Tanya Graysmark, who has operated Graysmark Academy for preschoolers and kinder-garteners since 2006, is opening a charter school in Maricopa with a unique curriculum grounded in the town’s past.
Holsteiner Agricultural School, slated to open in the fall, is enrolling K-6 students whose curriculum will be intertwined with farming and raising stock, a focus Graysmark believes will appeal to children and help them learn. “Incorporating a strong, agricultural-based science program to our student’s education can inspire and win a student’s heart and mind,” she says. “The City of Maricopa is distinctively qualified for this because of its historic farming community. We plan on using our local assets like Shamrock and Dugan Farms.”
Graysmark is still coordinating with the local farms to come up with specific activities, field trips and presenters that will be visiting the school, but come fall, a schedule will likely be in place. The school will also allow individual teachers to use their professional creativity for lesson plans that revolve around agriculture. Graysmark explains the benefits: “Rather than a teacher pointing to a picture of a plant and having the student read how plants grow, we’ll have a year-round garden. The kids will grow it themselves, care for it themselves, and they’ll understand how to make it happen with a more hands-on experience. This type of hands-on theme will put a responsibility on the students that they won’t receive at another school.”
For parent Candace Velazco, the new school is a blessing. Both her daughter, Alexis, 9 and her son, John, 8, were Graysmark Academy students and will be attending Holsteiner. “The Graysmark team has been wonderful. They are like family to my two children. My son is autistic and I look forward to having my children back under their care.”
Charter schools give administrators and educators more flexibility and opportunities to utilize their own methods of teaching than their colleagues have in public schools and with that, accountability is placed on the school rather than on a district. Charter schools still have to perform and adhere to state and federal standards like the public schools.
Enrollment for Holstein is open to from March 21 until May 9, or until classes are full. Class sizes will range from 10-12 students. The school believes this is an optimum number of students per instructor, and increases the student’s ability to work within a group setting.
For more information and registration details, visit Graysmark Academy in the Maricopa Business Center at 44400 West Honeycutt Rd. #105 or go to www.holsteinerschools.com.
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