ABOUT
lupine experiential school
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Creating a place for children to thrive
Our Story
Our school evolved from the vision of Jackie Taylor, an educator with over 20 years experience teaching in progressive education. Jackie’s degrees in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and a Master’s in Teacher Leadership, coupled with her vast experience in the classroom and service in administrative roles, prepared and led her to build something unique.
Jackie’s deep connection to colleagues, students and their families forged a community that is passionate about education and eager to support a new school of thought. Dedicated parents and experienced educators worked together to design an innovative school that engages its students through rich experiences, meaningful projects and community involvement.
Our name was inspired by two sources. The first is the resilient and giving plant, the Prairie Lupine. Its seeds were the first to take root in the deep ash and pumice that covered the flanks of Mount St. Helens after the 1980 eruption. Able to survive in the nutrient-deprived debris, the lupine produced excess nitrogen, which enriched the soil and paved the way for more plants, insects, birds and mammals to return to the area. This colonizer’s success shocked scientists and the recovery of the landscape was accelerated largely in part to the prairie lupine.
Lupine also plays a prominent role in the children’s book Miss Rumphius, a story treasured by our faculty. In the book, a young girl named Alice promises her grandmother that she will complete three tasks in her lifetime: travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world a more beautiful place. As Alice grows from child to adult to old woman, it is the third promise she finds the most challenging to fulfill, until she discovers the beautiful lupine flowers that grow by her cottage. Alice collects and distributes the flowers’ seeds, spreading beauty all around and earning the nickname, the Lupine Lady.
Growing when it is unexpected. Helping those around you flourish. Making the world a more beautiful place. That is our story.
putting down roots
Our Building
In 2023 we moved into our very own school building! A culmination of ongoing support from the Lupine board, investors, and community members, having our own building to call home has turned a vision into reality. After only five years of operation, our teachers and students now have over 8,000 sq ft of classroom space to learn in and almost 2 acres to play on! Centrally located in the Vancouver Mall area, our building is the perfect home-base for all our field trips and community adventures!
intentionally designed routines & spaces
Our Structure
We have designed the Lupine experience with great intent and purpose. From thoughtfully scheduling our school days to accommodate the developmental, social and learning needs of our students, to dividing the school year into balanced learning cycles and breaks, our structure is built for optimal student growth and success.
Our Year
Each year our students engage in three integrated units of inquiry called Thematic studies. Units last for approximately nine weeks, allowing children to delve deeply into the topic, beyond the scope of the traditional classroom. Students build foundational understanding, but are able to go beyond the basics, making lasting connections. At the end of each cycle students share with the school community in a Celebration of Learning and reflect on their studies. Successes are celebrated and goals are set for future growth.
Our Day
The Lupine school day runs from 8:45am – 3:15pm. Each homeroom begins with a daily classroom meeting to discuss the day’s schedule and important community topics. The rest of our school day is intentionally organized for students to have long blocks of time for learning and projects, along with ample recess time for unstructured play and time outside. Our community plays together, allowing all students and teachers to develop meaningful relationships.
Our Classes
Our mixed-age classes are limited in size to ensure individual attention through low student-teacher ratios. Children remain with the same teachers for at least two years of their schooling, developing deep connections that help students advance their learning. They form bonds with older and younger students that nurture a sense of belonging and community. Additionally, we believe that combining ages creates classrooms that focus on individual talents and collaborative learning rather than on grade-level norms.
Our Teachers
The teachers at Lupine are experienced, dedicated and caring. Our passion for education is evident through the thoughtful and engaging curriculum we create, the lasting relationships we develop with our students and families, and the collaborative professional community we have built as educators. We work hard and we love what we do!
Outdoor Day
From September – November and March – June our students spend every other Friday outdoors at Camp Hope.
Before & After Care
Before care is included with tuition and begins at 8:00am (excluding Outdoor days). Aftercare is available directly after school until 5:00pm for an additional fee. Both before care and aftercare are available every day (excluding Outdoor days) on a regular basis or as needed.
explore, learn, connect
Come explore with us...
Lupine Experiential School is a registered 501(c)3 organization.
EIN: 84-3818935