Graduate Testimonial – Nicholas S.

“I am very happy to share my experience after I left Chance School. First of all I want to say how I miss being at Chance, since I started when I was only two years old. I had a hard time deciding which middle school to choose but I am very happy to have chosen St Francis in Goshen. I was a little concerned about the expectations and the new friends; I did not have to worry because I immediately made new friends and I did not have any problem with homework and daily routine.

Chance has been great. Because I learned how to make friends and solve problems, I feel secure and proud of myself. Chance also gave me the basis and the knowledge, so I can learn more without difficulties. I found math to be easy and I enjoy history and English. I feel well prepared when I am asked to write anything.

I have just received grades for the first time and they are all great.

Thank you Chance School. You gave me the wings; I provide the engine.”

Nicholas S. – 2011 Chance Graduate

Student Testimonial – Stella M.

“I have been at Chance School all my life and it truly is an amazing experience from preschool to the cottage. Some of the people who were in the twos with me are now in the cottage (fourth and fifth graders) with me.

The good thing is that there are two rooms in each class level. The outdoor time is also terrific. Mr. Stevens takes kids outside to the garden to experience nature. Every day we have specialists, like art where we learn about different mediums of art, how it is made and the name of the artist. In music, we learn notes and play instruments. In Spanish, we learn about holidays celebrated. In P.E, we run laps, play games and jump rope. In library and media, we read and check out books and also have computer class and typing classes. We also have Girl Scouts, chess and flamenco dance.

Chance kids are always nice and they have an important reason – they feel the nice Chance family around them and feel welcome. Graduates from Chance School have moved on with smiles on their faces, soon to be best of their class.”

Stella M. – Intermediate 4 (fourth grade) Student

Teacher Testimonial – Kathy Kopp

“Words cannot do justice to what happens to a child’s confidence in a multi-age classroom in which they are allowed to be a mentor, a leader, even an expert in some areas. By being with the same teachers and learners, a comfort level – a family feeling – allows a child to take risks a learner, grow as a person and become all he/she can be. Themes are changed every year and by choosing their own themes, guiding the unit of study with their questions, and finding those answers, children are invested and captivated by the journey. They learn how to find out information they are interested in – NOT just learning random facts, memorizing answers and regurgitating teacher expectations. They find learning meaningful and F-U-N!

I love watching children enjoy school. I love facilitating their learning journey. I truly believe Chance School is the best school in Louisville. The small teacher-pupil ratio allows children to receive attention in many areas they require. It is such an amazing benefit. I believe Chance gives every child confidence, success, problem-solving skills, leadership opportunities and instills a love of learning. Aren’t these precisely the tools we want our children to carry with them as they face the challenges of their world?”

Kathy Kopp
Lead Teacher – Primary 2 & 3

Teacher Testimonial – Jennifer Starr

“Chance School is the epitome of current, student-centered, well rounded education. Students at Chance School do have lots of fun – so much so that our Intermediates regularly cheer for research reports and beg for longer, more difficult books to read. How could I not love teaching here?

Through individualized teaching and multi-age classrooms, Chance School meets the need of every single student, whether providing extra support or giving an extra “push”. Teaching here is a blessing because every day I walk into a classroom of 4th and 5th graders that are excited to learn, eager to be problem solvers, and able to treat teachers and children alike with respect and kindness. What else is there besides a love for learning, a love of life, and a love for others? This is Chance School.”

Jennifer Starr
Lead Teacher – Intermediate 4 & 5

Teacher Testimonial – Jennifer Hampton

“I believe that children who attend Chance School have a wonderful learning environment in which they feel: safe, unique as individuals, treated with respect, they have a “voice” in the classroom, involved in their own learning process and theme ideas, challenged to be “the best they can be”. Chance students have a love for learning and enjoy coming to school every day.

I believe it is important to teach the “whole child” which includes the social and emotional development of a child, and Chance School understands how important that is.

I believe the multi-age classrooms can really benefit both the younger students as well as the older students because all children learn and grow at their own pace and the older students learn to be role models and the younger students look to their peers – as they all strive for higher levels of learning.”

Jennifer Hampton
Lead Teacher – Primary 2 & 3

Teacher Testimonial – Janie Langan

“I have taught Art over the past 30 years in many parochial and private schools in the Louisville area and inspired each child over the past 15 years at Chance. Never have I found an environment as enriching as Chance School. The teachers and children enter the building each day with smiles and are challenged with a stimulating and challenging curriculum that develops the whole child. Whether it is Math, Language Arts, Music, PE, Science or Art, the child challenges social, physical, cognitive and creative skills.

It’s ‘home away from home’ and we all love working in this environment. With a class size of 8-12 students, art students are allowed time for brainstorming + hands-on activities + critiques and sharing artwork, which ensures success and growth for every child in the classroom. As the Art Specialist, it brings me great joy to watch my students blossom into amazing young artists. My resources are plentiful and the administration values the Arts as an essential building block to education.”

Janie Langan
Art Specialist for Kindergarten – Intermediate 5

Student Testimonial – Olivia C.

“I like a lot of stuff. The teachers are so caring, and I’ve been there for so long that everybody knows me and everybody is really nice. When I first went there, I thought this is so cool because this is the perfect size for me. And all of the classrooms are big enough, you get to sit by your friends, and there are no uniforms.

