Question 1

No Big Secret, We Challenge Students"

Accepted Answer

"It's no secret that we push and challenge our students. But they respond and thrive on it. It's a great atmosphere and very engaging," a parent in the school recently stated. Our teachers work to find "the zone" for students--where the challenge is just right.   In 2002, BNS received state-recognized accreditation and has remained an accredited independent private school. "We partnered with VISA (Virginia Independent Schools Association). Our cooperative structure was something new to the organization, which sees a lot of traditional private school environments with administrators and heads of school. They became fascinated with the model and impressed by how well it has worked for so long. BNS works to diminish hierarchy wherever possible--which is somewhat eye-opening for folks used to something quite different," Stone said.   The accomplishment is a credit to the school's teachers. With them the ongoing development of a better and better school is made possible.

Question 2

There's No 'Us versus Them'

Accepted Answer

Students benefit from the community atmosphere, Stone said. "The joint decision-making and cooperation are obvious every day. We try to avoid any 'us versus them' mentality and embrace the collaborative nature of our school structure."   A good example of that is the 1998 addition of a middle school program.   "It was done informally in 1997 for a single student -- a test case. Then the entire middle school curriculum was put into place in 1998. At that point, a cluster of fifth-graders was ready to commit to the expansion, so we took on the challenge," Stone said.   Now middle school students are winning regional history competitions and science fairs. Most are reading literature found in the local high school curriculum.

Question 3

A Rare Private School

Accepted Answer

"New School is a unique place," said Jim McGehee, former Blacksburg New School president. "Kids love it here. Parents love it. Teachers love it. There's a spectacular spirit of community. You just don't get that in other schools."   Especially, he said, with the academic rigor. "Reading, writing, and math are critical pieces. Then there's our ongoing science, social studies, and Spanish language curriculum as well as art, PE, and music."   The price is right, too. "It's a great bargain in so many ways," McGehee said. "You can travel the country and not find an equally priced education for your children with the same level of commitment and involvement. I think it's unmatched in the region."

Question 4

A New Way, A New Vision"

Accepted Answer

In a recent interview, T.J. Stone discussed the school's history. T.J. has been with the school since 1989.   "It started as a modest experiment in how to do things differently, in a 'new' way," said T.J. Stone, Kindergarten teacher and lead teacher for the school's 16 educators. "That's how the name came to be. A new way to educate, to cooperate and grow as a community."   "As it was told to me, several founding-parents--led by Ann Goette (who still maintains a relationship with the school)--talked to some like-minded teachers about a new vision for how a school could work and function. It was an exciting time. Those founding parents and teachers wanted a small, engaging school that used 'new' ways of learning. The goal was to create a place where students could really flourish," she said.   That is the cornerstone of Blacksburg New School today: small class sizes, individual attention, engaging curriculum, safe environment (both physically and socially), and a group of teachers who are skilled and committed to teaching kids.

Question 5

1970'S Co-Op Schools

Accepted Answer

In the 1970s similar schools popped up around the country. All were looking for ways to create life-long learners and have less administrative overhead. They also wanted more parental involvement. The goal was well-rounded, hard-working, fun-loving, emotionally healthy kids.   According to Stone, people in Blacksburg were interested in something different, something connected to many of the social movements of the time. Since then, most of the parent-teacher cooperative schools have either changed their structure to an administration-driven model or have shut down entirely. Blacksburg New School, however, continues to thrive on its founding co-op culture. It is one of the only schools like this left in the country.

Question 6

Passionate Teachers are Foundational

Accepted Answer

"Having a strong team of innovative teachers is a foundational part of education," Stone said. "Experience and a passion for seeing kids learn is what we have here. It's what we value. Our teachers are incredibly creative; they share experiences and ideas with each other all the time; they have flexibility and control of their curriculum; and they work together as an incredibly effective group of friends."   "And our parents empower the teachers and work with them. It's an exciting collaboration."

Question 7

Growth and Change

Accepted Answer

Blacksburg New School has been on a perpetual growth spurt since the 1970s. In 1972, 40 students took classes in an old converted building on Roanoke Street. There were two full-time teachers, John Gerth and Betty Jean Young.   Since the 1980s, New School has moved from Whipple Drive to Ramble Road (now called Research Center Drive) to North Main Street--its permanent home where it is today. Its campus has an elementary school building, a middle school building, and a playground that you have to see to believe.   But a school isn't a just a building and the incredible growth of BNS comes from its community of teachers, parents, and students.

Question 8

Chocolate Party

Accepted Answer

Mark your calendars! The BNS Chocolate Party is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at University Mall. Come support BNS and satisfy your sweet tooth!

Question 9

What is your average class size?

Accepted Answer

We cap our classes at 14 students. Research shows that this number is optimal for supporting learning. Occasionally, classes are enrolled to 15 if there is a special circumstance, but this is done only after careful consideration with the curent classroom teacher and taking into account the dynamics of the current class.

Question 10

Can my child enroll in BNS kindergarten if they don’t meet the “five by September 30” cutoff?

