Christian school opening in Monroe
Published 9:00 pm Monday, June 11, 2007
MONROE – A new Christian school set to open in Snohomish County this fall will blend traditional classroom learning with home schooling.
Cornerstone Academy will enroll up to 70 students in preschool to second grade in space at Cascade Community Church in Monroe.
“It’s a fairly new way of doing school,” said Michelle Jones, the school’s administrator.
Students would come to the school for core classes in the morning, then go home to complete independent work. The school plans to follow a classical curriculum, a three-stage approach to learning that in early grades focuses on absorbing facts.
In future years, Jones envisions adding afternoon electives led by teachers, local businesses or other parents for such things as piano and martial arts.
Older grades would be added in coming years. Latin would be offered starting in third grade.
The school seeks a balance between a private education, which many families can’t afford, and the desire by parents to be more involved in their children’s education, Jones said.
Some people fear home-schooling, and this could be the gateway for them, she added. “The scary idea of home school – that you have to spin your own yarn and knit your own sweaters – is not a requirement of home schooling.”
Ron and Jamie Boyes decided to send their three young children to Cornerstone to give them closer relationships with other children from their church, Cascade, and to avoid public school.
“I’m afraid my kids would get lost somehow” in the public system, Jamie Boyes said.
Mason, 6, will be in kindergarten. His younger sisters, Brooklyn, who turns 4 next week, and Reegan, 2, will be in preschool programs.
“They’re home by the afternoon, so the four of us can have lunch together, talk about what they’ve learned and go and play – and have a learning experience out in the back yard and from life rather than sitting in a classroom,” Boyes said.
“I’ve never seen myself as a home schooling parent,” Jamie Boyes said.
Instead, Mason’s learning will continue with at-home lessons when his Dad gets home.
The school is more than half-way to its enrollment goal of 70, with about 50 children enrolled. The kindergarten class is full.
Cornerstone is registered with the state and considered a home-school extension program.
Monroe is home to four other private schools registered with the state that together enroll about 400 students.
The new school also will be located just blocks from Sky Valley Education Center, a public home-school partnership program through the Monroe School District.
“Lots of choices – in public and private schools – is good for kids and families,” said Karen Rosencrans, director of Sky Valley Education Center.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
Cornerstone Academy
