA State Approved Private School. Over the years, the school expanded from the original nine preschool-age students to three full multi-age classrooms serving children through grade 6 (and occasionally grade 7.) And this fall, Salmonberry will open its doors to a new building and a fourth classroom, with an enrollment of 60 island kids.

Since its inception, Salmonberry has been a model for holistic education. It is the kind of school where classes are small, the arts are integral to the program, and learning is experiential and meaningful to the students. Every step of the way, this institution has sustained itself through the grassroots and hands-on efforts of parents and staff who are committed to this approach to education.

“Everything you see, from the sandbox, to the garden, the little log cabin to the play structures have been built by hand, by loving parents,” says Founding Head of School, Paul Freedman. “The school clearly owes its success to the parents who pay tuition and volunteer with their heart and hands, to the Board members who volunteer their leadership, and to the community-minded philanthropists who donate needed funds, since many islanders simply cannot afford to pay for what would be the true operating and staffing expenses of this little school.”

Salmonberry School is inviting the entire Orcas community to turn out on August 7 and help to celebrate this historic marker. Tickets for this distanced, outdoor, catered picnic and live music event on the school’s campus are available at the Salmonberry School website.

Free off-site childcare will be provided for those who register in advance.