Accepted Answer

While we legally could allow early admission for younger children, we are committed to developmental integrity and choose not to do so. We have occasionally admitted younger kids as Pre-K students (when an unfilled Kindergarten enrollment spot is available). They begin their K year the following year. We find that kids who are academically advanced at age 4 are still 4-year-olds and we feel that reality needs to lead their early schooling. From time to time children have entered Kindergarten reading at an advanced level and they are provided with the space to grow and be challenged...while enjoying being a little kid with little kid friends. If a younger child’s advanced skills are truly self-driven there is not issue of boredom--at least not in the proper preschool. We encourage families to find preschools that provide the opportunity to play, interact, and learn good solid social skills while engaging in math and literacy activities as initiated and enjoyed.

Question 11

How much outside time is provided to students?

Accepted Answer

We believe in recess at BNS. For elementary students, the morning arrival time occurs on the playground. There is a late afternoon snack recess, a mid-day lunch recess, and 3 PE periods outside. The afternoon pick-up time happens from the playground. And the state-licensed After School Program is almost entirely outside. The school has a beautiful playground with lots of options for play. Middle school students also have a healthy set of outdoor options during the day.  [Please note: There will be adjustments to all of this in order to comply with mitigation techniques during the time of COVID-19. While we may not be able to have playground free play time, we hope to have large chunks of class and snack times spent outside under big tents.]

Question 12

What are the main reasons parents choose BNS for their children?

Accepted Answer

Highly experienced teachers Small class size  Innovative and challenging curriculum Ability to have kids in one school from K-8 Inclusion of Art, Spanish, Music, PE in the core curricula beginning in Kindergarten Sense of community built upon relationships—benefitting kids and their parents State accreditation—which facilitates simple transfer of high school credit classes  High expectations for behavior Outside time!

Question 13

How much parent involvement is “required”?

Accepted Answer

Parents are offered the opportunity to do a regular service to the school for a reduced tuition (see Tuition Reduction Option information). This service, however, is not required. In addition to TRO jobs, there are other ways to be involved—serving on the school’s board of directors, making a content-related presentation to a class, working with the middle schoolers on an elective class. While we expect parents to support their children’s school lives, the level of involvement in the daily working of the school is determined by each family. And that level often changes from year to year depending upon everything from varying job responsibilities, new babies, dissertations, caring for parents, and more. There is a trusted ebb and flow in the who’s-doing-what that works.

Question 14

What is your plan for this COVID-19-affected fall?

Accepted Answer

We are in the midst of determining our plan for Fall 2020. All K-12 schools in Virginia (whether public or private) must adhere to the guidelines mandated by the governor. BNS will follow the guidelines that make reopening allowable and advisable. We are eager to get students back to in-person schooling and are currently hoping to be able to do that for all students 2-5 days per week. We will also offer an online-only option for students with high risk family members or other concerns. This past spring our school offered a lively at-home/online program…and we did that well (see Macaroni Kid article). We will improve upon what we learned in the spring and position ourselves in preparation to pivot to all online/at-home if it becomes necessary in the fall.

Question 15

What grades do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Blacksburg New School is an indpenedent K-8 school, organized by our Elementary (K-5) and Middle School (6-8) buildings.

Question 16

Will my child take standardized tests at BNS?

Accepted Answer

No. BNS does not administer standardized tests. Nor does BNS spend school time teaching to such tests. Students are meaningfully assessed (via reading inventories, math curricula unit tests, teacher-designed quizzes and tests) to assure readiness for the next level of learning. Students entering high school often take SOLs to validate a credit (e.g. for a high school level class taken at BNS—like Algebra I) and do very well.

Question 17

How is the transition from BNS to high school?

Accepted Answer

Each year brings the school the opportunity to gather information from families who have one child at BNS and an older child (a BNS graduate) in a local high school. This information has helped us create a transition that is quite smooth. Most of our students go to Blacksburg High School, with some going to Community High School in Roanoke, Christiansburg High School, and Radford High School. While specific information about grades, test scores, and college admissions is kept confidential by the high schools, many students and their parents share information with us. We find that students feel very well-prepared (academically and socially) for high school and that they tend to navigate their high school years with confidence and kindness.

Question 18

What is a parent-teacher cooperative school?

Accepted Answer

BNS was founded by a group of parents in 1971. For almost 50 years we have remained connected to those roots. While the academic program is delivered by a professional teaching staff, much of the other work of the school is done by parents in a cooperative fashion. During “normal” operations parents can be found supervising students on the playground during arrival and during lunch recess, cleaning the school, meeting to hire new teachers, coordinating fundraising events, reviewing budgets, and taking care of the building and grounds. Parents and teachers prioritize a sense of community and  team up together to “raise the kids.”

Question 19

Is BNS an accredited school?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The school is accredited by the VCPE-approved accrediting organization Virginia Independent Schools Association. VISA conducts an on-site visit and review of curricula and procedures every 5 years.

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