December 2025

Dear Friend,

Thank you for being here! If you are just getting to know us, we are a small, state certified independent school, serving pre-K through 8th grade.  Though we are located in the heart of Mount Desert Island, we serve 12 townships in the greater Hancock County area.  Some of our families drive an hour to get to school and some are close enough to walk.   Our philosophy is Place-based, which means we engage with the elements of our local community-- both human (professionals, organizations, community spaces) and non-human (the natural world in all of its wondrous land/seascapes, plants and animals) -- to bring meaningful learning to life.  

I founded the school in 2014 on the premise that the most impactful learning happens when students are engaged and connected to what they are learning and when academics are rooted in experience and doing.  This has proved to be true, as the love for learning is palpable here at TCS in students and teachers alike.  Our academic subject areas in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and the Arts are robust, and we appreciate learning in and from the natural world and our local community through weekly outings and the opportunities found right here on our campus.  While we value learning outdoors, each class has a cozy classroom in our historic schoolhouse, barn, or one of our winterized yurts.   We are so fortunate to be on nearly 80 acres of forest, meadow, marsh and upland habitat and we express our gratitude often for this place we call our home.  Our four multi-age classes are named after the unique species and habitats found here-- Sweet Fern (pre-K/K), Woodland (grades 1/2), Intertidal (grades 3-5) and Alpine (grades 6-8).  The progression has been built with rites of passage marking each class transition and an intentional evolution of academic and social- emotional competencies. 

As I walk around campus and support our work each day, another aspect of our learning that stands out to me is the emphasis on social emotional growth and citizenry that is present throughout the fiber of the school experience.  Students are given the opportunity to reflect on who they are and how they are part of a whole. They are given practice and modeling on what it means to communicate with compassion and understanding.  They learn to look out for one another, share connection, and cultivate community.  They build empathy.  These are all skills necessary for a positive future of our ever-changing world.    

If you are wondering if Place-based education at TCS is a good fit for your family, please reach out or stop by!  We look forward to connecting with you.  

In community, 

Jasmine W. Smith, Founding Director