Newtowne School

Our mission is to instill in children the confidence to be curious lifelong learners who can contribute meaningfully in creating a kinder, more sustainable, and more equitable world. We are committed to providing an enriching educational environment built on relationships and playful exploration.

We believe in advancing social justice and that by focusing on children's strengths we promote their inherent capacities to construct knowledge and develop positive social identities.Drawing inspiration from the Reggio Emilia schools in Italy, we use emergent and inquiry-based approaches to curriculum design, where topics emerge from the interests and questions children bring with them into the classroom.

In the Reggio Emilia philosophy, teachers, parents, children, and the environment are in regular dialogue with one another. At Newtowne, parents have opportunities to partner with the teachers to support the child and enhance the school environments, as a means of honoring and further developing the learning interests and needs of the child.

Just as the people of Reggio Emilia set about reconstructing their schools after World War II with a strong desire for change and a world free from oppression, injustice, and inequality, we at Newtowne are committed to advancing social justice in our current world.

We welcome families and faculty of different races, religions, nationalities, genders, family arrangements, sexual orientations, ages, and income levels, and we are inclusive of children with special rights who have diverse learning needs.Newtowne approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion work using a strengths-based approach, in which difference is viewed as something that enriches our community and society.

At Newtowne, the idea of lifelong learning is deeply valued. Our teachers are licenced by the Department of Early Education and Care, have extensive training in early childhood education, and many hold graduate degrees in related fields. Our faculty is involved in attending and presenting at workshops and conferences, researching and publishing, and providing mentorship to fellow educators both in and outside of Newtowne.

According to the Reggio Emilia philosophy, the environment is the "third teacher"; at Newtowne, we take great pride in our learning environments. Newtowne School is located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts and embedded in the heart of Harvard Square, which offers a wealth of opportunities for exploration and engagement with the larger community.