Farmington Valley Academy Montessori was founded in 2004 and originally located in Farmington. Fifty percent of the students at Montessori are from Avon. The school was relocated to Avon, off Simsbury Road (Route 10), to accommodate more students and is centrally located between the students' hometowns, including Avon, Granby, Canton, New Hartford, Farmington and West Hartford.
The school has a toddler program for children, beginning at 18 months old, and accepts students up to eighth grade. "Montessori is different from the traditional education and it's well worth looking into," said Head of School Sharon Healy.
All children three years old and up are interviewed as a part of the application process for the private school. Tuition varies based on age and how long students stay in the program. In addition to typical classroom learning, students also have the freedom to choose the materials they are using to learn the curriculum. Older students often teach the younger students for part of the day. The Farmington Valley Montessori School also takes its students in seventh and eighth grade to a farm in New Hartford frequently to learn how to milk goats, make cheese, learn fermentation, collect eggs, make food and learn Spanish.
The school does a lot of community service. The school collects all types of clothing from families to give to a shelter in Waterbury. Students cook lunch at a shelter in Hartford. The school provides six families in need with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Students also raised money for Haitian children, many of whom they had met at the Model United Nations. The school also contributes to other Montessori schools and orphanages.
The school also offers a vanGemeren scholarship in honor of Neils vanGemeren and his son, former Montessori student Willem, who both died in a plane crash.
All Saints Catholic School teaches more than 700 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school's curriculum meets standards for both the state and diocese and offers three classrooms per grade. Among the numerous extracurricular activities offered are intramural sports, computer club, and theater.
The Renaissace School at Hamilton Avenue is a magnet elementary school that's part of the Greenwich Public Schools system. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the facility houses about 317 students.
All students in kindergarten through grade 5 use instructional technology both within the classroom and in computer labs. They all learn Spanish and participate in a physical education program that includes training in swimming, ice-skating and fitness. The art programs provide museum experiences each year for all children. Fifth graders, in particular, also are trained as museum docents to further enrich their appreciation of art in its many forms.
Students who need extra support to achieve have access to additional professional staff members and are encouraged to attend supplemental academic programs offered before and after school and during the summer.
Parents also are given special access to the school through the Parent Center.
Naubuc Elementary School is a pre-K through grade 5 elementary school with about 500 students.
