BRS Welcome Letter

Welcome to Blue Ridge School

Vision: Learning for All

Mission: Engage, enlighten, and enrich the educational experience of all children at Blue Ridge School.

Blue Ridge School is located in beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Our PK-6 school shares a campus with Blue Ridge Early College, and together, we provide students and families with the unique opportunity to watch their children grow and thrive on the same campus for their elementary and secondary experience. Our shared vision is Learning for All, and it is the goal of staff and stakeholders to provide a comprehensive educational experience that meets the needs of every child. To that end, Blue Ridge School faculty are highly qualified, and approximately 50% of those eligible are also Nationally Board Certified.

Academic growth is supported by the implementation of research-based programs and practices designed to meet the diverse needs of our student population. Core instruction is aligned with the NC Standards and delivered through research-based instructional strategies, while problem-solving teams work collaboratively to plan for individual and small group needs, including social and emotional wellbeing. Our addition of an Instruction Coach who works closely with classroom teachers to offer professional development support and facilitate data-informed decision-making has helped to increase teacher capacity and student outcomes.

In addition to a rigorous academic program, Blue Ridge School offers several enrichment opportunities for all students. We recognize the importance of physical activity in the healthy development of all children, so all students engage in at least 30 minutes of structured Physical Education each day. In addition to PE, students have access to recess and other intentional “brain breaks” to support active engagement in learning. All students also participate in music, art and computers as regular parts of their academic experience, and they can elect to participate in other activities like Battle of the Books, Lego Robotics, Drama and JAM. Additionally, sixth grade students have an opportunity to participate in middle school sports that include soccer, volleyball, basketball and baseball.

Blue Ridge also acknowledges that students bring unique and exceptional gifts to the table, and programs are in place to support these students as well. Through our English Learners program, we support the development of bilingual, or multilingual, learners and celebrate the gift of being able to communicate in more than one language. We strive to create an inclusive environment that celebrates these strengths and capitalizes on student diversity. We also provide support for academically and/or intellectually gifted students through our AIG/IG programming. Through inclusion-based programs, we respond to individual needs within the context of the general curriculum and in small groups in order to create challenging opportunities throughout academic courses. Collaboration among faculty supports effective implementation of practices.

In line with the changes in NC, we moved to online assessments for the 2018-19 school year. While students demonstrated inconsistent proficiency with online testing, we have provided intentional supports to students to minimize the impact of online testing on students being able to demonstrate grade level proficiency and growth. While the 2020-21 school year will pose challenges for all districts, we are confident that our students are prepared for the challenges ahead, and we look forward to continued growth throughout the spring and the year to come.

The proverb, "It takes a whole village to raise a child" is certainly at the core of all we do here at Blue Ridge School. Through a concerted effort by all stakeholders, students are growing as learners and active members of their school community and are receiving a foundation of experiences that will benefit our school and our community in the years to come!