Your Frequently Asked Questions

How can my child benefit from attending a toddler–8th grade school?

At Breakwater, we believe that 11-13-year-olds are still children, and we are committed to preserving the childhoods of our middle school students. Studies suggest that toddler-8 schools provide many of the same benefits that small schools offer. Toddler-8 schools have been found to enhance students’ social capital and create greater opportunities for success by building relationships with staff and peers over a period of up to ten or more years. Overall, students in toddler-8 programs demonstrate higher academic achievement, increased levels of participation in extracurricular activities, and greater leadership skills than students in traditional elementary or middle school settings. Students in toddler-8 settings tend to experience less bullying, and the middle schoolers often take on the roles of mentor and role model to younger students.

Breakwater is described as a "progressive" school. What does that mean?

It means we love learning. We see teachers, parents and children as partners in a celebration of learning. And we believe that learning is the most powerful when it is integrated and authentic, personalized and active, challenging and inclusive. Read more about the Breakwater Way.

How will my child benefit from a multi-age classroom?

Multi-age learning environments expose younger students to the lessons and expectations of older students. Such glimpses into the future broaden younger students’ frames of reference and prepare them for the next developmental stage. Older students, in turn, are empowered to take on leadership and mentoring roles, which enhances their sense of purpose and belonging. Studies on the benefits of cooperative learning show that students often learn best from one another. At Breakwater, even our Kindergarteners have opportunities to share their important discoveries with their preschool peers. We frequently observe and monitor students' work to ensure that we provide learning activities that meet each student's needs and challenges them at the appropriate skill level.

How does Breakwater assess student progress?

Research suggests that the more kids are pushed to focus on how they are doing, the more they tend to become disengaged from what they are doing. At Breakwater, we have high academic expectations of our students. We challenge them to do their best work, and we incorporate key national educational standards into our curricula. However, rather than strictly “teaching to the standards,” we immerse our students in an integrated curriculum that gives a meaningful context to their learning.

Instead of letter grades, we use multiple forms of assessment to inform our instructional planning and to keep students–and their parents–aware of their progress. Through formal and informal observations and assessments, parent-teacher conferences, student portfolios, and other evaluation methods, we provide a well-balanced picture of each student’s growth, development, strengths, and learning style.

Tell me more about these 'essentialists'.

At Breakwater, we believe that immersion in art, music, world languages, science/ outdoor adventure, and tinkering is essential to the development of each child’s body, mind and spirit. That’s why we refer to the teachers who lead these areas Essentialists. Our K-8 Essentialist teachers work together with classroom teachers to integrate disciplines and give context and relevance to the total learning experience. 

What is the purpose or value of the Social/Emotional curriculum approach?

Our Social-Emotional curriculum begins in our toddler classroom and continues to build students’ self-confidence and self-awareness throughout the middle school years. It is designed to help students of all ages to develop and hone the skills they need to negotiate the social maze of daily school life on their journey toward independence. Because any given school day naturally requires students to solve problems, resolve conflicts, deal with disappointments, and manage their feelings and behavior, we begin early in the year to develop a common set of skills, rules, and language for students to use in their interactions with others.

We construct daily opportunities for students to work individually, with partners, and with small and large groups on such skills as: playing cooperatively, advocating for oneself or a friend, appropriately demonstrating emotions, and learning to interpret the behaviors of others. Through modeling and role playing in both structured and unstructured activities, children develop self-control and gain competence in their ability to make friends, resolve conflicts, express feelings, cope with stress, and choose appropriate alternatives to aggressive behavior.

How do you teach all these essential skills in a play-based environment (in EC)?

At Breakwater we believe that children best acquire skills when they are ready to do so, and that what children learn from early play experiences become the foundation for all academic learning. Through their exploration of materials and relationships, our early childhood students begin to construct a basic understanding of the world and learn how to solve problems, communicate, and make their own choices. At the same time, embedded in our daily activities are guided opportunities for students to practice essential foundational skills, such as language acquisition, math and reading readiness, and small and large motor skills.

How does Breakwater connect with the larger local and global community?

Our goal at Breakwater is to support students in a safe, engaging environment that encourages them to discover their passions and build upon their capabilities as they grow into intelligent, self-aware, and conscientious world citizens. World languages are integrated into the curricula at every level, and many classroom projects and school-wide traditions encourage students to develop empathy and social responsibility and to make connections across cultures and time.

Our teachers are experts in their fields. Some facilitate our Parent Education Series and other workshops in the community. Many of our faculty also actively work as artists, craftsmen, and musicians outside of Breakwater, and we invite experts from local community organizations to teach some of our Enrichment classes, such as theater arts, martial arts, aerial trapeze, and LEGO robotics. Out of school time programming offered through the Breakwater Enrichment Center is open to students in the greater Portland area and beyond allowing BWS K-8 students the opportunity to forge friendships with students from surrounding area schools.

Let's Cut To The Chase.

Why should I choose Breakwater for Early Childhood?

The Breakwater Way is a mindset....Students experiencing Breakwater throughout the early childhood years develop values and friendships that will define and benefit them throughout their lives.

Why should I choose Breakwater for Elementary School for my child?

Research shows that keeping children in a consistent and familial educational environment through the elementary and middle school years is ideal, before allowing them the freedom of a change of venue, new friends, and new challenges for high school. 

Why should I choose Breakwater for Middle School for my child?

Young adolescence is a time for students to test assumptions, make mistakes and try on various identities. They need a safe and supportive environment in which teachers who know and care deeply for them can challenge them to take risks, think critically, explore new concepts, and try out leadership roles. Our middle school teachers are trained to understand the unique emotional and academic needs of young adolescents and are committed to helping them develop self-awareness and self-advocacy as they enter the years when peer pressure is most powerful.

Our Middle School curriculum is academically challenging, integrated, and relevant to our students’ interests and lives. 

Where do Breakwater students go from here?

After Breakwater, many of our graduates attend local public and private schools, including: Portland High School, Falmouth High School, Thornton Academy, Baxter Academy, Casco Bay High School, Cheverus, North Yarmouth Academy, Waynflete, and others. What remains most important-and consistent-is that our students emerge from Breakwater as independent thinkers, compassionate world citizens, and curious lifelong learners who possess the academic and interpersonal skills they need to succeed wherever their choices and circumstances take them.

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