The Advent School is a private school located in downtown Boston. It serves students from early childhood to sixth grade. The school provides a rigorous education grounded in social justice and a thematic and integrated approach to learning.
The school’s mission statement...
Since 1961, The Advent School has stayed true to its founding vision: an urban school whose community reflects the diversity of Boston; a forward-thinking curriculum that inspires and engages a child’s passion for learning; a commitment to social justice; and a culture of collaboration where every child has the confidence to take action in a connected world.
Academics
The school’s academics are based on the Reggio Emilia concept. This approach makes use of art as a form of expression for children and is based on respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery.
At the school, students explore all subjects in an integrated, thematic way. The emphasis is placed on thinking critically and applying a broad set of skills to mathematics, reading, writing, science, history, and geography.
Students are encouraged to make connections between different disciplines. With a yearlong study theme, students learn how to actively integrate scientific, cultural, and literary studies.
This emphasis on integrated learning starts early in kindergarten, where, for example, students study butterflies and learn about life cycles, family, and community, thereby making important connections with the larger world. Third graders, in turn, study concepts of independence and freedom, using literary references and historic sites in Boston as subjects of investigation. And then, sixth graders make connections between the rigid social structure of medieval Europe and the civil rights movement in the United States.
After-School Programs
The school’s enrichment program includes outdoor games, science exploration and crafts, private music and voice lessons, a homework club, as well as cooking and gardening courses.