by Jim Rietmulder | Aug 10, 2015 | Daily life, Public policy
Today The Circle School releases a study of its graduates, casting the school in a very favorable light. Our graduates go to college at high rates: 84% of those who were here for 4 years of high school, and 91% of our “lifers.” Nationwide the rate among...
by Jim Rietmulder | Apr 8, 2015 | Ideas, Public policy
After 30 years of answering questions about The Circle School, new ones don’t come along very often. Last night I answered a new one. At Millersville University’s Alternative Education Forum, I delivered the keynote address. The event organizer, Dr. Scott...
by Maureen | Mar 2, 2015 | Meadow Campus
The latest renderings from architect Rich Gribble show some interior views of what the "Commons" could look like, our large "town square" room in the heart of the school. How did we get from the sketches shown in the last post to these detailed...
by Jim Rietmulder | Feb 14, 2015 | Meadow Campus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2015 FROM: The Circle School Contact: Jim Rietmulder 717-564-6700 jim@CircleSchool.org CIRCLE SCHOOL TO BUILD A SCHOOL WITH NO CLASSROOMS The Circle School of Swatara Township announced today its plans to relocate to an 8-acre site a...
by Maureen | Dec 2, 2014 | Meadow Campus
Wondering how you go from an idea of a new school to making it a reality? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about our design process. Part I: Research & Preparation By April of 2013 the Property Search Committee had progressed far enough to warrant...
by Maureen | Nov 16, 2014 | Meadow Campus
Sure, at times we didn’t think it could possibly exist. 5+ acres with woods, stream, and open areas? That we could afford? Here is the story of how we managed to find, with a lot of work and a little luck, exactly what we were looking for. The school has long...
by Jim Rietmulder | Sep 26, 2014 | Daily life, Stories
I’ve been marveling that not a week goes by (sometimes not a day) without something brand new happening, that’s never happened before in the school’s 30 years. Here’s (one of) this week’s first-time happenings, an interesting cascade of...
by Jim Rietmulder | May 28, 2014 | Ideas, Parenting, Public policy
Matt likes music that sounds to me like a car crash. Recently I found solace in the softer sounds of Disney’s Frozen, sung and played (endlessly) by younger friends. 18-year-old Matt greets me with a big smile and genuine warmth; ready to engage, caring about...
by Jim Rietmulder | Apr 12, 2014 | Public policy, Stories
Professor Richardson asked 15-year-old Ian what he would most like to change about public school. With 25 people in the room, most of them graduate students and current or future teachers, here’s what Ian said earlier this week: [Ian:] I think it would be the...
by Jim Rietmulder | Mar 11, 2014 | Daily life, Ideas, Stories
Five minutes before the Hour Of No Rules, I saw Cord and Zach sneaking out of the conference room lavatory. It was Zach who had proposed to suspend the rules for an hour, and brought it to a vote with mischief behind his charming grin. And Cord—well, Cord is our...
