About

North Branch School fosters respect,

non-violence, environmental responsibility,

and the involvement of students, teachers

and families in our community.

We value the uniqueness of each child.

Our curriculum promotes the desire to learn

and to develop abilities to the fullest.

We are dedicated to providing

a diverse environment that stimulates

curiosity, creativity, and cooperation.

Founded in 1983, North Branch is a private, not-for-profit school for children ages 3 – 14 (pre-school through 8th grade) in Afton, Virginia (Nelson County).  We offer academic challenge in a nurturing environment, stretching our students without stressing them and/or their families.  We emphasize hands-on learning and cooperation, while giving our students a solid foundation in academics, the arts, and life skills.

Our 11-acre campus in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains includes two classroom buildings with 15 classrooms, a large outdoor playground, a Nature Trail maintained by teachers and students, many gardens maintained by teachers and students, and fields and woods for students to enjoy.

NBS currently enrolls over 90 students and has a faculty/staff of 17.  Students and teachers come  from Augusta, Albemarle, and Nelson Counties, as well as the cities of Charlottesville, Waynesboro, and Staunton.  The faculty has very low turnover, as approximately half of the teachers and staff have worked at NBS for ten years or more, and about another quarter have worked here 5 years or more. The most recent new teachers are also NBS alumni. Please see our “Faculty” page for more information about each teacher and staff member.

NBS is committed to keeping its tuition reasonable for all families.  We offer tuition assistance in the form of tuition credit work, in which families help clean and maintain the school, organize fundraisers, and contribute in other ways that help keep our costs as low as possible.  Please see our “Admissions” page for a full tuition schedule.

2012-2013 School Calendar

Aug. 30 & 31              Teacher Workdays

Sept. 4 (Wed)           1^st day for Nursery, Early Primary, and all Primary classes (half day)

Sept. 5 (Thurs)           1^st day for Juniors, Seniors, Middle School, as well as Primaries

Sept. 6  (Fri)                Full Schedule for all

Sept. 12 (Wed)           Parent -Toddler Group – Fall Session Begins (Weds through 11/14)

Sept. 18 (Tues)           Back-to-School Night for Nursery and all Primary classes – 6 pm

Sept. 20 (Thurs)        Half of Middle School goes to Nelson Food Pantry, 9 – 11 am; School Pictures

Sept. 26 (Wed)           Back-to-School Night for Senior and Middle School Classes – 6 pm

Sept. 28 (Fri)              Other half of Middle School goes to Food Pantry, 9 – 11 am

Senior Class Hawk Migration Field Trip

School Pictures

Oct. 4 (Thurs)            Seniors view Writer’s Eye Exhibit at Fralin Art Museum

Oct. 5 (Fri)                  Middle Schoolers view Writer’s Eye exhibit at Fralin Art Museum

Oct. 8 (Mon)             Staff Work Day–No School for students

Oct. 18 (Thurs)          Half of Middle School goes to Nelson Food Pantry, 9 – 11 am

Oct. 19 (Fri)                Grandparents’ Day

Oct. 26 (Fri)                Other half of Middle School goes to Food Pantry, 9 – 11 am

Nov. 6 (Tues)              Parent-Teacher conferences — No School for students

Nov. 19 (Mon)            Nursery Thanksgiving celebration, 11:45 AM

Nov. 20 (Tues)            Thanksgiving Supper celebration, 5:30 PM

Nov. 21-25                    Fall Break

Dec. 21 (Fri)                “St. George and the Dragon” performances 1 PM & 7 PM

Winter Break begins following 7 PM St. George performance

Jan. 3 (Thurs)              School opens 8:30 AM

Jan. 17 (Thurs)            Half of Middle School goes to Food Pantry, 9 – 11 am

Jan. 21 (Mon)              Martin Luther King Day Observed at School (school in session)

Jan. 25 (Fri)                 Other half of Middle School goes to Food Pantry, 9 – 11 am

Feb. 18 (Mon)             President’s Day/Staff Work Day (school closed)

Feb. 19 (Tues)             2^nd snow make-up day  (No school unless needed)

Feb. 20 (Wed)             1^st snow make-up day  (No school unless needed)

Feb date TBA               Middle Schoolers attend Middle School Model United Nations at the
College of William and Mary

March 28 (Thurs)      Middle School Spring Play, 7 pm (location TBA)

Apr. 1 – 7                       Spring Break

April 26 (Fri)               Earth Day Celebration at school

May 19 – 21                  Middle Schoolers go to Smith Island, Chesapeake Bay

May 27 (Mon)             Memorial Day (school closed)/ 3^rd snow make-up day

June 4 (Tues)               Last day of school/graduation

June 6 & 7                     Staff Workdays

Everyone is honored at North Branch School!

North Branch School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, or income and actively seeks minority students.  We value racial, economic, and cultural diversity as a source of richness and meaning in the life of the school.

northbranch@
221 Mickens Road Afton Virginia 22920
phone (540) 456-8450