Voyagers' Community School: Traditional Academics In A Nontraditional Environment

Voyagers’ Community School, a toddler through 12th-grade institution located in Eatontown and recently accredited by Middle States Association, teaches all the academic subjects you’d expect — the difference is in the school’s approach.

Voyagers’ believes that the outdoors is among the best classrooms and the most meaningful of explorations in life come from innate curiosity. Children from toddler through 12th grade are heartened toward creative expression and intellectual investigation.

Students don’t have to worry about homework, as there won’t be much assigned; instead, Voyagers’ Community School focuses on immersive, in-depth project work that encourages critical thinking, responsibility and collaborative experience. Director Karen Giuffre discusses this with Patch in depth.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about the curriculum?

Giuffre: The study of facts and figures, while important, does not prepare students to think on their own or to learn how to learn. To prepare students for success, Voyagers’ emphasizes project-based learning, which allows students to delve deeply into course material and merge it with their own interests. Working on projects helps students acquire additional insights, connecting new knowledge to what they already know. When peers work together, individuals give and receive knowledge, skills and a positive work ethic. Peer participation helps children realize their ability to find solutions. This experience galvanizes their will to participate; they analyze and evaluate and become confident and experienced learners, ready for college and whatever the world has to offer.

Some classes involve a greater mix of age groups but remain similar in size. Student-to-teacher ratio changes depending on the course, ranging from one to four teachers. Additionally, professors from surrounding colleges will join the classroom, offering lectures and projects

Patch: How are you involved in the community?

Giuffre: Of course, our school is a community of children, parents, grand parents, educators, administrators and board members. Because of our open doors, we reach into Monmouth County with programs and events. Over the years, we have worked with the Food Bank of Monmouth County, the residents of Sea Brook Village, Clean Ocean Action, Eatontown clean-up events, Action for Darfur, She Writes Love On Her Arm and so much more.

Patch: What’s the school’s teaching philosophy?

Giuffre: Voyagers’ Community School fosters confidence, stimulates creativity, nurtures intellectual curiosity, instills a sense of responsibility, helps children develops critical thinking skills, prepares students for intellectual challenges and promotes habits of mindfulness and values that endure the test of time.

Patch: What makes Voyagers Community School stand out?

Giuffre: Our unique approach, small class sizes and ratio of students to teachers, commitment to teaching 21st Century technology and innovation, the varied topics we teach, the vibrant learning environment, the personal attention given to students and families, the affordability and our college acceptance rate. One-hundred percent of high school students are accepted at four-year colleges.

Want to learn more about Voyagers’ Community School? Patch readers can reach out to by phone at (732) 842-1660 as well via email at Director@voyagerscommunityschool.org. Learn more about Voyagers’ Community School on the school’s website.

Photo credit: Voyagers’ Community School