Guilford Elementary

A beautiful rural school with outdoor classrooms in Guilford, Vermont

Every child is known, valued, and celebrated

ETWC Report Summary:  Guilford Central School demonstrates what can be accomplished when knowledgeable educators, who understand and believe in whole child education, create schools that honor the individuality of every child as well as the heritage of the community. As a pre-k to 6^th grade school, Guilford is unique in its use of outdoor spaces, with an outdoor classroom for each grade level, as well as a Pre-k forest classroom. Students engage in a farm to school program, learning about nutrition, and spend a large part of every day outdoors.    

The first distinctive element is the creation of an outdoor classroom for each grade and the thoughtful use of both indoor and outdoor learning spaces. When in-person learning was again an option after the Covid 19 shutdown, classes were held outside due to the availability of covered structures made possible by money raised by the school’s PTO.    Students gain hands-on experience in the outdoor gardens, and the school library is also used as a makerspace. Students use a variety of materials, collaborating to create, innovate, and experiment. Every area inside and outside of this beautiful school is thoughtfully designed to provide an inviting and functional learning space.

The second distinctive element is the Farm to School program. All grade levels participate in this program, which is run by a former teacher at the school, who is the parent of a current Guilford student. The  program’s components include school-wide monthly taste tests featuring the Harvest of the Month, cooking projects using garden produce and local foods, agriculture and nutrition education, a school-wide composting program, and farm field trips, with grades pre-k through 6 all actively involved. During the summer, students are invited to work in the gardens on Wednesdays with the program coordinator. 

A third distinctive element is the integration of the arts throughout the curriculum. Art infuses the life of this school. The classrooms and halls are beautifully decorated with student artwork and all classrooms provide evidence of art incorporated into classroom projects. At Guilford creativity is appreciated and encouraged across the curriculum. The school has a vibrant music program, with multiple opportunities for students to learn about music and perform. 

The fourth noteworthy element is the presence of creative opportunities for learning. Guilford Central School is place-based and project-based, with a pre-k program in which students spend more than half of every day outdoors in all but the most severe weather. Place-based learning utilizes the local environment and community as means to teach about the natural world and citizen engagement through projects, participation, and partnerships in the community.

Contact to request the full report: tomprnny@gmail.com