It’s been nearly a year since Roots School — a private educational alternative for students in pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 — launched and its director hopes enrolment grows so the program sees a second year.
The school opened in September 2022 at 52 High Street West — adjacent to A & L Royal International School — and welcomed its first 20 students. The land-based, holistic-focused institution follows the Saskatchewan curriculum but focuses on immersive, hands-on projects and learning in nature.
Amy Cojocar, founder and director of Roots School, explained that the first year was amazing, especially figuring out how to run a private school and seeing students grow their confidence and abilities.
For students who came with learning or behavioural “issues,” a change in the learning environment — being outdoors regularly — proved beneficial.
For example, a mother moved her nine-year-old son to Moose Jaw from Regina to attend the school, the director recalled. The boy was not confident and had low self-esteem, but — because the school held classes in nature — he grew to realize he was intelligent and became more confident in himself.
Other parents also told Cojocar how much their children grew, especially in their emotional maturity, confidence and self-esteem. Helping children develop their emotional skills is a big focus for the school.
“So, it was amazing to see that it actually works,” Cojocar said.
One big success the school experienced was receiving from Carpere Canada a free acre (0.4 hectares) of forest land on the former Valley View Centre site for outdoor learning. The school acquired a grant to build a medicine circle garden while it is pursuing another grant to convert a shed into an open-air classroom.
“That’s been a huge win because that (land) took a long time to secure … ,” said Cojocar. “The owners really connected with the vision and wanted to support it.”
This year, Roots School’s main challenge was funding its operations, which it must do again in 2023-24 before the Ministry of Education provides funding in 2024-25, Cojocar said.
The ministry is monitoring the organization, and if it meets its operating goals and educational milestones, it will qualify for independent school funding up to 80 per cent.
Fundraising — such as the Vivid Fun Run and Halloween Hustle — was more time-consuming than Cojocar thought since it was a full-time job on top of everything else. She thought the fundraising activities negatively affected the school’s image since they took the focus off what the school offers.
“So, the parents were amazing. They fundraised all year and put in countless hours so their kids could have this school,” she said.
Due to the fundraising required, some parents said they would only send their kids in the third year when the province starts providing money. However, Cojocar pointed out that they should join now, otherwise, the private institution won’t reach its third year.
Ten more students must enrol for the school to succeed. Tuition is $900 per month, which parents can pay completely, or they can pay $300 per month and fundraise the rest. Part-time studies are also available, which could benefit home-school kids who want to attend a few days a week.
Roots School approaches education by meeting each child where he or she is, determining their interests and how their “unique brain” works — not everyone learns well at a desk — and finding learning projects that interest them, Cojocar explained.
Furthermore, the private institution views teachers as facilitators who guide students to the answers — there is plenty of child-led learning — instead of simply delivering information, she added. Kids also learn by doing things — making bows during math class, for example — instead of just reading textbooks.
Parents can enrol their kids through the school’s website at www.rootsschool.ca or visit the organization’s booth during Wakamow Valley’s farmer’s markets on Saturdays.
