“Inspiring the Joy of Learning” in Springfield
By Kate Wilcox, The Summit, Greater Springfield LIVING WELL Magazine
Parents everywhere dread the morning mambo of getting sleepy children out of bed and ready for school. With echoes of “I don’t want to go” and “I hate school” in their ears, countless parents drag their children and teenagers through the morning routine. However, a small group of parents in Springfield has found a way to circumvent the ugly morning routine. As hard as it is to believe, these parents have children who wake up daily with enthusiasm, get dressed quickly, and drag their parents to the car to ensure they arrive to school on time.
“My son wants to be at school at least 15 minutes early because he doesn’t want to miss anything,” says Anne Mason, parent of a fifth-grade student. Her son is one of the many Summit Preparatory School students who love to go to school and beg to stay after school or attend summer programs. Even the teenagers in the middle and high school will voluntarily hang around for up to two hours after school simply to socialize with peers and teachers. How does this unique school pull this off?
At The Summit, the mission is summed up with “Inspiring the Joy of Learning.” Teachers, parents, administrators, board of trustees, and students inspire each other on a daily basis. As an independent school, The Summit is free to define its mission and structure its program and offerings in a way that best serves its student body. Guided by national standards and best practices, teachers find innovative ways to inspire students to learn.
This is exhibited in many ways. It is seen through the music program, where students as young as four-years-old begin playing piano or students as young as first grade write their own compositions. It is seen in the art program, where each class creates an original piece that is auctioned for thousands of dollars at the annual Summit Gala. It is seen in the multi-age classroom experience, where older students model responsibility and younger students learn from their peers. It is seen in the high school where students find and explore their passion through internships, service learning projects, and independent study. It is seen in the annual celebration of different cultures and daily global studies, where families within The Summit community are esteemed for their differences, and students learn to appreciate the many cultures and perspectives of the world. It is seen through social responsibility with community service projects, such as food, coat, and toy drives, as well as raising funds for organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Kids for Kilimanjaro.
The Summit’s full mission is to “Provide children with an extraordinary education in a supportive, stimulating environment. The school will enable students to become a community of learners, develop leadership skills, acquire a strong ethical framework, cultivate an appreciation for the arts, advocate the virtues of a sound body with a sound mind, and achieve their highest potential. Students will discover the joy of learning.”
All aspects of the school point to the joy of learning. “I’m continually amazed at what my children are doing at school,” says Jill Nieman, Summit parent of three students. Whether it’s teaching parents about a new piece of technology, reading years beyond their prescribed level, applying abstract concepts to daily life, or traveling all over the world for field experiences, Summit students are always learning.
With the unique educational philosophy and smaller class sizes (the 2011–12 student/teacher ratio just over 10:1) that is offered at The Summit, students are well known and encouraged at every level. With a diversity rate over 20%, The Summit has double the diversity of Springfield itself. As an independent school accredited by the ISACS, The Summit answers only to its families and its Board of Trustees. “This freedom allows us to quickly adapt to the changing needs of 21st Century students,” says Kathy Reynolds, head of school, “and when students’ needs are met, they are happy and ready to learn.”
History of The Summit
In 2004, Springfield, Missouri, did not have a school for students who would be celebrated for different culture and religion; or a school for bright students who needed extra challenge every day to stay engaged in the classroom and to stay excited about learning; or a school for students who may be shy and reclusive in a large environment but blossom in a personal setting. A group of parents started meeting to address the needs of these students and research the option of opening an independent school in Springfield. Independent schools are all over the U.S., and many are in Missouri in more urban areas such as St. Louis and Kansas City. This group determined to bring such an opportunity to the Springfield area, and, in 2005, The Summit Preparatory School opened for its first academic year.
The school opened as a kindergarten through sixth grade school with approximately 60 students and five faculty members. The student body met in rented space in Calvary Temple. After quick analysis of the school’s space needs, they relocated mid-year to Wesley United Methodist Church. Each year of the school’s operation allowed for the addition of a grade. In 2008, the school outgrew its rented space, and the upper school, consisting of grades sixth through ninth, relocated to the Discovery Center in downtown Springfield while the administration of the school searched for a new location. After months of searching, they found the former Noble building in Chesterfield Village, a three-story, nearly 30,000-square-foot facility that would allow for more room than ever and accommodate future growth.
Now in the second year at the Chesterfield Village location, the school houses classes for three-year-old students through 12th grade. The enrollment is projected to be the highest ever for the 2012–13 school year, with approximately 20 staff and faculty members serving the student body.
For more information about The Summit, visit thesummitprep.org or call 417-869-8077.
