I’ve worked with individuals who have autism (ASD) for over 30 years. In that time, there has been a shift in our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. No two individuals with autism are the same, and every child should be understood keeping their unique strengths and struggles in mind. However, we can see common traits that allow us to view them through a particular lens. That lens helps us understand their strengths and better support their challenges.  I’m seeing more and more students who are not formally diagnosed with autism but have features consistent with the diagno ..read more

The Sycamore School’s vision is to cultivate curious, independent, lifelong learners. Supporting self-directed learning is foundational to this goal.   Traditional learning often involves a teacher lecturing the class and students receiving instruction. It can feel passive with an overfocus on compliance. At TSS, we want students to actively engage in their learning, asking questions, and ultimately driving their own learning.  In middle school, this starts by helping students build self-awareness, goal-setting, and problem-solving skills.  We often begin by teaching s ..read more

After spending the past two years searching for a larger space, The Sycamore School held a ribbon-cutting for its new home in Rosslyn. Read Article The post Arlington Office Building Serves As New Home For The Sycamore School appeared first on The Sycamore School ..read more

Everyone knows the classic game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” used by kids to break a tie or resolve an impasse. Did you know it could be a full-court team sport that draws out the inner athlete in students and teaches them teamwork simultaneously? Recently, students ventured to a nearby Rosslyn playground court for the big RPS middle school team building challenge. Two randomly chosen teams lined up on the baselines; then, one player from each team had to walk (not run!) down the sideline to the centerline, where the first two players had an instant RPS game. The winner moves forward to meet the n ..read more

A former school psychologist, Karyn Ewart founded The Sycamore School in 2017 as an alternative for students who need help with socio-emotional skills as well as academics. TSS has a 1:6 teacher-to-student ratio, and just 70 students in grades 5 through 12. The school’s mastery-based learning model is heavy on projects and allows kids to move at their own pace.  Read Article The post Why Is Private School Enrollment on the Rise? appeared first on The Sycamore School ..read more

Can a school really make a dramatic difference to a student? I began my classroom teaching career at another independent private school in the region, which was in many ways the diametric opposite of The Sycamore School. Their respective approaches to education and student support diverged from the start. Early Emphasis on AP Classes The first school I taught at was founded on the idea that American schools failed to challenge their students.  Their solution was simple: lots of AP classes as early as possible and challenging curricula, even at the middle school level. Sixth graders tackl ..read more

As the new College & Career Readiness counselor, I’ve had the unique opportunity to help our Juniors and Seniors establish clarity and progress on their goals in preparation for high school graduation. Students may choose to attend a university or a trade school while others may wish to launch directly into the workforce. It is also common for students to take a gap year. Our mission here at TSS is to help students accomplish their goals and foster their independence.  All Juniors and Seniors take our Seminar course, where they explore career interests, develop a resume, practice inf ..read more

Every student should feel safe and free to be their authentic selves. This founding principle has guided TSS since our inception. Recent legislation has questioned this basic human right for LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia. But there are many ways a school can support LGBTQ+ students in the face of these changes. I first want to assure all the members of our TSS community that we will not comply with Governor Youngkin’s updated guidelines for transgender and nonbinary students.  These restrictions compromise the safety and integrity of our school community.  I’d also like to illustrat ..read more

One of the world’s great museum centers is minutes away from The Sycamore School in the Smithsonian network that sprawls across a dozen blocks on the Mall and offers students a window into great history, science, and art from our past. The MS2 and MS3 cohorts brought their “Pre-Columbian Americas” unit on Native American cultures to life with a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian. It also gave them insight into how the growing USA relentlessly pushed aside Native Americans. NMAI has changed over the years, shifting from tribe-based exhibitions to thematic displays such as ..read more

A new year in a new space for The Sycamore School! After months of planning, veteran students and staff joined newcomers in our expanded middle and high school space at 1550 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn, just up the hill from the Metro. Reasons Behind the Move Why the move? The imminent redevelopment of the hotel-office complex in Ballston that housed the school since it opened in 2017 certainly figured highly. TSS is also growing at a measured pace, making more room in a newer building very attractive. But, finding building space that can accommodate an independent school’s requirements takes work ..read more