Welcome to Horizons K-8!

Our vision is to share a commitment to educational excellence that supports teachers, parents, staff, and community members in creating a stimulating and supportive learning environment at Horizons. Students and adults work together at Horizons to strengthen their skills and maximize their individual potentials.

Learn more about our school by using the links below:

Horizons believes:

Authenticity
We strive to provide authentic learning experiences through a curriculum that is personally significant, and relates to the real world.

Respect
We believe in creating a community of life-long learners by including and accepting all individuals (parents, students, staff, and community members). Respect is modeled, practiced, and expected throughout our community. We value open, caring relationships among community members.

Diversity
We value and embrace diversity; therefore, we believe that unique ideas, experiences, and learning styles within and outside our community cultivate and inspire our relationships.

Flexibility
We believe that a community of learners must evolve by periodically re-evaluating its structure and learning experiences. We support and encourage all community members to innovate, grow, and strive for quality.

Responsibility
We believe that a community of learners promotes an individual sense of purpose and contribution, creating a sense of commitment to self, school, the environment and the larger world.

Quality
We intend to uphold the mission and goals of the school by establishing criteria of excellence and eliciting from each student a desire to achieve their own highest standard and quality of academic work and community contribution.

Learn more about the Horizons mission>>

May Moosings from Sonny & Nel

The energy ebbs and flows in a school year are something to behold. I taught for years before I overheard my husband saying to someone on the phone, “Oh, that’s during May. I know Sonny won’t be able to do it, because basically August, September, December, and May are lost months where she disappears into school and we don’t see her much.” My impulse was to respond with, “That’s not true!” but I knew that he was right. I also recognized in that moment that for the students and families at Horizons it’s much the same experience; their lives are packed full of events at school, recitals, soccer games, graduations, and other festivities – oh, and school! Given all that is on your plates, we, as teachers were especially touched and honored by the parents’ offerings of appreciation last week. I heard again and again, “We have never seen anything like this before – it’s so wonderful!” It was like a week-long caring embrace. Thank you. You made such a time of delight at this time of year when it seems like there cannot possibly be enough hours in the day. And if you haven’t seen the expression of our gratitude (on orange paper in the front hallway), please take a look! While you are in the front hallway, you might also look for the article (on the board to the left as you enter the building) about the third grade CSAP reading scores. You will see (if you haven’t already) that the Horizons third graders scored 100% (yes, 100%!) proficient or above in reading. Having had 100% scores in the past, we do know as teachers that it’s actually a tenuous place to be (there is nowhere to go but down!), but it is one of the MANY things that we can be proud of when it comes to our school. Still in the front hall, just to the left of the front doors, you will notice a delightfully decorated (thanks for former student Alyssa Rohr) metal box, labeled Ask Milky White. The intention of the box is for folks in our community to ask questions or to make suggestions about our school. Nel and I will use these questions and suggestions as topics for musings or Council Conversations. We are hopeful that it will be a supportive way to keep open and informational conversations/dialogues going about why we do what we do. Last night there were three big meetings at Horizons. The Kindergarten orientation meeting was the first. The excited energy of entering into the first year of school filled the room! Next the middle school team presented the new middle school schedule for next year. Changes of particular note are a two-hour language arts/history block each day, a year-long science/health class, and teachers “specializing” more than they have. Look for more details in next Friday’s addendum. Then, at the Council meeting, parent and teacher Council members (anyone from our community who is present at the meeting) discussed budget challenges for the coming year. Dialogues like this are one of the things that make Horizons unique; our governance model presents the great opportunities along with the challenges present in a democracy. Our school, like schools all over the district and the state, are experiencing budget constraints like so many people are in their lives. One of the major things that has already been done to adjust the budget is moving the current class size from 16-17 to 18. Other adjustments are still in the works. If you were unable to attend the meeting, please read the Council minutes, which have been emailed to the community separately, to increase your understanding of the budgeting process at Horizons – and how you can be involved in it! Then in August (yes, one of those shockingly busy months of the year) you will again have the opportunity to come to a Council meeting and be a part of the decision-making process! Since the founding of our school it has been a goal that each family in our community will be present for at least one Council meeting a year. We look forward to having you there! Finally, we are thrilled to announce that Janice Cooper has accepted a full-time middle school position at Horizons next year! Sonny & Nel