ABOUT
lupine experiential school
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LUPINE
progressive, experiential & Project based learning
Welcome from Founder and Head of School:
Lupine Experiential School is a private, kindergarten to 8th grade, independent school in Clark County, Washington. Our school was created from the passion and love that a group of educators and families shared to create an environment where children are valued and community is treasured.
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.
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!
The integrated curriculum at Lupine Experiential inspires students to think deeply and holistically about thematic studies that are important and relevant. In addition to academic integration, we incorporate the visual arts, music and drama into our studies. Our students explore their community through weekly field trips that enrich and extend learning. They engage in Project-Based Learning that fosters inquiry, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity through meaningful work.
At Lupine Experiential we value childhood and provide our students with significant outdoor experiences that include time to explore and time to play. We believe in honoring the child’s voice through weekly democratic All School Meetings where students and teachers work together to solve problems, make decisions and build community. We develop socially conscious, respectful citizens who are equipped to follow their passions and make a difference in the world.
We look forward to welcoming you to our community.
Warmly,
Jackie Taylor
striving to create 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.
setting the stage for success
Our Structure
We have designed the Lupine experience with great intent and purpose. From thoughtfully scheduling our school day and week 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. Click below to explore the details of our structure including calendars, schedules, all school meetings, after school adventures and more.
