Deciding where to send your child to school is one of the most important and stressful choices a parent can make. In today's world, we all want to ensure our children are in an environment that is safe, welcoming, respectful, and challenging for their growth. This desire was innate for me, and I hadn't fully articulated it until I wanted to find that place for my children. When my son Atlas turned three, he began asking to go to school. At age two, I introduced him to abcmouse.com, and he really enjoyed learning. I distinctly remember him watching an episode of 'Bubble Guppies' in which one of the fish experienced his first day of school. Atlas wanted that experience, and I needed to figure out how to make it happen.
As any parent in 2021 would do, I turned to Facebook! I posted that I was looking for a preschool for Atlas with an authentic curriculum, emphasizing my preference for a diverse community filled with caring teachers. I expressed my desire for a school that wouldn't require him to sit still at a desk for hours but was also rigorous and would challenge him academically. After posting, I waited for responses.
Virginia Chance School was recommended multiple times, even by some young women I had mentored in pageantry. I placed them at the top of my list and decided to reach out for a tour. During my conversation with Jamie, the Admissions Director, I was amazed by the intentionality behind the school. I had never encountered a school so focused on inquiry-based learning and social-emotional skill building, with research backing its claims. As a nurse scientist, this resonated deeply with me. I strongly advocate for the implementation of inquiry-based learning, especially when it is combined with outdoor experiences. I learned that this approach deepens understanding and fosters a genuine connection to the environment, making learning more engaging and impactful. We enrolled as soon as a spot became available.
However, shortly after Atlas was accepted, I went through a divorce and had to rebuild my life from scratch. Amid all the uncertainty, one thing was clear: I needed to keep the kids at Chance. I didn't want their already significant transition to include moving them away from the stability and foundational experience that I knew would propel them toward successful futures.
Throughout this transition, the teachers at Chance have been incredible. The school team and Dr. Betsy have consistently gone above and beyond to look out for them. Whether it was making space for additional time for building resiliency or collaborating with our family therapist to ensure they received the necessary emotional support, their dedication has been outstanding.
Chance has been the perfect place for my sons, Atlas and Ace, to grow and develop. The environment and structure in which they start their education truly matter. Over the past three years, I have witnessed tremendous growth in their academic abilities, expanding vocabulary and problem-solving skills, transforming from my little babies into well-rounded young boys.
I have been extremely impressed with how different cultures are embraced at Chance. They inform parents about important awareness days and holidays that matter to the students and families enrolled. Last year, in Atlas' Kindergarten class, they conducted a focused learning block about different types of families, which made him feel seen and helped him understand he wasn't alone as a child from a divorced or blended family. That level of intentionality brought tears to my eyes because I knew how much it meant to him.
The community and culture at Chance create an environment where everyone belongs. It feels like a little utopia on the hill that I wish everyone could experience. At Chance, my children are taught that they are capable and that they have significance and influence in their lives. They are encouraged to inquire and think critically. They learn about their own agency, which will prepare them for the transition to middle school and beyond.
I am deeply grateful for the grace and support we have found at Chance, and I truly wish every child could have the Chance experience.
— Dr. Ashley D. Anderson, PhD, WHNP-BC