A Quick Disclaimer:

Education Guides –  Bridges Academy is currently not a private school.  It is the intention of Bridges Academy to provide mentoring and educational services for families who register as a homeschool and want alternative educational paths outside of the public educational system for their children.  Bridges Academy will be responsible for recording attendance, keeping immunization records, doing testing as required once a year by the State of NC and for providing necessary paperwork to NC DNPE.

NC students are required to have 185 days of instruction.  Bridges Academy will operate on a 185, Monday-Thursday 9:30am-2:30pm schedule with continued home learning projects for students to work through during Fridays and as needed to flexibly meet the needs of each individual student.  Decisions can be made on an individual basis. 

Location:

Bridges Academy provides kids with a relaxed home environment, similar to the one you might provide in your own space for your children. We believe that “optimal learning occurs when our brain is comfortable, emotionally safe and nurtured and this includes a learning environment that provides warm, tender spaces of comfort to inspire children to think, explore, investigate, express and create.” (Reggio Emilia Approach) 

Program Pricing:

Tuition is set for 2025-2026 school year at $10,000 per year and can be paid in monthly installments. We want to offer opportunities for all families to come to our school, so please connect with us to schedule a time to talk about the needs of your family and child. We are able to take Opportunity Scholarships through our partner, The Talent School in Denver. Please see this link to apply for an Opportunity Scholarship. If you child has an IEP, the ESA+ Scholarship is also available.

So far, all of our families were able to secure funding through the Opportunity Scholarship program this year!

Sample Schedule

Note: We are a flexible learning community that works together to meet growing learners where they are at with their interests and learning. Our schedule reflects where our learning is on a given day. The nature of a small group learning community is that when we have interest and curiosities, we can quickly plan something that explores these!)

Daily Schedule (Monday - Thursday)

Morning (Focus: Community, Inquiry, Core Projects, & Literacy)

• 9:30 - 10:00 AM: Arrival & Morning Gathering & Restorative Circle (15 min)

• Welcome and brief check-in.

• Restorative Circle: A brief, intentional circle to connect, share feelings, resolve minor conflicts (if any), and set a positive, collaborative tone for the day. This fosters shared power and ensures everyone feels heard and valued.

• Provocation: Introduce a new idea, object, image, or recap yesterday's project progress. Spark curiosity for the day.

• Brief overview of the day's flexible plan.

• 10:00 - 11:15 AM: Project-Based Inquiry & Exploration (90 min)

• This is the heart of the day. Students work in small, multi-age groups or individually on their current long-term projects. The emphasis here is on collaboration and leveraging diverse strengths, fostering power within each student as they contribute.

• Activities here can include: Science experiments (inside/outside), social studies research, historical investigations, data collection, design challenges, building, prototyping.

• ELA Integration: Research, note-taking, outlining, drafting project components, collaborative writing, preparing presentations.

• Differentiation: Younger students focus on foundational concepts; older students tackle more complex analysis or take leadership roles, practicing shared power as mentors.

• Learning Location: Encourage students to take their materials outside if the project allows (e.g., observing nature for science, sketching designs in natural light).

• 11:15 - 12:00 PM: Focused Literacy Block (45 min)

• Writer's Workshop (3-4 days/week):

• Mini-Lesson (10-15 min): Whole group on a specific writing craft, convention, or genre (e.g., using strong verbs, structuring an argument, narrative leads).

• Independent Writing (30-40 min): Students work on their own writing, often linked to their current projects (e.g., a research report, a persuasive proposal for their classroom design, a reflection on a challenge).

• Conferencing: Teachers circulate for individualized feedback, helping students discover their power within as writers.

• Share/Author's Chair (5-10 min): Students share progress, practicing respectful peer feedback and valuing diverse voices.

• Book Club (1-2 days/week):

• Multi-age groupings for focused discussion on comprehension, literary elements, and themes. Discussions encourage shared power as students lead conversations.

Midday (Breaks & Targeted Skills)

• 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch & Free Play / Outdoor Exploration (45 min)

• Dedicated time for eating, unstructured social interaction, and physical activity. Encourage maximizing outdoor space. This is another opportunity for students to practice collaboration and shared power in their free time.

• 1:00 - 1:45 PM: Math Focus / Skills Rotations / Atelier Time (45 min)

• This block is flexible and rotates based on need:

• Math Concept/Practice: A brief mini-lesson on a specific math concept (e.g., algebra basics, geometry, fractions) relevant to current projects or NC standards. This can be followed by differentiated practice.

• IXL Time (Individualized): Students work on personalized math or ELA paths based on diagnostics or assigned skills, building power within their own learning journey.

• Duolingo (Language Learning): Dedicated time for individual foreign language practice.

• Atelier Time (Hands-On Creation): Students can continue project-related art, building, or design work. This is a great time for your weekly cooking session, fostering collaboration in a practical setting!

• Learning Location: Math discussions could happen on the lawn; individual IXL/Duolingo could be done quietly in a chosen spot (inside or out).

Afternoon (Project Development & Reflection)

• 1:45 - 2:15 PM: Project Development / Deeper Dive / Collaboration (30 min)

• Continuation of project work, refining ideas, collaborating on presentations, testing prototypes, or engaging in collaborative problem-solving specific to the day's tasks. This block explicitly reinforces collaboration and shared power as students finalize their contributions.

• 2:15 - 2:30 PM: Documentation & Reflection Circle / Dismissal (15 min)

• Students spend time documenting their learning in their digital portfolios (photos, reflections, writing about today's discoveries), recognizing their power within as learners.

• Reflection Circle: Gather as a group to share "aha!" moments, challenges, and questions from the day. This provides another space for restorative practices and encourages shared power in discussing collective and individual growth.

• Prepare for dismissal.

Friday: Home Learning or In-Person Enrichment (at extra cost)

• Home Learning: Provides flexibility for families. Could include:

• Extended work on a long-term project.

• Independent reading/book club follow-up.

• IXL/Duolingo target practice.

• Community exploration related to a project theme (e.g., visiting a local museum, park, or business).

• Personalized research.

• In-Person Enrichment: This is a fantastic opportunity for:

• Field Trips: Connecting to community providers or specific project themes.

• Guest Speakers: Bringing in experts related to current projects (e.g., a designer for your classroom project, an environmental scientist, a chef).

• Extended Atelier Sessions: Longer blocks for complex art or building projects.

• Interdisciplinary Workshops: A special day focused on a specific skill or art form that integrates multiple subjects, emphasizing collaboration and shared power in new contexts.

Community Service Projects: Directly impacting the community, perhaps using the beautiful setting of Meadowlake.