Frequently Asked Questions
What is Four Wind's daily schedule?
The academic day begins at 8:30, pick-up is at 3:30.Where are you located?
Four Winds operates out of two classrooms in the old Gill elementary school building on Route 2 just west of the public boat landing. This building also houses the Gill Historical Society.What is the academic calendar?
The academic year begins on September 10, 2009, meeting for a total of 168 days to end the academic year on May 28, 2010. We observe most legal holidays; take a full week break at Thanksgiving, two full weeks at Christmas, and one week breaks in February and April, corresponding with the public schools.What is a typical day like at Four Winds?
We spend the morning hours in the classroom working on our individualized programs in the basic skills.In the afternoon, we visit libraries (local public and college), exhibits, museums; do field work in the sciences, visit colleges for science/math demonstrations; take hikes and kayak on the Connecticut River; interview people for Interest Studies; make group trips to visit a resource person. At times, some of the students research written material while others are locating, contacting, or interviewing individual resource people.
What do the students do for physical activity?
At Four Winds, we place a high value on both work and play. For that reason, our daily lunch break is an hour. During that time, many students choose to take advantage of the school's huge field and basketball courts. The school always has a collection of basketballs, soccer balls, baseballs and Frisbees on hand for everyone's use. Students also bring their own sporting equipment for break time. Lacrosse sticks, street hockey gear, and roller blades have all found their way inside Four Winds' doors at one time or another.In addition, our students take hiking, canoeing and rock-climbing trips. And finally, many of our students maintain their ties to their community by participating on local sports teams. At Four Winds, we recognize the importance of such activities and are flexible in allowing students time to make such commitments.
What is the school like socially?
At Four Winds, we take advantage of the school's size by emphasizing the common ground students find with their classmates and discovering the strength in each other. Students form strong friendships at the school every day, but what is especially important is how our students relate to everyone-- their peers, their instructors, and their communities. Our emphasis on the uniqueness of all individuals gives our students a greater appreciation of their own gifts and the gifts of others.What size is the school?
Because individualized instruction in basic skills is a foundational commitment of Four Winds, the school enrolls a maximum of fourteen pupils.Who are the instructors?
Steve Hussey runs the school and is the full-time teacher. Eloise Michael teaches half-time. The school also employs art instructors. Throughout the year, the students of Four Winds have many opportunities to meet with, and learn from, people in the larger community. In addition, guest scholars work with the students in poetry, outdoor studies, and ecology.
Where do Four Winds students go after they graduate?
Anywhere they want to!Many of our students go back to their community's high schools, and are eager for the challenges they will find there. Others opt for continuing their private school experience, going to schools such as Deerfield Academy, Charlemont Academy, and Stoneleigh-Burnham. Many graduates have taken advantage of a unique partnership Four Winds has developed with Greenfield Community College, where students take college level courses, and work towards getting a high school diploma from Four Winds as well as entering college with advanced standing.
The school's first two graduates have gone on to study at Macalester College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
How do I apply?
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Complete both Student Application and Parent Information forms and send them in prior to your interview. Click here to download an application and find out how to set up a visit!
Call the school's director, Steve Hussey, (413) 863-8055, to schedule an interview.
We recommend that your child spend a day with us at Four Winds. A full day visit can be scheduled at the time of the interview.
After I apply, when will I learn of the school's decision?
Four Winds has a rolling admissions program. After the re-enrollment of our current students is complete, you will be notified of the status of your application.
Financing a Four Winds Education:
Some FAQ's
What is the cost of the program?
For the school year, September 2009 to May 2010, tuition and all additional fees total $10,730. This includes textbooks and fees for materials and events.Is this a fair price?
The cost of most other private middle school programs in the Valley is substantially greater than ours. While they all have excellent programs, the program at Four Winds stands out among them in its ability to foster each child's education individually, and to do so for many thousands of dollars less each year.Is it the right time to spend money on my child's education?
Many educators recognize the middle school years as the pivotal point of a child's educational career. In the transition from elementary school to high school, many children lose the openness and willingness to engage that characterizes the earlier years of their education. Finding a middle school setting that genuinely engages your child and actively builds on his or her sense of academic accomplishment significantly improves the likelihood of success for your child in high school and beyond. While the exorbitant costs of college might seem to preclude paying any tuition now, remember that success in high school is critical to the success of your child in the college admissions process.