​Flexible, Developmental, Whole-Child Education for Northeast Florida Families

Spring River provides Waldorf-inspired, homeschool-aligned learning pathways for families across Northeast Florida. Our programs serve students from early childhood through high school, offering full-time and part-time academic options, nature-based learning, enrichment classes, and a high school pathway rooted in purpose and self-discovery.

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Families join Spring River for many reasons — weekly classes, seasonal camps, festivals, field work, and parent education. Across all programs, we uphold a commitment to developmentally appropriate learning, strong teacher-student relationships, and a vibrant, engaged community life.

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A Developmental Framework

At the heart of Spring River’s work is a living understanding of child and adolescent development. Learning is designed to strengthen the capacities of:

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• Thinking (Head)
• Feeling (Heart)
• Willing (Hands)

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From kindergarten through high school, students experience an age-appropriate progression of curriculum that fosters curiosity, creativity, independence, and purpose.

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All Spring River programs serving Kindergarten through Grade 8 students are intentionally screen-free. This protects the integrity of childhood development by prioritizing imagination, attention, social connection, and real-world, hands-on learning.

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Connection to nature is central to the Spring River experience. In a world increasingly shaped by screens, speed, and social separation, time outdoors restores balance, strengthens the senses, and awakens the child’s natural capacity for wonder, empathy, and belonging. Through meaningful work, movement, and exploration in the living landscape, students cultivate resilience, focus, and a grounded relationship with themselves, one another, and the world around them.

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Students engage directly with their teachers, peers, materials, and the natural world — building the foundation for healthy learning and a balanced future relationship with technology.

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Parent–Child Program: The Foundations of Relationship and Rhythm

Spring River’s Parent–Child Program serves families with infants and toddlers, offering a gentle and intentional entry into community life and the school’s educational philosophy. Designed for caregivers and young children together, the program centers on shared rhythm, imitation, and sensory-rich experiences through songs, movement, stories, simple crafts, and seasonal activities.

 

Parents are supported in understanding early childhood development, cultivating healthy rhythms at home, and observing their children’s natural capacities within a held, communal space. This program honors early childhood as a time of relationship, embodiment, and belonging, laying the social, emotional, and developmental foundations for later learning to naturally unfold.

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Kindergarten

Spring River’s Kindergarten programs support children in the final stage of early childhood. Through rhythm, movement, storytelling, and nature immersion, children develop:

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• Motor coordination through outdoor play
• Imagination through artistic and narrative experiences
• Social and emotional readiness through shared rhythm
• A living relationship with the natural world

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These years emphasize creativity, sensory experience, and joyful engagement — not early academics — preparing children for the grades to come.

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Grades 1–3: A World of Wonder

In the early elementary years, Spring River nurtures imagination as the primary gateway to learning. Students experience:

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• Story-rich main lessons
• Artistic integration of literacy and math
• Movement, music, and rhythm woven into daily life
• Consistent teacher guidance and strong class community

Learning is experiential, creative, and rooted in beauty and repetition.

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Grades 4–5: Crossing a Threshold

Around age nine, students enter a new developmental stage marked by growing independence and self-awareness. Spring River meets this shift through:

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• Studies in geography, local history, and cultural traditions
• Opportunities for independent thinking and inquiry
• A balanced integration of academics and the arts
• Compassionate support for evolving social dynamics

Students build confidence and begin to discover their place in the wider world.

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Grades 6–8: Will in Motion

The middle school years bring increased self-expression, physical growth, and a desire for meaning. Across our programs, students are supported through:

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• Challenging projects and presentations
• Practical and fine arts
• Leadership and collaboration opportunities
• A curriculum that strengthens articulation, responsibility, and initiative

Students learn to direct their will with confidence and purpose.

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High School: Purpose and Self-Knowledge

Spring River’s high school program supports adolescents as they enter abstract thought and deeper self-discovery. Students engage in:

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• Rigorous, interdisciplinary academics
• Practical and fine arts
• Experiential learning, field work, and community engagement
• Individualized pacing and graduation pathways

​Graduates emerge thoughtful, capable, and prepared to contribute meaningfully to the world.

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A Living Community for Families

Spring River is more than a school — it is a thriving and supportive homeschool community. Families participate in:

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• Seasonal festivals and cultural gatherings
• Camps, field trips, and outdoor learning experiences
• Parent education and community workshops
• Volunteer opportunities and community dinners

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Together, we cultivate connection, reverence for the developing human being, and meaningful participation in community life.