The first of the DC Wildflower Public Charter Schools celebrates its opening, bringing a new and innovative approach to learning to the District.
The Riverseed School, a brand-new early childhood multi-age school in NE Washington, D.C., just celebrated its grand opening, bringing together nearly a hundred community stakeholders, parents and educators for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is the first site of the DC Wildflower Public Charter School to open its doors, bringing a new and innovative approach to learning to the District. DCWPCS will serve up to 225 students through up to six community embedded teacher-led microschools in Wards 4, 5, 7 & 8 over the next four years.
The Riverseed School is co-led designed by Founding Teacher Leaders who live in Ward 7 to be a liberatory, culturally affirming learning environment that seamlessly connects students’ homes, school, and community. It is an intentionally small one room school that starts with Pre-k students in a multi-age Montessori classroom that will grow into a two room school serving over 50 students Pre-K to fifth grade. Serving students in the Burrville neighborhood, Riverseed’s innovative Montessori curriculum is part of a broader trend of early childhood education improvements around the nation’s capital.
Riverseed Site History: Former homeowner Jennifer Johnson shares some of the history behind the colonial home of The Riverseed School site.
Ebony Marshman, Founding Teacher Leader at The Riverseed School, said: “Our vision was for school to be a place you can go to heal rather than a place you must heal from.”
Zani Dalili-Ortique, Founding Teacher Leader at The Riverseed School, added: “The Riverseed School is the vision of two teachers, designing the school [we] want to teach in. We prioritize the wellbeing of the whole child: mind, body, senses, spirit.”
Maia Blankenship, Partner at the Wildflower Foundation, said: “Our students are connected to a larger community. Our regard for the entire community – children, educators, families, and neighbors – as a whole is how we heal, grow, and learn while experiencing joy and harmony. This team is creating joy and harmony. We are going to change the way our babies learn. They will lead to change in our city.”
Rachel Kimboko, Exec. Director of DC Wildflower Public Charter School, said: “It’s an honor to work at a place where my role is to support teachers as they bring their visions to life. Riverseed is the manifestation of the visions of our amazing Teacher Leaders working alongside their community to foster the learning and self development of the next generation.”
About The Riverseed School: Riverseed is the vision of two teachers, designing the school [we] want to teach in. As teachers, we are committed to education that empowers children to be active participants in their own learning. This is achieved through respect and trust of children. We believe this is a revolutionary path to personal liberation for Black children, the children most represented in the neighborhood we seek to embed in. Our students are connected to a larger community. Our regard for the entire community; children, educators, families, and neighbors, as whole is how we will heal, grow, and learn, while experiencing joy and harmony.