2012-2013 Application for The Livingschool

Dear Prospective Parents,
Thank you for your interest in The Livingschool!
Please complete and return this form by April 15th with your non-refundable $35 application fee (payable to High Desert Living Arts Center) to: Admissions Committee, The Livingschool, PO Box 1374, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
-OR- Drop it through the mail slot at the schoolhouse located at: 61871 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, CA 92252

The Livingschool is committed to a diverse student body and does not discriminate on the basis of race, disabilities, sex, color, creed, sexual orientation, or natural origin. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Preference will be given to children already attending The Livingschool. Parents are encouraged to apply early as we have limited space in the program. Prospective families must visit the school prior to acceptance. Please arrange a visitation day with the teachers by emailing us at jtlivingschool@gmail.com.

We will let families know of their admissions status beginning in May. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
The Livingschool Admissions Committee

Cooperative Structure

Parent involvement is vital to The Livingschool. When a family joins The Livingschool, they are joining a community of dedicated parents who work hard to ensure their school embodies excellence in every sense. You should expect a time commitment of about five hours per month seeing to the cleanliness of our schoolhouse, maintaining the outdoor space and gardens, organizing and participating in fundraisers, and/or serving on a committee (like fundraising). For example, tasks involved in fundraising could include baking for a bake sale, selling raffle tickets, soliciting local businesses for auction items, helping with setup and cleanup of an event, putting up flyers, etc. There is an increase in the number of hours parents work at certain times of the year, such as during fundraising events and the annual open house. Our parents also have the opportunity to go beyond these responsibilities and teach a workshop. All jobs will require coordinating with other members of the cooperative and time will need to be set aside for planning meetings and other joint ventures (i.e. This year parents got together to design and build a climbing wall.).

Accreditation

We as the board and community of The Livingschool feel strongly that not pursuing accreditation is the best decision for our school. . We feel there is a mismatch between the accreditation process and our cooperative school structure, especially for the expectation for the use of our time and resources to document the quality of our school’s program. The Livingschool is a nonprofit cooperative school and as such is a strong community where the parents have an intimate knowledge of their child’s academic performance and development. Parents serve on the board of directors, make up the committees that perform the administrative and maintenance functions of the school, and serve in the classroom as workshop teachers. We also have regular Parent Teacher Conferences. So parents have a close connection with the running of the school and an intimate relationship with our teachers, their own children and all the other children in the school. The documentation required for accreditation at the state level as well as with the National Association of the Education for Young Children has hundreds of criteria points and must be updated and recreated every year. The work load required for our teachers and school to provide the documentation for accreditation would significantly detract from our staff’s core work of teaching our children. Because we see it every day in the classroom, in the daily lesson plans, in our children’s work, and in our children, we feel the utmost confidence that The Livingschool abides by the highest standards for its students.

As an alternative, all students enrolled inTheLivingschool register with the state as homeschoolers. This is a very simple process (a single form) and can be completed as a group during the summer months before school starts with other Livingschool parents who have completed this form before. The State of California does not require anything of homeschoolers other than attendance records if requested by the state.

Additionally, Livingschool students can sign up for the River Springs Charter School if they choose which provides regular standardized testing with an educational specialist who meets with students monthly and tracks their academic work. They also provide an $800 stipend for school supplies or approved enrichment classes.

Tuition

Tuition for the 2011-2012 school year is currently $4250 (4 days/week). We expect an inflationary rise for the 2012-13 school year as well as a slight rise in cost associated with expanding our programming to five days a week. Our goal is to not exceed $4500 for the 2012-13 school year.

Need-based tuition assistance is available. If you wish to receive a tuition assistance application email:  jtlivingschool@gmail.com with “Tuition Assistance 2012-13” as the e-mail subject.

I have read and understand the statements above.

Signature of Parent(s) or Guardian(s) ________________________________________________________________ 

Date ______________________________

Date of Application:_____________________

Student’s Last Name       First Name       Middle

_______________________________________________________

Street Address

_______________________________________________________

City/State/Zip

_______________________________________________________

Please circle: Male   Female         Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year)             Social security #

__________________________________________________________________________

Current School Information

School Name                         Address                                      Phone #                    Local School District

___________________________________________________________________________

Parent Information

Parent’s Name(s)                       Home Phone                             Cell Phone

____________________________________________________________________________

Address(es)                                                                                    Email(s)

____________________________________________________________________________

Occupation(s)

____________________________________________________________________________

Business Address                                                                         Business Phone

____________________________________________________________________________

Parents’ Marital Status

Please circle:  Married     Separated    Divorced      Single        Remarried            Other

____________________________________________________________________________

If parents live separately, indicate which parent(s) should receive school correspondence

____________________________________________________________________________

Does your child have other guardians that play an active and significant role in their lives? Please briefly describe these relationships.

