Greetings…

Welcome to Voyagers’ Community School – home to 40 exceptional students attending Kindergarten through grade 12. Located on 3 private acres in Farmingdale, New Jersey, Voyagers’ Community School continues to offer traditional academics in non-traditional ways. We maintain a strong philosophy and a promise to educate and be educated. We create a learning environment that enables children to excel academically and intellectually while growing socially and emotionally. We are considered one of the preeminent progressive day schools in the region.

Innovative, rigorous, and unique, Voyagers’ is recognized for the excellence of its Writers’ Workshop, the depth and breadth of its science and global studies programs and the authentic and serious approach to learning joyfully. We introduced both standard and non-standard curriculum through engaged, hands-on, creative and inspired instruction in a warm and strong learning community.

Along with our small class size – a distinguishing feature of most progressive schools – students are guided and mentored by teachers who see and nurture their unique talents, interests and abilities. Together with parents and their children, teachers create individual education plans. Our teachers foster enthusiastic exploration, a deep and well-rounded understanding of subjects, and the ability to apply knowledge and skills to learning and to life. This paves the way to unimagined possibilities.

Voyagers’ students quickly learn that the world is their oyster and intellectual growth and integrity is the key to all possibilities. Our students establish goals, develop an action plan, and follow through wholeheartedly. They stand out in a crowd and move on in their academic endeavors with confidence and self-assurance.

On every level Voyagers’ students are challenged and supported as they work and, through this hard work they develop a strong and lasting sense of pride and honor that distinguishes them as leaders and responsible citizens.

Faculty, staff, students, families and alumni maintain our vision statement and philosophy of education, which tell of our culture and the spirit of Voyagers’ Community School. The concepts in our vision statement are our foundation. We also maintain our philosophy of education statement to provide a sure and strong footing. Together these two statements represent the underpinnings of our everyday practice. To have a closer look into this extraordinary school we invite you to browse our website. Welcome to our school!

Our School…

Now 6 years old, Voyagers’ Community School has moved on from its infancy into a period of certainty and assuredness. In the beginning our school was referred to as an “alternative” school, in other words alternative to other private and public school environments. It was assumed by many that we were a school for children with special needs or for those who were deemed gifted. Many ruled out our school because of assumptions and definitions.

We are in fact a school for all children who can engage consistently in wonderment, exploration, examination, conversation and intellectual studies. We consider all children gifted and therefore their potential is unlimited by extraneous labels. Rooted in the philosophy of John Dewey, Loris Malaguzzi, Maria Montessori, Sylvia Ashton-Warner and other prescient educators, our school has blossomed. We recognize that our time has come. Voyagers’ Community School has more than a handful of graduates who assure us of the effectiveness of our approach to education. We also have current students who are proving our point through the varied interests they pursue outside of school. Our children are recognized as athletes, actors, singers, artists, horseback riders, screen writers and small business owners.

Over the last six years of educating the whole child we have accomplished a great deal. Following core-curriculum standards, academic study is offered through hands-on, real-life provocations. Children explore concepts and face challenges that stimulate multiple senses and require them to think deeply and persistly until they find answers. Reading, writing and math are a part of our everyday routine. We also pursue extended exploration in science, global studies, personal development and life skills and pleasures. These include robotics, sewing, woodwork, fine and performing arts, sustainable living, gardening and so much more….

• Traditional academics taught in non-traditional ways.
• A newly renovated, stand alone building on approximately 3 acres
• Sun-filled classrooms
• A wireless computer lab and advanced digital technology
• Dedicated studio space designed by professional artists and students
• Athletic equipment for team and individual sports
• A lending library with over 3,500 titles
• Learning centers equipped with authentic tools for deep investigation across curriculum
• Outdoor space, which serve as an additional classroom
• Highly qualified and intelligent professionals teaching both classic and contemporary content in all classes

Where do they go…

Graduates who have chosen to move on have been accepted in local public and private schools and specialty programs including Christian Brothers Academy, Colts Neck High School Law and Public Service Learning Center, Freehold Regional High School, Manasquan High School, Monmouth Academy, Monsignor Donovan High School, and The Ranney School.

