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Who's Who; The Ups and Downs of Randolph
Who's Who; The Ups and Downs of Randolph
At Randolph School we have two distinct programs that focus on the physical, social and academic needs of children. The Downstairs is our Early Childhood program that is designed for 3-5 year olds. Our Upstairs program is comprised of 2 groupings that house our Early and Upper Elementary aged students. Each cohort of students is flexible and responsive to the specific needs of every child in our community. We celebrate collaboration and connection as we prioritize opportunities for children of all ages to live and learn together.
Why Do We Use the Names Upstairs and Downstairs?
Why Do We Use the Names Upstairs and Downstairs?
There's a story behind it. Long ago (especially if you're a child) Randolph School moved to its current location on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls. The old brick building on the campus already had a complex history all its own. At one time it used to be a house where a family with 18 children made their home. Children grew up in that house. They laughed, argued and cared for each other and the house and the land around it.
When Randolph School moved into the that house, or the 'Main Building' as we now call it, the Early Childhood program was downstairs and the Early and Upper Elementary grades had their classrooms upstairs. Hence the names Downstairs and Upstairs. Our program has changed a lot over the years. We have added buildings, reconfigured spaces and made a commitment to spend much of our time completely outdoors. However, names are powerful and once they take hold they embody more that the sum of their letters. Children move through the program at Randolph and they also move up. Becoming an Upstairs kid requires different skills, added responsibility and allows for more choice. That brick home is now Randolph School, and it is still full of children. I'm sure many of the sounds are familiar to the old walls and stone foundation. There is still laughter and there are tears, conflicts arise and creativity is sparked. The community of children today still care for each other and the building and the land around it . Some things never change.
Randolph School acknowledges that the history of people on this land stretches back long before European colonization. Randolph School is built on the ancestral lands of the Munsee-Lenape people. We commit to honoring this connection and seeking reparations for our Lenape neighbors.
Who Are We Today :
Who Are We Today :
For the 2022-23 school year Randolph School is proud to introduce a community of Fungi Friends that are cultivated by Katie, Jules and Samantha. A round of Robins and a kindle of Kittens led by Maria, Princess and Renée. A parliament of Barn Owls and an illustrious sagaciousness of Elder Guardians inhabit the Carriage House with Jackie, Lewis and Christina guiding the way.
The Downstairs:
The Fungi Friends
The Upstairs: Neighborhood & Carriage House
The Upstairs: Neighborhood & Carriage House
The Kittens
Upstairs Neighborhood
The Robins
Upstairs Neighborhood
The Barn Owls
Carriage House
Elder Guardians
Carriage House
Meet the Links Teachers
Meet the Links Teachers
This team of teachers works daily with each cohort and their teachers to ensure that a Randolph education is balanced, nature-based and exciting. Meet the teachers that are helping your child see the links between living and learning and strengthen their connections to their world.
Nina
Nina
Nina is the creative powerhouse that keeps the Links team running. Her deep knowledge of art techniques and art history ensures that every endeavor in the Studio(and outside) is rich with links and challenges our young artists. From paint to printmaking, digital media to natural dyes Nina is ready to guide the children where ever their imagination takes them. This year Nina is partnering with evan to strengthen the link between art and ecology.
evan
evan
evan embodies what it means to live and learn in this landscape. A life-long Hudson Valley resident and nature-lover, evan has been honing his craft of teaching outdoors for his entire life. His encyclopedic knowledge about our ecosystem is perfectly matched with his wisdom and experience as a teacher for children of all ages. He makes sure that children are experiencing 'real-work'. From shoveling wood chips to maintain our grounds to designing complex scientific explorations evan is there to help strengthen our links to the land. Amy and evan work together to build a curriculum that is emergent, responsive, academically challenging and nature-based.
Michael
Michael
Michael is a musician and performer. His work with children focuses on rhythm, rhyme, language, play and movement. He allows children to explore our landscape through lens of a musician. This year Michael is teaming up with Amy to highlight the theme of storytelling in his musical curriculum.
Amy
Amy
Amy joins the Links team to connect our specialists with the curricular and academic needs of children. With a long career as a general education teacher for grades Pre-k-6, Amy finds ways to link math, literacy and social studies into the nature-based and multidisciplinary explorations that the Links team provide.
Siobhan
Siobhan
Siobhan is our Librarian and Media Specialist, and she is also a teacher that grounds her practice in the progressive principles that we value at Randolph School. She works with every teacher and child to foster a love of reading. This year she is also working closely to help children build their capacity for research and media literacy.
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