____________________________________________________________________________

Child’s Information

Please describe what is unique and wonderful about your child

____________________________________________________________________________

What are your child’s strengths?

____________________________________________________________________________

Where does your child need guidance?

____________________________________________________________________________

What kind of learner is your child?

____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe how you would like to see your child grow this year

____________________________________________________________________________

Please indicate any illnesses (include measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc.)

____________________________________________________________________________

Does your child have any allergies?______________Is an Epi-pen required?________________

Has your child sustained any injuries?

____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your child’s current state of health

____________________________________________________________________________

What, if any, medication(s) does your child take?

____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your child’s eating habits and what foods he or she prefers

____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your child’s sleeping habits (length, ease with which child falls asleep, dreams, nightmares)

____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your child’s personality

____________________________________________________________________________

Is your child currently receiving tutoring or other remedial services? ___________

 If yes, please provide name of tutor/provider and a brief description of the service provided

____________________________________________________________________________

Does your child have an identified learning disability?__________ If yes, please attach all documentation which provides a diagnosis and recommendations for school interventions and accommodations. Please list accommodations your child is currently receiving in school (formal or informal) _____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe any social, behavioral, or emotional issues your child has/has had

_____________________________________________________________________________

Do you and/or your child have any kind of Mindfulness practice at home such as yoga, meditation, belly breathing, listening to music, etc.? Please describe 

_____________________________________________________________________________Social Activities/Home Life

If your child has siblings, please list them:

Name _____________________________Birthdate ________________Grade/School________

Name _____________________________Birthdate ________________Grade/School________

Name _____________________________Birthdate ________________Grade/School________

Please describe how your child plays and interacts with his/her siblings 

____________________________________________________________________________

What are your child’s primary interests and activities at home? 

____________________________________________________________________________

Is your child involved in any extra-curricular activities or enrichment activities (formal or informal) 

outside of school? Please Describe________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Does your child have any special interests? 

____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your child’s responsibilities at home 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe method of discipline used at home 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Please list language(s) spoken at home _____________________Any foreign language 

instruction? _____________________ What holidays/festivals does your family celebrate? 

____________________________________________________________________________

Do both parents reside in the home? __________________________ 

If not, does child have contact with both, and how much time is spent in each environment? 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Does your child have pets? _____________________________________________________________________________

 Does your child play a musical instrument? _________If yes, what instrument(s)_____________

 Does your child use a computer or play computer games? ___________________

If yes, how often?____________________________________________________ 

Does your child watch TV, videos or DVDs? _________ If yes, when, how often, for how long, and

 which programs/titles? _________________________________________________________

What kind of music do you and your child listen to? _________________________________________

How often does your child read at home per week? _____________________________________________________________________________

Does your child read or look at books primarily on their own or with you? 

___________________________________________________________

What kind of books is your child drawn to at home? _____________________________________________________________________________

How often do you read to your child per week? 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe any other information about your child you feel is important

_______________________________________________________________

School Information

How did you learn about The Livingschool? _____________________________________________________________________________

Please provide the names and dates of any other schools or educational institutions your child has 

been involved with______________________________________________________________

Please explain reasons for your child leaving his/her current school and your reasons for choosing 

The Livingschool (attach separate page, if necessary) 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Have you homeschooled your child? If so, please describe the methods you used and any 

curriculum you followed __________________________________________________________

Keeping in mind your special interests and talents, briefly describe the contribution you feel you or 

your family can make as members of the cooperative 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Are you interested in teaching a workshop? If so please describe subject of interest 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Keeping in mind your special interests and talents, briefly describe the contribution you feel you or your family can make as members of the cooperative 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Signature of Parent(s) or Guardian(s) _______________________________________Date ________________

Student portion (to be filled out by students ages six and up

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Tell us about your special interests (music, art, sports, hobbies, etc.) 

_____________________________________________________________________________

Which books have you read recently, and why have you liked (or disliked) them? 

_____________________________________________________________________________

What do you enjoy learning or doing in school? 

_____________________________________________________________________________