We kicked off this Spring Semester in true Sudbury style with real, meaningful student engagement and empowerment. Take a look at what our Community has been up to and don’t miss a few amazing upcoming opportunity to engage directly with the power of Sudbury:
March 3rd if you have a girl you want to empower
April 5th if you want to meet successful Sudbury grads from around the world
May 24th if you want to celebrate Sudbury style at our annual Showcase(Spoiler alert, it will be “Out Of This World!”).
Monthly Highlights
We know it can be hard to imagine a space where young people aren’t simply “doing what they’re told” (or rebelling against doing what they’re told).
Sudbury schools are unique and powerful places exactly because young people are constantly practicing doing what their Community needs and what makes them come alive. And as Howard Thurman famously said, “What we need are people who have come alive…”
This past month... we've had two amazing family park days, a Fairchild Tropical Garden field trip, movie nights, our regular park days every Friday, a combo ice skating and thrift store trip, a student-led kitchen reorganization project, picture day for Student IDs, a colorful Birthday Board, and continued improvements to our daily chore system. And in animal news, our smallest and furriest friend, Guapo, has been acing his service dog training!
School Meeting Highlights
Kitchen Management Team
Did an overhaul of furniture in the kitchen for better organization of lunch boxes, dishes, baking supplies, etc.
Management Teams
Everyone updated their Management Team memberships this semester to select the 3 teams each student cares the most about
Arts & Engineering Club
Official kick off of the Arts & Engineering Club with outside advisory from industry professional Caitlin Ryan
Major School Meeting Decision
Now accepting select 4 year olds! If a young person is ready for our unique and dynamic community at the age of 4, we’re now open to beginning the admissions and enrollment process with them and their families. Please contact us for more information.
Student Artwork
Daily life quotes and jokes
Staff Reflections
Over the course of my time working at The Miami Sudbury School I’ve seen many instances where new young people who join our community bring with them some fear and trauma from their past experiences at “traditional” schools.
We have two voting members in our community who were very quiet, shy, and even a touch sneaky when they first joined us. They had a very hard time at first understanding that they were now a part of a community of people who genuinely care about one another. The two new voting members found themselves initially in situations where their peers were holding them accountable for breaking policies. Little by little, with the support of the community, they learned that in our school we value how everyone feels and we strive to make it a safe environment for everyone.
Later in their first month, one of those voting members misplaced their Pokemon card binder. They were very nervous and scared that someone in the community had taken their belongings maliciously. I reassured the student that I know everyone in our school and I do not know any of the other voting members to be thieves, let alone people to even touch property that isn’t theirs. Shortly after, the student got a group of people together to look for the binder, and sure enough, they found it unscathed and untampered with. They were visibly relieved and even amazed.
This reinforced the idea that within our community there are trustworthy people who value and respect others personal belongings. Ever since this happened, the voting member has been much more comfortable and willing to trust other people in our community thanks to the culture we have been able to create at The Miami Sudbury School.
Announcements
SUCCESS WITHOUT STRESS: MEET SUDBURY GRADUATES
Apr 5th, 2025, 12:30 PM
Curious about life after a Sudbury education? Join us for a unique opportunity to meet graduates from four different Sudbury schools from around the world as they share how self-directed learning shaped their lives and future paths.
This free event is organized by Sudbury International and open to all—register to join this opportunity and spread the word to anyone who might also be interested!
NARROW RIDGE EARTH LITERACY CENTER TRIP TO TENNESSEE
March 24th - 29th
Our long-awaited trip to the mountains of Northeast Tennessee is just around the corner. You can still contribute with a donation! Every donation, no matter the size, plays a crucial role in ensuring that this trip is accessible to everyone!
Showcase Celebration — SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, May 24th
If you have yet to come to our annual Showcase, make sure to make it this year - great food, inspiring student displays, and our iconic chocolate fountain await!
Christen’s Book Nook
Christen is well-known for always having a book to recommend... so thought we'd share some of her newest picks and regular recommendations. Please let us know if you have a book recommendation for us!
Peter Gray argues that children learn best when they are free to explore, play, and direct their own education, rather than being confined to structured schooling. He draws from evolutionary psychology, anthropology, and his own research to show how play and self-directed learning have been essential to human development. Gray critiques the modern school system for stifling creativity and intrinsic motivation, advocating instead for environments like Sudbury schools, where children control their own learning experiences.
Haim Ginott introduces a communication-based parenting approach that fosters respect, empathy, and emotional intelligence. He emphasizes the importance of validating children’s feelings while setting clear and respectful boundaries, using language that encourages cooperation rather than conflict. The book offers practical strategies for replacing criticism with constructive guidance, helping parents build a relationship of trust and understanding with their children.
Rosalind Wiseman provides an in-depth look at the social dynamics of boys, revealing the hidden rules, hierarchies, and pressures they navigate in friendships, school, and family life. Using real-life stories and insights from boys themselves, she explains how parents can better understand their sons’ emotional world and support them in building healthy relationships. Wiseman offers concrete strategies for fostering open communication, helping boys handle peer pressure, and guiding them through challenges without shutting down or withdrawing
Thanks for plugging into to our powerful community - we truly get so much extra energy from your support!
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