The Well School at a glance

Our Mission:

the well school creates a strong, community-centered environment where each child develops the capacity to become an independent thinker and an empathetic, collaborative, creative human being.

Founded in 1967 by Jay and Toni Garland, The Well School is an independent day school for students in preschool through 8th Grade located in Peterborough, New Hampshire, a small but vibrant town. The 15-acre campus includes three classroom buildings, a playground, two athletic fields, a pond, woods, and hiking trails.

The Well’s curriculum focuses on the whole child, emphasizing rigorous academics, performing and visual arts, the outdoors, and physical activity. Students gain a love of learning and receive a variety of tools for more advanced study as they grow.

The mission of The Well School is to inspire confidence, passion, and a love of learning in every child. We have high expectations of our students in terms of academic and social behaviors, growing from our primary tenets of kindness, cooperation, and respect.

faculty

  • 80% of all teachers have advanced degrees

  • 17 years: average tenure of teaching faculty

  • 11 primary teachers

  • 4 assistant teachers

  • 7 Specials teachers

the students

  • 125 students (2019-20), including one international student through our Mexican visiting student program

  • Geographic area represented: 26 towns

Guiding Principles

  • Educating the whole child: addressing the different dimensions of a child in her/his education, including the cognitive, physical, artistic, social and emotional

  • Growth mindset: creating a supportive learning environment via trust, understanding, and experience

  • Scholarship: helping students become perceptive, critical, eclectic, and deep thinkers

  • Experiential education: actively involving children in their learning

  • Child-centered education: allowing exploration of special interests to build a self-identity

  • Community: bonding and cooperating with, finding a sense of belonging in, and making positive contributions to a community

  • Health and wellness: encouraging healthy choices

  • Eco-literacy and interrelatedness: connecting with the natural world and contributing to the health of the planet

  • Diversity: respecting our differences and understanding that diversity enriches our community

SCHOOL schedule

  • The school day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. for all students. Drop off begins around 7:45 a.m.

  • Monday through Thursday, the school day ends at 3:00 p.m. for all students. (Upper School students are released at 3:20 p.m. after completing campus jobs.)

  • On Fridays the day is over at 2:00 p.m. for all students. (Upper School students are released at 2:20 p.m. after completing campus jobs.)

  • For Preschool students enrolled in half days, pick-up is at 11:30 a.m.

  • Extended Day is available until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • For Lower and Upper School students, Study Hall is available Monday through Thursday until 5:00 p.m. and until 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.

  • We have five required Saturday School Days throughout the academic year:

    • Beach Day in September

    • Harvest Fest in October

    • Grandparents/Arts & Crafts Day in December

    • Science Fair in April (Upper School)

    • Children & the Arts festival in May

  • In January and February, children in Kindergarten through 8th grades participate in five Ski Fridays.