CONTRIBUTED BY RENEE WOODWORTH

Parents of children who attend various schools on island have filled out a series of questions about the schools for the benefit of the rest of us. We welcome more than one voice on each school since everyone has a different experience, so please feel free to add your two cents in the comments. 

Name of the school:  Leonardo Da Vinci Academy

Age of your child in this school:  7

Where is this school located?  Uruma

Contact Information:  Adrian and Eugenia Arce,  098-973-4637, adrian_arce@me.com,    www.leonardodavinciacademy.org 

Admissions/Enrollment:  

What is the maximum number of students that your school has? 20 to 25 

What is the current number of students?  18 - The students range from 2nd Grade through High School. 

Is enrollment open/year-round enrollment or per Semester?   Open.  The tutoring style of the curriculum makes it possible for students to advance at their own pace. 

Can I bring my child in for a pre-enrollment visit?  Yes

Days and hours: 

What are the school’s hours?  9:00 am - 3:00 pm,  Monday - Friday 

Is the school on a Japanese or American schedule?  American 

How flexible is the school with pickup and drop-off times?  The school is flexible and for an additional fee they also provide early care and after school care for those who need it.   

Costs: 

What are the registration fees?  ¥20,000 

What are the tuition fees?  They start at ¥48,000/mo. for Elementary. 

If any, what are the assessment and school supplies fees?  ¥50,000  There are children from Second Grade to High School with different curriculums and characteristics related to learning disabilities that they work with. Since they prepare a curriculum for each need, the costs of materials can go from about ¥50,000/year. Another factor that affects the cost of materials is the need for US Accreditation for those families that are planing on going back to the US or to the public school system, as well as EU or UK recognized accreditation for students planning on international studies afterwards.   

Are any discounts offered for referrals, siblings, volunteering, working there, etc.? The school offers discount plans for families. 

Is there a late-pickup fee?  Yes 

How and when does the school require payment (in yen, dollars, etc.)?  Payment is made in yen monthly.  Other arrangements can be accommodated with prior approval.

Parent Involvement and Interaction: 

Does the school encourage spontaneous visits from parents?  Yes.  The school loves parent involvement. 

How do they communicate with parents?  Communication at LDVA is quite open.  You often find parents speaking to the teachers before and after school.  The teachers also communicate with parents via phone and email.    

Are there parent/teacher conferences?  Yes, at the request of the parents or if the teachers feel there is a need.  Communication between parents and teachers is quite frequent.  Even if a parent/teacher conference is not required, the school holds regular quarterly parents/teacher breakfast meetings to update parents on the students progress.

Classroom Structure and Size: 

How are the kids grouped? Mixed ages/grouped by age?  The classes are mixed ages.  However the older children, middle and high school, are in one classroom and the younger children, grade school, are in a second classroom. 

What's the teacher-child ratio in each group?  Currently the grade school classroom has a ratio of 5/7 children to 1 teacher and the upper level classroom has a ratio of 8/10 children to 1 teacher.  The school is opening one more classroom for the coming 2011/2012 school year. 

How many full-time teachers do you have? There are currently 2 full time teachers.  

How many assistants?  1 

What is the school's educational philosophy? Leonardo Da Vinci Academy offers an excellent and flexible option for studies. Their philosophy is to promote an interdisciplinary approach, independence in the development of the student and to build strong ethical values.   

Is the school program developmentally-based or does it have an academic focus?  There is not one school program.  Each student’s program is developed with that student’s needs and the parent’s desires incorporated to ensure the greatest possible success. 

Is there a playground for the children to play on?  There is not a playground at the school but field trips to local parks occur often. The classrooms are pretty big. Each student works in his or her own full desk with its corresponding adjustable swivel chair. They have lunch at a separate room and have alternative tables to work on science or other projects.    

What do the children do on any given day?  Since all the children have individualized programs everyday is different for each child.  However, the children cover Language Arts, Mathematics, Critical Thinking, History, and Science.  They typically work in one-hour blocks with breaks after each block.  However due to the flexibility of the school and the curriculum, this schedule often changes to meet the needs of the child on a day by day basis.  The children have a one-hour lunch break for eating and playing.    

Are there extracurricular activities or field trips? The school does plan field trips to various Okinawan locations.  The school doesn’t give homework to ensure the students have free time for sports and other extra-curricular activities after school, as well as to favor family time.

How does the school discipline children?  Since the school’s philosophy is to develop the whole child, teaching and correction of behavior is a continuous and constant part of the day.  LDVA provides a loving family atmosphere at the school.  The children feel a part of something and the teachers are quite kind and caring.  When a need arises, the school provides counseling and psychological support according to each student’s needs. The school also provides professional support for children with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, ADD, ADHD and other learning conditions; as well as with gifted students who need advanced programs. 

Final Comments or Observations about the School:   I was first introduced to the school through my daughter’s DoDD’s teacher.  My daughter attended their summer program and from then on we were sold.  The school prepared a “custom made” curriculum for my daughter that started with their actual knowledge of her strengths and weaknesses. One of the main aspects of their work is the premise that a student learns better when he or she is happy and able to enjoy school.  They bring the student to this point by taking away all unnecessary pressure, by helping the child to set his or her goals, and by helping the student to actually reach his or her goals.  With this is mind they carefully structured my daughter’s program to where she enjoys all of her school work and is excited to go to school.  A far cry from the struggles we went through to get her to go to school before this.   I also love the small class sizes.  Having a limited number of children makes it easier for them to monitor the progress of each student.  

We love this school and what it has done for our family.  Other parents have asked if this is a school for children with special needs.  It is not.  LDVA is a tutorial style, holistic, interdisciplinary and ethical approach to education.  It makes LDVA an ideal place for students and families in need of both flexibility and excellence.  There are three types of students at LDVA, students who work faster than average for their grade level, students whose families are going through challenging situations and need a flexible schedule, and students who have had an unbalanced curriculum because they struggle in one area (often due to learning disabilities or other stressful situations) but are paradoxically overachievers in another area.  At LDVA all three interact to their mutual benefit.   

Directions:  The school is located at 449-3 AZA Uesu, Uruma Shi.  If coming from Foster, go out the SGTMJR gate and turn left.  Stay on this road.  Go past Comprehensive park and the Jusco at 85.  Take your 1st left after the construction for the new road.  At the end of this road go left then take your first right.  At the end of this road go left and then take your first right.  Follow this windy road until you get to your first right and go right.  At the end of this road go right.  You are almost there.   The first driveway on the right leads to the school which is behind the other houses.