Our Vision…

Voyagers’ School is…

A place where a child can grow and learn as a whole person.

A place where children can develop thinking and working attitudes that empower them to take over their own growth.

A place that honors and encourages children’s vision, tenacity, initiative, imagination, generosity, and exploration.

A place that is defined by the bounding level of excitement, enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, ingenuity, and individual and community satisfaction.

A place that invokes vibrancy and trust among children and adults alike.

A place where children can find their voices and participate in a democratic community.

A place where learning is defined by no one and honored by everyone.

Our Philosophy of Education…

The core values reflected in our Philosophy of Education fall under five subheadings:

• The culture as teacher
• The teacher as learner; the learner as teacher
• The administrator, teacher, student and parent as colleagues
• The community as teacher and communicator
• The work of learning

The thought reflected within each of these headings collectively express who we are, why we exist and what we hope to accomplish in and outside of our school.

The culture as teacher:   Culture is a way of being in existence with others. The culture at Voyagers’ is reflected in the atmosphere that exists within our boundaries and among the members of our community.

In our school culture we recognize and encourage intellectual and social prowess. We strive to create people who are intensely aware of the possibilities in life and who are driven to stretch beyond what is expected and obvious. Our students take a broader look at life around them and beyond them. Each child evolves as an individual, as a member of a broader community, and as a global citizen. Students at Voyagers’ appreciate a fullness of life, a respect for others and a deeper understanding of him or her self.

The teacher as learner; the learner as teacher:    The acquisition of knowledge is not limited by individual imagination but is bolstered by the power and richness of each person’s thinking about the experiences of the whole group. Knowledge grows from relationships of trust, fairness, and regard for others, which allows for critique, debate, failure, wonder, and success. Through intellectual exchange we teach each other and learn with each other

The administrator, teacher, student and parent as colleagues:   The sense of responsibility and passion that rises in our students when they are involved in community work contributes to their evolution as good, civic-minded individuals who give and support others in society throughout life. Together our administrators, teachers and parents compose a strong, vibrant, and active community that stretches beyond the walls of the school and into surrounding neighborhoods. This serves as a guide and an inspiration for our students.

The community as teacher and communicator:   At Voyagers’ there is never a stagnant mind, an expected way of doing things or a prescribed right and wrong. There are always questions to ask and answers to be found. There is always a willingness to impart knowledge and an acceptance of the knowledge imparted by others. Learning is driven by the need to know and the thrill that emerges in sharing and debating ideas. Together in dialogue we enrich each other’s lives.

The work of learning:   In our school there is joy, passion, kindness, liveliness, acceptance, and inclusion as we learn. All members work to learn and to participate in the future with intellectual, social and political awareness. We feel empowered and inspired to reach deep into our own being to find wholeness and personal truth. Knowledge is power and all children deserve the best possible opportunity to learn and feel confident and smart. Learning is fueled by passion, desire and need. Our students are learning for life.

Arrange a visit…

As you browse our website, you will begin to understand our approach and purpose. Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make and we would like to help.

Come visit our classrooms and meet our staff and parents; see what sets our program apart. Tour when school is in session, observe our collaborative environment and witness children engaged in our learning process. If you wish to take the next step call for a personal meeting and to arrange your child’s visiting days. 732-842-1660.

Nondiscrimination Policy…

To foster an equitable, nurturing, and stimulating environment for educational experiences and community building, Voyagers’ Community School affirms that its students, staff, volunteers and guests have a right to be free from discrimination. We invite all people to participate in the activities, events and community of our school. We do not discriminate on any basis (cultural background, ethnicity, race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender, disability, marital status or spirituality) in the administration of our care, instruction, admission, employment, or tuition assistance policies.