There are two teachers, so every teacher gets to pay attention to every kid. You get to spend two years with the teachers, so when you really like the teachers, like Mrs. Farmer and Mrs. Linde, then you will be excited when you come back the next year, and you won’t be sad. My pre-school teachers are usually sitting, waiting for the pre-schoolers so I get to say “hi” since I don’t get to see them a lot. Then sometimes I sneak when I am returning a library book, and it’s just nearing lunch, I sneak up to my kindergarten teachers classroom so I can see them again.

When summer comes I get sad because I miss going through the hallways, and I miss doing art, and music, and Spanish, and media, and all of that stuff.”

Olivia C. – Primary 3 (Grade 3) Student

Graduate Testimonial – Kesric M.

“As far as I can remember my Chance School experiences were very special to me. The office staff and teachers were always very nice. The class rooms were always good environments to learn in. Learning was made fun because you were allowed at some times to play games to help understand the material.

My favorite thing about Chance was the Intermediate classroom. I liked this classroom because we always did fun subjects for learning, and we went on very fun field trips.

Another reason I liked this classroom was because Mrs. McCormack and Mrs. Starr were really good teachers and were very persistent in making sure everyone was on task.

One thing that is special about Chance School is that all the teachers make learning fun and really seem to enjoy their jobs. The Everyday Math Program that Chance uses is really great and has made me love math.

Another special thing about Chance School is the Fall Festival. During the Fall Festival all of the kids from third grade up play a Steal the Ball game, but the Intermediates play against the Alumni. When all that is over you go across the street and play games, and eat delicious food.”

Kesric M. – 2010 Chance Graduate

Student Testimonial – Desric M.

“I have gone to Chance School for 5 years. When I was 4 years old, my best friend and I use to draw under the table with crayons. That’s what I remember about my 4 year old experience at Chance.

When I started kindergarten, my classroom was in a Tree house which was the highest point of the school. I loved my classroom and had so much fun with my friends and teachers. Our school work was always fun because we got to choose what we wanted to talked about in class.

My fondest memory at Chance School will always be PE with Ms. Patti and all my other Specialist classes and teachers.. My other memories are all the fieldtrips I have gone on since I was 4 years old, every single Derby Hat Parade, Egg Drop, and Pajama Day.

My most favorite thing about Chance School is that all of my teachers are really nice and care about me. We always have fun no matter what we are doing in the classroom or outside. My favorite subject at Chance is math but I am really starting to like silent reading. The more I read, the more I am realizing how much fun it is to read different books.

Chance School is a special school to me. I have two teachers in my classroom to help me with my work. I do not have many students in class with me. Having a small class is good because the teachers can easily make sure everyone is ok and understand the work. My classmates and I are friends and we try to take care of one another.”

Desric M. – Primary 3 (Third Grade) Student

Student Testimonial – Jacob F.

”When I think of Chance School I think of hands-on learning, caring teachers and awesome specialists. At Chance all the teachers treat students with respect and listen to their opinions.

I came to Chance when I was three years old. My teachers were Mrs. Malthouse and Miss Ann. We had so much fun watching the birds from our classroom window and doing science experiments on science day. Mrs. Malthouse and Miss Ann made learning our numbers and letters fun by putting them to music. I will never forget being the Ringmaster in our Spring Fling and singing Miss Mary Mack.

In the fours I did a lot of building at the blocks center. Miss Kathy and Miss Melissa also taught us manners. We all dressed up one day, had a fancy snack and all ate together at our snack table. I loved going to Miss Melissa‘s house for our end of the year party.

Then came the Treehouse. Wow, there were a lot of stairs! It felt like we were on top of the world. Mr. Stevens and Miss Usher made everyday fun. I met my best friends Kase and Luke in the Treehouse. We always went outside for playtime and finally got to play in the woods. I loved working in the garden and at the workbench. My mom still has a piece of artwork I made at the workbench hanging in our kitchen. I will never forget the cookouts we had at the fire circle with our parents. It was hard to leave the Treehouse but I was excited to see all of my friends who had been in first grade the year before.

The summer before I started second grade in the Lodge I received a letter from my teachers, Mrs. Farmer and Mrs. Linde. They told me how much they were looking forward to having me in their class. Then I also received a letter from my good friend Matthew who was going to be in third grade in the same class. Reading their letters made me very excited. Primary was just as much fun as I had hoped it would be. I will never forget going to Kart Kountry for our Third Grade Day. It rained but we still played Putt-putt outside and had the best time ever!

I was very nervous my first day of Intermediate. I had always looked up to the Intermediate students and thought of them as being the leaders of the school. Now it was my turn. I knew I was going to be given a lot more responsibility and even though I felt ready I was still nervous. After the first day I felt right at home in the Cottage. I will never forget the first time we went out to the woods for playtime and officially got to play in the Intermediate fort! Then at the end of the year we went to Cincinnati for our class trip. The Zoo, Museum and Aquarium were so much fun. We spent the night at Great Wolf Lodge. It felt like we were one big family on vacation.

Now that I am in fifth grade I realize that my time as a Chance student is coming to an end. I have been excited to come to school every day since I have been three. I think that is amazing. Chance has made me a confident learner and respectful friend. It is hard to imagine going to another school but I know I will be ready to tackle any challenges I face because of what I have learned at Chance.”

Jacob F. – Intermediate 5 (Fifth Grade) Student