Terra Firma Farm
A Community Farm and Educational Academy
To teach our children to grow through growing, to care by caring for, and to nurture by nurturing.
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Terra Firma Farm A Community Farm and Educational Academy To teach our children to grow through growing, to care by caring for, and to nurture by nurturing.
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After School Programs |
Dear Parents, It is very exciting to be involved with the Terra Firma Farm All-Day Kindergarten program! The gift of time to observe, explore, process, apply and practice age appropriate skills during a full-day session removes a stressful aspect commonly experienced in a half-day program. During my twenty-five years of teaching Early Primary children, I have professed to be a non-purist educator. My momentum is not driven by extreme priorities (all academic or all developmental) or by the changing trends in classroom techniques and strategies, but a connectedness of the two beliefs in practice. Terra Firma Farm Academy affords a non-purist approach, providing a positive all-inclusive environment where individual needs modify instruction and feelings of trust, respect and acceptance are emphasized to instill a pleasure for learning. Kindergarten is the educational experience where children learn to learn. As the child’s advocate, the Terra Firma Farm staff delivers daily classroom extension of outdoor education. Integrating nature, agriculture, life skills and the environment with academic proficiency addresses the natural curiosity and energy levels of five and six year old learners. Each child grows intellectually, physically and socially with a balanced foundation for continued interest and competence to succeed. We sow the seeds of knowledge!!! The School Terra Firma Farm is a non-profit community farm and educational facility established in 2003 on 22 acres of land in rural Stonington, Connecticut. The all- day kindergarten program has an inquiry-based curriculum housed on an organic farm school setting for 5 & 6 year old children. The class size of 14 children fosters individualized academic success and personal attention. Our Philosophy Terra Firma Farm Academy supports student’s success by engaging children in experiential, land based learning. We believe education and agriculture offer a unique pathway to prepare students for lifelong learning. By combining in class curriculum with hands on farm (field) experiences student achievement is enhanced in all academic areas. Fees/ Tuition Policies Application fee $50 Non Refundable Registration Deposit $100 Non Refundable
Annual Tuition $7,000
Optional Extended Day Fees $25 per day (3:00 - 5:30 p.m. Extended Day hours are prearranged with at least 48 hour notice) Optional School Vacation Week $275/week Annual tuition is payable as one lump sum or in 10 equal installments. Installments are due on the 15th of each month. The first payment whether lump sum or installment is due August 15th. If a students tuition installment has not been paid by the end of the month in which it is due, that student may not attend school, and another child may be admitted to fill the vacancy. The Kindergarten daily schedule is a predictable routine that establishes self-confidence and independent time management for your child. Curriculum content changes, just as nature and life cycles change on the farm. All academic skills are covered to prepare for the transition to a traditional first grade. TFF Academy delivers instruction with a unique learning environment and fosters a positive emotional state towards learning. Typical Day Routine 9:00-9:30 Morning Whole Group Activities Morning Greetings Day’s Agenda Calendar Charting Weather Graphing 9:30-10:15 Farm Discovery Animal Care Field Data Collecting 10:15-10:30 Snack Time Home provided, nutrition refueling 10:30- 11:30 Learning Stations/ Small Group Activities Language Arts skills Math skills Listening skills Fine-motor development 11:30- 12:30 Lunch & Recess Home provided meal Outdoor socialization and exercise 12:30-1:00 Enrichment Art activities Music Exploration Creative Movement Exercises 1:00-1:30 Individualized Interest Centers Agricultural, horticultural, environmental and life skills integrated activities 1:30-2:00 Dramatic Play/ Free Exploration 2:00-2:30 Story/ Creative Expressions 2:30-3:00 Good Day Compliments Reflections Closure comments Extended Day (Optional at additional $25 per day fee) 3:00- 4:00 Quiet Time/ Relaxation 4:00-5:30 Farm Afterschool Program Farm provided snack Field experience Registration Kindergarten registration takes place in April. Children who will be five-years-old by September 1st are eligible to attend TFF Academy beginning the fall of that same year. The child’s birth certificate must be presented to enroll. The Staff Head Teacher- Moira Casadei is an Early Childhood Specialist, with Connecticut State Certification. Moira has 25 years experience teaching Kindergarten in the Connecticut public school system and has been a TFF volunteer and on the Terra Firma Farm Board of Directors since 2003. Assistant Teachers- Brianne Casadei and Ethan Grimes are passionate farmers and educators who established Terra Firma Farm to inspire young people to become agents of change in our society. Farmer Brie has her degree in agriculture from the University of Vermont and is passionate about organic farming and our future generations. Farmer Ethan has his degree from Keene State College and has extensive experience and compassion in the environmental field.
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Send mail to
info@terrafirmafarm.org with questions or comments about this web site.
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Annual
Program Fees $350 (