It is with so much excitement that I write this post! I have worked for two loooooooong years to find A One-Room Schoolhouse a location outside of my home. It has been difficult to find a place that met all our needs – abundant green space, suitable indoor space, convenient location and a frugal price. I am just over-the-top excited as I announce our new location for next school year and introduce our new teacher, too!
Location
I am pleased to announce that for the 2021-2022 school year, we will be partnering with Camp Agape in Hickory, PA. (72 Agape Rd, Hickory, PA 15340) The Christian summer camp facility boasts over 250 acres of green space including a pond, creek and hiking trails. The Retreat and Learning Center combined with cabin space will give the schoolhouse ample indoor space for learning and growing. They also have a covered picnic pavilion that will allow us substantial room for eating and outdoor learning.
Camp Agape has offered its facilities at a very reasonable rate allowing the schoolhouse to continue to keep tuition low. I am so pleased that even as we move out of my “free” basement we will not need to increase tuition at all!
Looking to the future, I do not know yet if this will be our permanent home. We will use this school year to determine if this is the best fit. If all goes well, Camp Agape may be a permanent home.
I do want to acknowledge that, for many of you, the drive to this location is not what you had hoped. I promise you that every effort was made to find a more centralized location. We worked diligently to find a location in the Cecil area. The property that we had re-zoned and made an offer on, had a nice indoor space and adequate outdoor space. But, the price was just too high.
We made countless offers to the sellers but they were unwilling to even negotiate, despite the property being on the market for over two years. Even if they had been willing to take our lower offer, in order to keep tuition low, my husband and I would have had to help out significantly to make the monthly payments. Camp Agape has come as an answer to prayer, and we are excited to see how God will use the relationship between the schoolhouse and the camp to achieve great things!
New Teacher
Not to overwhelm you, but I have one more BIG announcement. We have hired a second teacher! I would like to introduce to you, Lindsey Williams!
Many of you know her already as she is one of our existing Schoolhouse parents and a frequent volunteer. (Check out our volunteer aspect here.) Lindsey and I will work together during Language Arts and Math to teach the group of students. I will take the lead on science lessons and she will take the lead on history lessons. On elective days, she will take over the art teaching, I will focus on music, and we will work together to create an amazing nature experience on elective day afternoons. We feel this will best maximize our teaching skills and talents. (Check out our weekly schedule here.)
Lindsey has several years of teaching in the public school setting. She holds degrees in education and animal science, with Pennsylvania teaching credentials in Social Studies and Family-Consumer Science. She has also spent some time teaching the English language to children living outside our country.
Besides teaching, Lindsey volunteers at her church as a youth leader, as a 4-H leader, and with the parent-teacher organization at her daughter’s school. Between managing the many activities that her two children are involved in, Lindsey and her husband, Matt, have a cattle farm, where many life skills are taught daily. Lindsey loves antiquing and is constantly filling her home with old things. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, crafting, and creating new projects for Matt to complete on the farm. Lindsey is excited to be able to teach for A One-Room Schoolhouse and to play a more integral part in the future of the schoolhouse.
On a personal note, I can not express enough how excited I am to bring Lindsey onto our teaching team. I have personally known her for years working with her in cub scouts, youth Sunday school, and youth summer camp. I feel like her skill set complements my own, bringing strengths to my weaknesses. I know, as a parent, it can be very scary when a new teacher is brought into your child’s learning environment. Lindsey, however, brings so much strength to the Schoolhouse personally, professionally, and spiritually. We are so blessed to have her.
Homeschool 101
Just one final note, I would like to remind you about Homeschool 101 this weekend. (Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 7 pm) This event can be very helpful as you get your homeschool paperwork in order and understand the portfolio process. If you have not RSVP’d yet, please go ahead and do so here.
This is so exciting for you and the children as you begin this new adventure. I admire your compassion and commitment to the community and your students. Remind your students that excellence is not being the best; it is DOING your BEST!
Sherry Matusic